Global

The 43rd Tokyo Motor Show, which ran from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1, showcased international manufacturers’ latest technology in trucks, buses, cars, motorbikes and accessories. Get a feel for the show with this photo gallery from HDT International Editor Sven-Erik Lindstrand.

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO -- With a display reminiscent of the parent company's dominating presence at the giant IAA commercial vehicles exhibition in Germany, Daimler Mexico made its intentions clear at last week's Expo Transporte, the bi-annual Mexican truck show.

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO -- At first glance the photos of this trucking show may look a lot like what you will see at major events in the U.S. But look a little closer at the Spanish writing in the background. These photos were shot in Guadalajara, Mexico, last week during the nation’s largest truck and bus show, Expo Transporte.

The Volvo Group will restructure its truck-manufacturing activities in Europe over the next two years, improving efficiency and cutting its workforce, as it implements part of a new group-wide efficiency program.

This Siemens video shows how the world's largest wind turbine blade -- 75 meters -- was made ... and the largest challenge, transporting it! See it wind along Danish roads.

In Europe, they're partway through the seventh Blue Corridor Natural Gas Vehicle Rally, where natural-gas-powered vehicles are driving from St. Petersburg, Russia, around the Baltic Sea with stops along the way in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to demonstrate the benefits of using natural gas in transportation.

Cummins Monday announced a new global heavy-duty engine platform. The G Series platform is an in-line six cylinder engine, and will be available in 10.5- and 11.8-liter displacements to meet a broad variety of on-highway and off-highway global market requirements and emissions standards.

At the Comtrans Truck Show in Moscow, Russia, this week, the Volvo FH was awarded the Truck of the Year award by European trucking journalists.

Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge notes that she's now old enough that stuff from the science fiction books she read as a kid are increasingly becoming reality. No flying cars yet, but driverless cars are being tested, and trucks may lead the way -- literally.

Those crazy folks at Volvo Trucks in Sweden are at it again, going to great lengths -- or should we say heights -- to create a video they hope will go viral.

Smith Electric Vehicles has signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture with Taikang Technology Corp. in Taiwan. Taikang Technology, a commercial vehicle manufacturer in Taiwan, has twenty-five years of automotive experience and has expertise in upfitting specialized municipal commercial vehicles.

Meritor is reinvigorating a 75-year-old brake manufacturing facility in Wales, complete with a state-of-the-art engineering and test center, to meet expected increased demand in North American, European and emerging commercial vehicle markets.

" Since a 13-liter diesel engine with 40 tons in tow will never match the get-up-and-go of a Porsche 911 GT3, we G-force junkies have to get our fix with air disc brakes." Equipment Editor Jim Park got the chance to test the stopping power of several European trucks with air disc brakes on a trip to Europe last week, and he shares the experience in his latest "On the Road" blog post.

Georg Weiberg, who has had a big impact on Daimler Trucks' development unit over the past seven years, including rolling out the latest engine platforms, is retiring from Daimler. Effective August 1, 2013, Sven Ennerst will take on global responsibility for the development department at Daimler Trucks as his replacement.

Daimler Trucks North America recently rolled out production of its new Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission, which it believes will help boost acceptance of AMTs in North America. Daimler hosted a group of North American journalists in its headquarters city of Stuttgart and in Gaggenau, Germany, where the transmission is initially being assembled.

HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge interviews Brad Williamson, manager of engine and component marketing for DTNA, in Stuttgart following two days of plant tours and ride-n-drive events. (Video by Evan Lockridge, Senior Contributing Editor).

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The European Union is following the U.S. lead in cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation industry, but one approach may differ from that of North America: Larger engines and bigger rigs.

An impressive 530,000 visitors from over 200 countries converged on the Messe München exhibition center in Munich, Germany, between April 15 and 21 for the giant construction equipment show, Bauma, where there were also plenty of vocational trucks on display.