Commercial Truck Manufacturers Coverage
In terms of the trucking industry, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) refers to parts made by the same company that makes the vehicle (as opposed to aftermarket parts, which are produced by different companies and designed to be compatible with as many vehicles as possible). While OEM products may cost more than aftermarket upfront, the price reflects the quality.
The biggest commercial truck manufacturer in the world is Daimler AG (better known as Daimler Chrysler), which produces the brands Mercedes-Benz, Western Star, Freightliner, Sterling Trucks, and Fuso, among others. Other leading commercial truck manufacturers include Volkswagen Group (which produces MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Commercial-Vehicles), Volvo Group (which produces Volvo, Renault, Mack, Eicher, and UD Trucks), and Dongfeng Motor, China’s largest automaker.
Check back here for the latest news and updates related to OEM and trucking. You can also find additional commercial trucking news in our Trucking News archive.
Daimler Trucks looked at the mileage data of 130,000 trucks it monitors and predicts mileage driven could reach pre-COVID-19 levels by the end of June.
Navistar included only one full month of impact from the COVID-19 pandemic in its loss-making second quarter. How bad will it be for manufacturers who report on a traditional April-June quarter?
Heavy-duty truck maker Navistar reported a $38 million loss in its fiscal second quarter, the first look at the financial damage from COVID-19-related manufacturing shutdowns.
Near-shutdown of Class 8 truck production in May resulted in stagnant orders as COVID-19 lockdowns took hold.
Battery electric and fuel cell startup Nikola Corp., which surprised the trucking industry by having a “blank check company” back its bid to go public, expects its shares to begin trading under its own name on the NASDAQ later this week.
Growing competition leads Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. to decide against selling medium-duty trucks in the U.S. and Canada after current inventory is sold. Parts and service pledged through 2028.
With a June 2 merger vote that would make fuel cell electric truck maker Nikola a public entity, the company’s book value has quadrupled to $12 billion in the last week.
Navistar extended CEO Troy Clarke’s contract until July as a buyout offer by Volkswagen subsidiary TRATON Group is on hold amid the cash-devouring coronavirus pandemic.
Interest is rising in Workhorse’s electric truck-based drone delivery system as the company seeks $40 million credit line to scale production.
Volkswagen truck holding company Traton Group urges a Euro-style “cash for clunkers” program to boost new truck purchases following lower first-quarter sales, profits and orders.
Uncertainty beyond loss-making second quarter concerns Daimler leaders, though robust supply chain and cash position suggest fast production ramp-up when economy recovers
Daimler AG revealed difficult first-quarter results, removing mystery from next week’s earnings report, which shows all segments struggling, including its truck manufacturing business.
PACCAR Inc. posted decent first quarter earnings despite shuttering its plants in late March because of the coronavirus pandemic. While truck orders cooled, parts sales set a record as the truck maker tries to build on 81 consecutive profitable years.
Electric and fuel cell truck maker Nikola gets its pick of candidates as job insecurity led so many to apply that Linked In briefly shut down CEO Trevor Milton’s account.
Navistar makes $300 million in across-the-board cuts to conserve cash but will repay employees with interest for their 10% to 30% pay reductions next March.
Nikola Corp. filled VectoIQ’s $230 million public shell company after former Wall Street analyst and General Motors executive Steve Girsky shopped more than 100 smart transportation companies and signed 75 nondisclosure agreements and six letters of intent.
Truck component supplier Meritor idles plants and cuts base salaries up to 50% to save the ship from rough seas.
All four major heavy-duty truck manufacturers now have suspended production for at least two weeks, with market leaders Daimler Trucks North America and PACCAR Inc. the latest to stop building trucks because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Supply chain disruption from coronavirus adds Navistar plant in Ohio to truck operations suspending production and pulling earnings guidance.
Volvo Trucks North America and its sibling Mack Trucks later this year will allow individual truck drivers to schedule over-the-air updates typically handled by fleet managers.
