When is a new engine a new engine?

Journalists are frequently criticised for highlighting the ‘smoke and mirrors’ marketing departments use to create something new that is not really new at all.

Troy Clarke now in a position to wield power

Troy Clarke has his firmly under the table at Navistar International Corporation where he now becomes chairman of the board of directors as well as chief executive officer.

VW opens new Crafter plant in Poland

Volkswagen Group has officially opened its automotive plant in Września dedicated to production of the new Crafter. Is VW claims the plant Europe’s most advanced new factory of its kind.

Will Cummins ever integrate vertically?

It is not unreasonable to think that 12 or 18 months ago, at least one Cummins senior executive might have mulled over the question in his mind in a quiet moment: Is it time for the company to integrate vertically?

Will VW have an impact on MWM in Brazil?

It will be interesting to see what happens to MWM International in Brazil when Volkswagen AG’s two board members take their place round the table at Navistar International Corporation.

VW and Navistar to create new ‘engine platform’

The deal between Volkswagen AG and Navistar International Corporation will not be ‘closed’ until early next year but in the meantime the two companies are working on a ‘new engine platform’.

Navistar: Time to step up to the plate and deliver

Is it just conceivable, when the dust of document signing has settled and top-level Volkswagen Truck & Bus Group (T&B Group) engineers and managers sit round the table with their counterparts at Navistar International Corporation that the conversation will move to the detail of not only customising the MAN engines that Navistar builds under license, but manufacturing other VW group diesel engines in North America.

Is Troy Clarke about to start smiling?

Rumours suggest Volkswagen may strike a deal with Navistar International Corporation.

Ford puts CGI into 1-litre EcoBoost

Ford in the UK has confirmed its three-cylinder 1-litre Fox gasoline engine does have a cylinder block of compacted graphite iron (CGI).

Volkswagen considers IPO for trucks division

Volkswagen AG is considering setting up an IPO for its international trucks division in a bid to counter Daimler Trucks and Volvo Trucks.

Peterbilt to offer CGI truck diesel

According to US sources, Paccar’s Peterbilt brand will soon offer the MX-11 diesel engine, which debuted in Europe in 2013.

Porsche man takes charge of VW's PR

Surprise, surprise, Porsche PR man Hans-Gerd Bode (54) has taken over as head of group communications, investor relations and external relations at Volkswagen AG with immediate effect. He succeeds Stephan Grühsem (53); he leaves the company "by amicable agreement".

Volkswagen sees double-digit growth as . . .

Volkswagen Group has reported improved sales and earnings in the first six months of the year in a very challenging environment.

VW forms truck and bus supervisory board

Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH, the holding company that brings together Volkswagen AG’s truck and bus interests, has formed a parity basis supervisory board.

VW sales dip in “tense” markets

Volkswagen Group delivered slightly fewer vehicles in the first half of 2015 but again topped the five million mark even though some regions were “tense”. 

Porsche: VW’s most profitable brand

Porsche is the VW Group’s most profitable brand with €15,000 operating profit per vehicle sold.

VW Group sales rise 10% as Piech goes

Without referring to the departure of Ferdinand Piech, presumably a non-event in Group terms, the Volkswagen Group reports that it has made a good start to fiscal year 2015 despite a market environment that remains challenging.

The powertrain future is bright

Olof Persson had something interesting to say about the future of engines Volvo before he was unceremoniously dismissed from the top spot.

Has Volvo plans to be a world leader?

Is Volvo planning to become Number One in world truck manufacture?

Eaton and the challenge of vertical integration

In the heady world of North American Class 8 trucks, for the likes of Cummins, Eaton and Meritor, life is a constant battle (in engines, transmissions and axles) against the forces of vertical integration that are steadily being imposed by European-controlled OEMs.