Author: Brandon Mitchell

Heidelberg Materials has autonomously hauled more than two million tons of limestone at its Lake Bridgeport quarry in Texas, marking a North American first for a fully autonomous mixed-fleet quarry operation, the company said. The milestone was achieved in less than eight months using an Autonomous Haulage System developed by Pronto, which enables trucks from different manufacturers to operate on a single platform. The fleet at the Texas site includes Caterpillar 775G rigid-frame trucks alongside Komatsu HD605-8 and HD605-10 models. See also: Heidelberg Materials and Volvo Group Collaborate to Test Electric Vehicles, Aiming to Reduce CO2 Emissions “True scalability in…

MAN Truck & Bus SE said it has reached a comprehensive agreement with employee representatives on its long-term “MAN2030+” restructuring program, aiming to strengthen competitiveness, secure German production sites and cut costs by around €900 million by 2028. The deal follows plans announced in late 2025 by parent group Traton to reduce about 2,300 jobs across three German locations over the next decade, a move that had drawn scepticism from the trade union IG Metall. Employee representatives have now approved the framework through Germany’s co-determination process, with the company reiterating that compulsory redundancies in Germany remain excluded. See also: MAN…

A German government-funded project testing automated battery swapping for electric trucks has completed a two-year real-world trial, with partners now moving to commercialise the technology and develop a second-generation system, project leaders said. The eHaul project, led by TU Berlin, has been developing an automated battery swap station for heavy-duty trucks since 2020. After an initial development phase, the consortium operated a pilot station in Lübbenau, Brandenburg, which TU Berlin describes as Europe’s first automated battery swap facility for electric trucks approved for public-road use. Project partners said the trial confirmed that battery swapping using standardised packs could serve as…

The Haller Group, a long-established German commercial vehicle specialist, is repositioning itself as a platform provider for zero-emission mobility solutions, betting on a new business model it calls Fleet-Transformation-as-a-Service (FTaaS). The strategy is being led by Andreas Haller, who is seeking to reinvent the family-owned group by integrating battery-electric and hydrogen technologies across vehicle supply, fleet conversion, infrastructure, digital services and financing. Central to the shift is the revival of the Quantron and Pepper brands, both of which had largely disappeared from public view following insolvency proceedings. Under FTaaS, the Haller Group aims to manage the drivetrain transition for customers,…

Frequent use of high-power fast charging can accelerate electric vehicle battery degradation, but the overall effect remains modest and generally within manufacturer warranty limits, according to a new study by Geotab. The Canada-based telematics and fleet management company analysed battery health data from more than 22,700 electric vehicles across 21 brands, using several years of aggregated real-world usage information. The study found that average annual battery degradation rose to about 2.3%, up from 1.8% recorded in 2023, a change Geotab attributes in part to the increasing use of high-power DC fast chargers. See also: Design Plays Key Role in Attracting…

PlusAI has formed a strategic partnership with Tokyo-based T2 Inc. to deploy Level 4 autonomous trucks in Japan, as the country looks to address chronic driver shortages and rising freight volumes. The collaboration brings together T2’s local logistics expertise and system design capabilities with PlusAI’s experience deploying autonomous trucking solutions with global manufacturers. PlusAI said the partnership is supported by a strategic investment from Mitsui & Co., underscoring growing interest from Japanese industry in next-generation freight mobility. See also: IVECO and PlusAI Plan Level 4 Autonomous Truck Trials in Southern Europe “Backed by Mitsui, this partnership is about bringing the…

Dutch truck maker DAF has expanded its electric truck portfolio by introducing battery-electric versions of its top-tier XG and XG+ long-haul models, extending electrification beyond the XF and applying the same modular electric architecture across its premium range. The XG and XG+ Electric use the same drivetrain technology as the XF Electric and differ primarily in cab design and size. Both models are positioned for national and international long-distance transport, offering a range of more than 500 kilometres, DAF said. DAF first unveiled its new generation of long-haul trucks in 2021, introducing the XF, XG and XG+ as a family…

Daimler Truck is restructuring the distribution of its Fuso brand in Europe, appointing the Emil Frey Group as the general distribution partner for Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) in 21 European countries, including Germany, France and Poland. Under the new arrangement, Emil Frey will take over sales, aftersales and service operations for Fuso trucks in the selected markets. The move forms part of the broader integration of the Fuso and Hino brands under a new holding company, Archion, which is scheduled to begin operations on April 1, 2026. See also: Transportes Ocón Deploys 15 Fuso eCanter Electric Trucks…

Volvo Cars is temporarily suspending operations at Novo Energy after failing to secure a new technology partner for the battery cell venture, dealing a setback to the Swedish automaker’s plans to localise battery production in Europe. Novo Energy was originally established as a joint venture between Volvo Cars and battery maker Northvolt to build a large-scale cell factory in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction of the site began in September 2023, with production initially planned to start this year and capacity targeted at up to 50 gigawatt-hours annually. Following Northvolt’s insolvency, Volvo took full ownership of the venture. See also: Novo Energy…

IVECO said it has agreed to work with long-time partner PlusAI to deploy heavy-duty trucks equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving systems in Southern Europe, marking a planned first for the region. Under the programme, IVECO, a brand of Iveco Group, and U.S.-based autonomous driving software company PlusAI will develop two IVECO S-Way heavy-duty trucks fitted with PlusAI’s SuperDrive virtual driver system. The vehicles are expected to begin multi-year testing in 2026, with a safety operator present in the cab throughout the trial period. See also: PlusAI Reports Progress Toward 2027 Autonomous Truck Launch With Updated Readiness Metrics The autonomous…

Motional, the autonomous vehicle company backed by Hyundai Motor Group, has reset its robotaxi strategy with an AI-first approach to self-driving technology and said it aims to launch a commercial driverless service in Las Vegas by the end of 2026. The move follows a period of retrenchment for the company, which was formed as a $4 billion joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv. Motional had previously missed a target to launch a fully driverless robotaxi service with Lyft, while Aptiv later exited as a financial backer. Hyundai subsequently injected an additional $1 billion to support operations, even as…

Solid-state batteries could move closer to commercial use after researchers at Switzerland’s Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) presented a new production method designed to address key technical barriers that have so far limited large-scale adoption. Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte used in conventional lithium-ion batteries with a solid, ion-conducting material. The technology is widely viewed as a potential breakthrough for electric vehicles because it promises improved safety by eliminating flammable liquids, while enabling higher energy density through the use of thin lithium-metal anodes. Higher energy density could translate into longer driving ranges or lighter battery packs. See also: Finland’s Donut…