Tokyo - The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., today announced that it would increase the export price of tire products from January 2010. The price increase applies to all tire products for passenger cars, light trucks, trucks and buses, and vehicles for construction and industry, and to all overseas markets except for Japan. The maximum markup is around 15 percent. But even larger markup may be applied to specific regions and products.

In the background to the price increase is the situation where it is difficult to absorb the increased cost of tire raw materials including natural rubber and crude oil only by corporate efforts based on internal improvement.

Source: http://www.yrc-pressroom.jp/english/html/2009122515mg002.html

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DETROIT – Today, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox was named the Urban Truck of the Year by On Wheels Media. The Equinox was selected as the best new truck for urban and suburban drivers by On Wheels Media and an independent panel of 15 automotive journalists.

Randi Payton, On Wheels Media’s president and publisher said, “The Urban Vehicle of the Year resonates with the majority of new car buyers who live in urban and suburban areas, who drive on crowded road conditions. The vehicles chosen are cost and fuel efficient, and have the performance and safety characteristics that are relevant to the consumers in Metropolitan areas.”

Chevrolet will accept the award for Best Urban Truck of the Year at the 14th Annual Urban Wheel Awards, January 12, 2010, during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

“We are very proud to be recognized as the Urban Truck of the Year,” says Jim Campbell, Chevrolet General Manager. “Urban Truck of the Year panelists select their favorite vehicle based on factors such as safety, fuel efficiency, performance and affordability. Those are the same factors that our customers rate as key reasons they purchased an Equinox. In fact, the Equinox has been such as hit with customers that we added a third shift at CAMI assembly – and are still struggling to meet demand.”

The Urban Truck of the Year winner is selected by a panel of 15 automotive journalists from a broad array of newspapers, magazines, broadcast and Internet outlets. This year’s panelists include:

• Brian Armstead - Autosense
• Frank Aukofer - Scripps-Howard News Service
• Warren Brown - Freelance
• Mary Chapman - Freelance
• Anqoinette Crosby - Motorweek
• Grant Davis - Examiner.com
• Chris Jackson - Freelance
• Valerie Menard - Freelance
• Greg Morrison - Freelance
• Kimatni Rawlins - Automotive Rhythms
• Beth Lear VanderYacht - Kelley Blue Book
• Yolanda Vazquez - MotorWeek
• Arv Voss - Auto Impressions
• Frank Washington - AboutThatCar.com
• Jeff Yip - Freelance

Source: http://publish.media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2009/Dec/1221_GM_chevy_equinox1

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A truck’s axles are subjected to immense stress and strain every day, year after year. To ensure they are rugged enough to withstand the toughest situations without having to over-dimension them, Volvo Trucks is using an entirely new test rig for wheel axles in its product development. It is the largest of its kind in the world and can handle full-scale tests of axle assemblies up to 32-tonne bogies, making it unique in the truck world.

The new test rig is located at Volvo’s facility in Göteborg, Sweden. In the space of a mere few weeks, it can simulate the stresses and strains that truck is subjected to throughout its entire lifetime. Equivalent tests took four times longer in the previous test rig.

“The tests that we can now perform in six to ten weeks with the new rig used to take six to eight months, and involved testing the vehicles out on the track. The new rig also gives us better-quality test results,” says Göran Johansson, manager of test operations at Volvo.

Quality assurance is a crucial and time-consuming part of Volvo Trucks’ development and quality work. The entire product development phase has been shortened since important test operations can be conducted in just weeks instead of months. In the new test rig, it is also possible to carry out more advanced tests early in the product development cycle. The tests are one stage of product development for next-generation axle assemblies designed to optimise the vehicle’s all-round construction.

“Optimisation is all about ensuring that customers can depend on the truck’s various systems always functioning correctly, while simultaneously ensuring that the systems do not weigh or cost too much due to over-dimensioning,” explains Göran Johansson.

Source: http://www.volvo.com/trucks/global/en-gb/newsmedia/pressreleases/press_article.htm?pubId=8094

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Tokyo—TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) and HINO MOTORS, LTD. (Hino) held a line-off ceremony today to mark the consolidation of production of their jointly developed Toyota “Dyna” and Hino “Dutro” light-duty trucks at PT. Hino Motors Manufacturing Indonesia (HMMI). The consolidation, which brings the end of production of light-duty trucks at PT. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN), represents optimization of the production structure of the Toyota Group in Indonesia.

“I am positive that by consolidating production of light-duty trucks with truck and bus specialist Hino, we have optimized the Toyota Group’s Indonesian truck manufacturing structure. It is my fervent desire to further serve people in Indonesia through the Toyota and Hino brands”, TMC Managing Officer Mitsuhiro Sonoda said at the ceremony, which was attended by Indonesian Vice President Boediono, Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Kojiro Shiojiri and other distinguished guests. Also on hand were Hino President Yoshio Shirai, HMMI President Director Kenji Ohara and representatives of local TMC and Hino affiliates.

The addition of light-duty truck production at HMMI makes the Hino subsidiary a full line-up truck producer, as HMMI was already a producer of medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks, as well as of buses. It also boosts HMMI’s annual scale of production from 10,000 to 35,000 vehicles, making HMMI Hino’s largest overseas manufacturing site, and marks the first time for Hino to build vehicles on consignment from TMC outside of Japan. As from before, HMMI trucks will be sold in Indonesia, with Dyna trucks continuing to be sold by Toyota dealers and Dutro trucks continuing to be sold by Hino dealers.

“We hope to see increased sales of both the Hino-produced Dyna and the Hino-brand Dutro, and, as such, are committed to increased production and supply of trucks that meet user needs”, Shirai said.

TMC and Hino, through the production and sales of high quality, highly reliable trucks, intend to continue contributing to the development of Indonesia’s automotive industry and logistics, as well as to local communities.

Source: http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/09/12/1217_2.html

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Novi, Michigan - Hino Trucks recently donated six trucks to various colleges across the country in support of their diesel technology programs. The trucks selected for donation are MY ‘05 & ‘06 training vehicles ranging from a 14,050 lb GVW model 145 light-duty truck to a 33,000 lb GVW model 338 medium-duty truck. The trucks will provide apprentices and students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with engine mechanics and functionality and allows them to learn the latest on-board diagnostic technology.

“Hino is pleased to make this donation to enhance innovative educational leadership at these institutions,” said Ryan Hitsman, Manager of Human Resources for Hino Trucks. He continued, “Hino Trucks has made a commitment to education by donating vehicles to diesel technician programs that provide students with knowledge and experience that prepares them to work on diesel trucks as well as new technologies that are important to the environment and current needs of the industry.”

The colleges receiving a truck donation are:

• Washington State Community College, Marietta, Ohio
• Rancho Santiago Community College, Santa Ana, California
• Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois
• Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan
• Universal Technical Institute, Norwood, Massachusetts

Various programs from these colleges will benefit from these vehicles including Diesel Truck Technology, Heavy Equipment Technology, Automotive Technology, Heavy Equipment Service Engineering Technology, Automotive Engineering Technology, and Automotive Management.

George Daniels, Vice President of Service Operations for Hino Trucks added, “The EPA has made changes in exhaust emissions every few years, and with those changes come new technology advances. Diesel technicians must be versatile to adapt to not only these new technologies but to customers’ evolving needs. These truck donations will provide state-of-the-art technology to automotive educational programs and will go a long way in complementing their efforts to provide world-class future leaders for our industry.”

About Hino: Hino Trucks, a Toyota Group Company, assembles, sells and services class 4-7 commercial trucks in the United States and is headquartered in Novi, Michigan. With over 180 dealers, Hino Trucks is the fastest growing medium duty truck nameplate in America and is the recipient of the 2008 and 2009 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Medium-Duty Truck Engine and Transmission.

Source: http://www.hino.com/news/story_848.php

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