DEARBORN, Mich.– The new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty is fitting in so well on the job that it’s being asked to stick around longer. Based on customer requests, Ford Motor Company is extending its unprecedented Ford F-Series Super Duty fieldwork evaluation program through the end of 2010 to select extreme-duty commercial customers. That means these preproduction Super Duty models will have earned their keep for a full year in some of the toughest work environments around.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback from these severe-duty users – and their desire to extend the program – confirms the thoroughness of the rigorous testing procedures developed for the 2011 Super Duty as it evolved from raw data to computer images to actual vehicle.

“We tested the 2011 Super Duty in every situation imaginable throughout the development process, but nothing can replace these real-world scenarios,” said Chris Brewer, chief engineer of the 2011 Super Duty.

In Texas, for example, two businesses are working their 2011 Super Duty trucks to the extreme during the busy road-construction season. Both Reynolds Asphalt & Construction Co. of Euless and TexOp Construction of Roanoke have evaluation trucks equipped with the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V-8 turbocharged diesel engine and the 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift™ six-speed automatic transmission.

The vehicles used by Florida Power & Light Company are driven all around the Sunshine State, on-road and off-road, often traveling up to 600 miles a day. They also power through swampy terrain in the Florida Everglades or bull across inaccessible roads to get power back online and respond to other customer needs.

Outstanding fuel economy while standing up to harsh conditions

Reynolds Asphalt has a 2011 Super Duty F-550 4×2 dual rear-wheel chassis cab upfitted with a mechanic’s bed to use as a service truck for the company’s heavy-duty equipment. Essentially a garage on wheels, it services rollers, pavers and other support equipment. The F-550 chassis cab, with class-exclusive Live Drive PTO (power takeoff), carries welding equipment, compressors and a crane body to expedite repairs.

The Live Drive PTO output gear is linked through the torque converter to the engine crankshaft. The power is available any time the engine is running, with the vehicle moving as well as stationary.

“The 2011 Super Duty is a big key to boosting productivity because we can use it to get to locations not easily accessible and get equipment repaired,” said George White, equipment manager of Reynolds Asphalt.

The total weight of added equipment approaches the maximum payload limits of the class-leading 19,500-pound GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of the F-550 truck.

“We definitely have it loaded down, but the fuel mileage has been excellent – about a 20 to 25 percent improvement in highway situations over the truck it replaced,” said White.

The work will get even tougher in the coming months, as Texas already has seen 100-degree temperatures.

TexOp truck busy day and night

TexOp Construction is working a 2011 Super Duty F-350 4×4 Crew Cab XL dual rear-wheel pickup outfitted with toolboxes to assist with maintenance. It also tows Bobcats and other equipment on a double-axle tandem gooseneck trailer to job sites.

“This truck has a lot more power and better mileage,” said Richard Webb, equipment and construction manager for TexOp Construction. “The throttle response and acceleration are outstanding. We’re glad to have it during this upcoming busy season.”

The Super Duty F-350 is used on the highway and off-road in about a 50-50 split. “We have to drive it on basically what’s going to be the base of the road, which can be slick mud,” said Webb. “It’s kind of an obstacle course, really.”

This 2011 F-350 leads a double life, working on a 3,000-acre Texas ranch, pulling horse trailers and hauling hay and ranch equipment.

Florida Power & Light trucks ready at a moment’s notice

Florida Power & Light Company employs a 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL Super Cab 4×4 and an F-250 XLT Crew Cab 4×2. The 4×2 truck is used for towing about 20 percent of the time with the 4×4 truck towing and/or off-road about 80 percent of the time.

The main use of the truck is to keep underground – and underwater – power cables online. This entails driving all around Florida’s highways and “off the beaten path” to areas inaccessible to most vehicles.

“In our business, we need a truck that delivers outstanding fuel economy on the highway and also is capable of tackling the wetlands, swamps and ditches,” said Ray Haering, acquisition specialist for Florida Power & Light. “Our Super Duty pickups have been outstanding meeting those needs.”

The new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine is significantly quieter than the outgoing product, which makes using the available hands-free SYNC® system that much easier – and more productive.

“Before, you literally had to pull over and shut off the engine to talk,” said Joe Heatherly, Florida Power & Light driver. “This new engine is so much quieter, and with the SYNC system, we’re now much more productive.

“We can stay on the road and conduct business, stay in contact with the office or contractors or customers – all without driver distraction. We run up 3,000 or 4,000 minutes a month on our phones, so this has been a tremendous time saver and a huge benefit and more valuable than I would have imagined.”

The towing capability of the new Super Duty has been put to the test by both a 9,000-pound long-bed trailer that tows a 26-foot boat that aids in service efforts and an enclosed box trailer.

“With the power, torque and off-the-line performance, with the revs so low, it’s like there’s nothing back there – it’s that easy,” said Heatherly.

Heatherly has been impressed with the new diesel’s power and fuel economy as well as the new Super Duty’s off-road capability – even with his two-wheel-drive truck.

“The off-road performance has been close to what you might expect with a four-wheel-drive truck. I was shocked,” said Heatherly.

Florida Power & Light also regularly takes advantage of the new Super Duty’s increased biodiesel capability. The new diesel engine is B20 compatible, which allows customers an additional fueling option that uses blends of up to 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel. This option is increasingly important to companies looking to “green” their fleets.

“Because of the extensive development work done with the 2011 Super Duty, especially with the new diesel engine, we had every confidence that even preproduction examples would be outstanding performers,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck marketing manager. “With these trucks delivering outstanding capability and fuel economy, it’s understandable why these businesses want to keep them on the team as long as possible.”

Source: http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford-super-duty-customer-testing-32854

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DETROIT – General Motors announced it is creating a new regional organization to meet rising customer demand in South America.

GM South America will be headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil and will be led by Jaime Ardila, currently president and general manager GM Mercosur. Ardila becomes president, GM South America and will report to GM Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre. As a member of the Executive Committee and regional president, Ardila becomes the highest ranking Hispanic in the company.

“Jaime’s number one priority will be to ensure the very best for our customers in this important and growing region,” Whitacre said.

GM South America includes GM’s existing sales and manufacturing operations in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela as well as sales activities in those countries and Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. GM South America currently has 29,000 employees. As part of GM’s global product operations organization, GM South America has product design and engineering capabilities, which will allow it to continue creating local cars and trucks that complement GM’s global product architectures. In the first five months of the year, GM sold 394,000 vehicles in South America and its market share was 20.2 percent.

“The GM International Operations team is doing a great job expanding our global presence,” said Whitacre. “However, with the rapidly growing markets in Asia, the Middle East and Russia, we need the GMIO team focused exclusively on those countries that are critical to our growth.”

In related moves, Denise C. Johnson, vice president, Labor Relations, will become president and managing director, GM do Brazil, effective July 1, 2010. She will report to Ardila.

Catherine L. Clegg, GM North America manufacturing manager, succeeds Johnson as vice president, Labor Relations, effective July 1, 2010. She will report to Diana Tremblay, GM vice president, Manufacturing and Labor Relations. A successor for Clegg will be announced in the near future.

“This is an exciting development for our team in South America,” said Ardila. “I’m honored to lead the effort in the new South America region, and even more inspired to collaborate with our colleagues around the world to bring the best cars and trucks to our customers in the region.”

Source: http://publish.media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Jun/0622_southafrica

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Australia - A family-owned hire company in Geelong has expanded its operation with the biggest truck on its fleet – a 12-tonne payload Hino 500 Series that the company owner chose for its reliability and looks.

Kerr’s Hire is using the big Hino FM 2627 with a tilt tray for shifting boom lifts and scissor lifts, as well as for moving equipment such as tractors for its local customers.

Company managing director Gary Kerr, who owns the business with wife Heather, said he decided to buy the 500 Series the minute he saw it.

“A customer drove into the yard with one and I just thought it was a beautiful machine,” said Mr Kerr.

“When the guy said he thought the local Hino dealer had another one like it in stock, I went around to see Rob Young at ISR Truck City and three days later I owned it.

“It’s the biggest truck we have and it does all the heavy-duty work, but I must admit I chose it because it’s a great-looking vehicle. I actually drooled when I first saw it.”

Mr Kerr also appreciates the 500 Series from a technical perspective, having started his working life as a truck mechanic in Geelong. He said the Hino is mechanically excellent.

“I’ve never actually driven it, but the guys love it – they say it’s fantastic, and they love the way it handles and the power it has,” he said.

Having worked through the 1970s for a local hire company, Mr Kerr decided to start out on his own soon after it was taken over by a large national operator.

Kerr’s Hire opened for business in February 1982, but had only four customers and $77 worth of sales on its first day.

After a year, sales had risen to $20,000 a month and in late 1988 the company moved into large new purpose-built premises, which it still occupies.

A second branch opened in nearby Grovedale last November, and Mr Kerr is working on a succession plan for his son Jarrod, who is now the operations manager.

Kerr’s Hire also operates three light-duty Hino Dutro trucks and has been impressed with their versatility and reliability over a number of years.

Source:http://www.hino.com.au/News_LatestRelease.aspx?TabID=6&newsTabID=2&newsID=Kyhu2SbxZpSteIZuUNb+7w==

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Tokyo - The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced that its racing team, Team Yokohama, will participate - again with an electric vehicle (EV) - in the 2010 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the best-known hill climb in the world. The event will be staged on Sunday, June 27, in the state of Colorado, U.S.A. The team refers to the race as the “Team Yokohama EV Challenge.”

The “Challenge” is part of Yokohama Rubber’s efforts to meet its environmental responsibilities. A principle aim is to spread recognition of the current state of EV technology and its potential, as well as to develop EV tires for use in severe off-road conditions. This will be the second year for Yokohama to participate in the race. In its debut last year, the team turned in the second-best performance ever for an EV. Having fully reviewed, redesigned and overhauled the vehicle’s chassis, battery and motor, the team is setting its sights this year on a new record.

The Yokohama team’s original EV racing car is equipped with a lithium-ion battery from Sanyo Electric and an AC Induction Motor from American AC Propulsion. It will be driven again this year by Mr. Ikuo Hanawa, a skilled performer in world-class off-road races, and will be equipped with prototype next-generation tires demonstrating stability on any kind of road surface and with additional environmental benefits stemming from reduced rolling resistance.

Source: http://www.yrc-pressroom.jp/english/html/201061611tr001.html

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India - The Tata Motors Group global sales, comprising of Tata, Tata Daewoo and Hispano Carrocera range of commercial vehicles, Tata passenger vehicles along with distributed brands in India, and Jaguar and Land Rover, were 79,819 nos. in May 2010, a growth of 50% over May 2009. Cumulative sales for the fiscal (April 2010 – May 2010) are 157,548, higher by 52% compared to the corresponding period in 2009-10.

Sales of all commercial vehicles were 36,689 nos. in May 2010, a growth of 45%. Cumulative sales for the fiscal are 71,159 nos., a growth of 42%.

Sales of all passenger vehicles were 43,130 nos. in May 2010, a growth of 54%. Cumulative sales for the fiscal are 86,389 nos., a growth of 60%.

Tata passenger vehicle sales, including those distributed, were 24,077 nos. for the month, a growth of 42%. Cumulative sales for the fiscal are 49,427 nos., a growth of 56%.

Jaguar Land Rover global sales in May 2010 were 19,053 vehicles, higher by 72%. Jaguar sales for the month were 5,120, higher by 34%, while Land Rover sales were 13,933, higher by 93%. Cumulative sales of Jaguar Land Rover for the fiscal are 36,962 nos., higher by 66%. Cumulative sales of Jaguar are 8,679 nos., higher by 18%, while cumulative sales of Land Rover are 28,283 nos., higher by 91%.

Source:http://www.tatamotors.com/our_world/press_releases.php?ID=571&action=Pull

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