Commercial Vehicles Archives

Tevva Truck to help immediate commercial vehicle industry need to electrify

Commercial vehicles (CVs), like passenger cars, will also have to follow the electrification route during this decade. This is especially so in Europe where there is a commitment by industries and governments to a target of net zero emissions by 2050, alongside a proposed ban on the sale of all polluting vehicles by 2035. With less than 15 years to go, there is now increased activity in developing electrically-powered trucks and there are already some in the market from leading manufacturers.

With demand for CVs therefore growing, there are other players coming into the market as well. One of them is Tevva Motors Limited, a UK-based company that describes itself as being ‘at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero emissions commercial vehicles’. The team at Tevva is led by Ken Scott, formerly Engineering Director at both Bentley and Alexander Dennis, with styling handled by Dale Grewer, former Chief Designer at Jaguar Land Rover.

Fully built in Britain from 2022
The company recently unveiled its new truck – simply called the Tevva Truck – which will be fully built in Britain on a high-volume basis from mid-2022. It is the culmination of 7 years of engineering development and the learning gathered from over 320,000 kms of in-fleet trials. Tevva expects to be building 3,000 trucks a month from 2023.

The 7.5-tonne (GVW) electric truck is the first of a series of electrically-powered vehicles that will extend to 19.5 tonnes for the UK, European, and Middle Eastern markets. Using a rechargeable battery pack, the claimed range is 250 kms while having patented range extender technology (REX) now upgraded to use hydrogen fuel cells, can provide a range of up to 500 kms.

Tevva says its new truck offers a best-in-class combination of capability and cost efficiency from a zero emissions medium-duty truck, while offering the ruggedness and resilience of traditional trucks.

Ownership cost comparable to diesel truck
Range is obviously a concern to fleet managers who want the furthest distance at the lowest cost. The total cost of ownership is said to be comparable to a diesel truck; parity is achieved at approximately 3,000 kms or when 500 litres of diesel are consumed per month. The REX solution using compact hydrogen fuel cells can recharge the battery on the move, allowing longer duty cycles and transporting heavier loads even further.

Future technical developments already being tested will enable the Tevva Truck to be fully charged in just one hour – facilitating double shift operations, to help reduce the total cost of ownership. The time spent recharging will also be important to operators and as technology continues to advance, the times should keep shortening. Eventually, the driver won’t have time to have a cup of coffee and a meal at the recharging station.

Meeting the immediate industry need
The Tevva Truck will help the immediate industry need to electrify with transformative battery electric vehicles for the real world. “Technology is transforming the commercial vehicle sector at pace, making it safer, greener, and entirely more efficient. But meaningful change is a gradual process, it must happen one step at a time, even if those changes are needed in fast succession. The Tevva Truck provides a natural transition into electrification for fleet managers, providing total peace of mind and a compelling total cost of ownership proposition, with no compromise on range and reliability and minimised compromise on payload,” said Asher Bennett, Founder and CEO of Tevva.

Hino, Isuzu and Toyota to form new partnership in Commercial Vehicle Development

Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected and although you may not show symptoms or feel sick, you can still spread the coronavirus to others. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.

Michelin Malaysia adds more sizes for X MULTI Z 2 range for commercial vehicles

Although commercial vehicles may not change as frequently as passenger cars, the tyres they run on have technologies which are continuous improved in many aspects. This is the case with the Michelin X MULTI Z 2, introduced in February last year as the latest addition to the tyremaker’s best-selling range in the East Asia and Australia regions.

3 major breakthrough technologies
There are 3 major breakthrough technologies in the X MULTI Z 2, beginning with REGENION. This technology enables differently shaped grooves to be used, ensuring minimal tread deformation. The advantage of minimizing tread deformation is that rolling resistance is lowered, leading to less fuel consumption.

*The X Multi Z 2 tyre is suitable for long-distance, regional and urban use.*

With the ground-breaking 3D metal printing techniques, the longitudinal grooves regenerate as the tyre wears, delivering a high level of grip and traction throughout the tyre’s lifecycle in all weather conditions. There is also a lower wear rate, claimed to be more than 20% compared to its predecessor, the X MULTI Z.

INFINICOIL is another technology and this adopts reinforced tread plies with a continuously wound steel wire of up to 400 metres long (depending on tyre size) inside the casing. The high tensile steel wire increases tyre strength and thus optimizes the ground contact patch and delivers high mileage potential.

This technology provides greater stability throughout the tyre’s lifetime, help reduce risk of sudden pressure loss for better vehicle control, extend mobility even when punctured, and improve uneven wear as it flattens the contact patch – thus, contributing to longer mileage and less unexpected breakdown incidences.

Finally, the use of HT NYLON provides strengthened bead endurance that helps not only reduce tyre damage linked to long-distance/high-speed usage and continuous usage cycle by 10% but also increase retreadability.

Additional sizes
New size offerings are now available for a wider range of applications. These new sizes – 295/80R22.5 and 12R22.5 – along with the original 11R22.5 are available at all authorized Michelin truck tyre dealers around Malaysia.

“We are proud to bring in new additions to the line-up of sizes offered by the Michelin X MULTI Z 2 range. The truck tyre market is an important segment that bolsters economic activities for the nation, and is crucial now more than ever, as we go into yet another movement control order in Malaysia. Thanks to the three core revolutionary technologies, the Michelin X MULTI Z 2 brings to our targeted customers uncompromised safety performance and helps meet their delivery timing and efficiency – thus, leading to increased productivity and improved cost-effectiveness for their businesses,” said Michelin Malaysia’s Commercial Director for B2B, Muhammad Arya Subrata.

Click here for others news about Michelin products and activities.

Federal Court upholds ruling on liability of logistic company to settle unpaid toll charges for use of PLUS highways

Vehicles travelling on PLUS highways (as well as the highways of other concessionaires round the country) are required to pay toll charges. But it appears that there are some drivers of commercial vehicles who have somehow managed to get away with not paying the charges, and PLUS has taken their employer to court to claim unpaid charges.

Logistic company liable for employees/drivers
PLUS had filed a suit against a logistic company named Berjasa Logistics Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Sin Kung Logistics (KL) Sdn Bhd) to recover unpaid toll fares involving 19 vehicles found to be registered to the company and driven by its employees over the past few years.

*File image of a commercial vehicle using a PLUS highway.*

Unpaid amounts totalled over RM518,000
The unpaid amounts totalled RM518,369.27 and in July 2017, the logistic company was considered by the High Court as well as Court of Appeal to be liable for its employees’ failure to pay toll charges. An additional RM100,000 in costs was also included in the judgement.

The Federal Court has unanimously upheld the decision by the High Court and Court of Appeal, ruling that the logistic company is vicariously liable whenever their drivers and/or employees failed to pay the required toll charges.

PLUS takes the deliberate act of evasion from paying toll seriously and seeks full cooperation from all logistic companies and heavy vehicle owners to continuously monitor and take appropriate actions against their drivers and/or employees.

In addition, PLUS has identified several toll fraud tactics by the heavy vehicle drivers and is taking the necessary preventive measures including initiating legal actions. At the same time, PLUS continues to collaborate and work closely with the relevant authorities to curb toll fraud activities along the highway.

PLUS urges highway users to observe SOPs at all times

MR. D.I.Y. Group’s fleet of Isuzu commercial vehicles now totals 100 units

Malaysian retail giant MR D.I.Y. Group (M) Berhad has 700 stores across the country and logistics to support the stores requires reliable transport which is also fuel efficient. Having already used a number of Isuzu vehicles since 2017 and found them to meet the demands of the business, the company has steadily increased its fleet size with vehicles from the same brand which was the No. 1 truck brand in Malaysia in 2020 and earlier years.

Recently, MR D.I.Y. tool delivery of another batch of 8 Isuzu medium-duty trucks to add to its fleet. The trucks are from the F-Series (Forward Series) range, comprising 6 units of the FSR90 model and 2 units of the FVR300 model.

A handover ceremony with a mock key presentation marked the official delivery of the new Isuzu trucks was held recently at MR D.I.Y.’s headquarters in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. Making the delivery personally were the senior management teams of Isuzu, MR D.I.Y. and Ultra Gallant, the authorised Isuzu dealer serving MR D.I.Y.

“We are very pleased to have completed the delivery of 8 units of Isuzu medium-duty FSR90 and FVR300 trucks to our esteemed customer, MR D.I.Y., and to be able to continuously provide the support they require to operate their flourishing logistical assignments. We would like to thank MR D.I.Y. for the support and trust given to the Isuzu brand,” said Koji Nakamura, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia.

Providing maximum efficiency and productivity

“As one of the largest Japanese truck manufacturers globally, it is our obligation to provide our customers with commercial vehicles that can lead the way forward for their business to achieve maximum efficiency and productivity,” he added.

Mr. Nakamura said that both of the models are part of Isuzu’s F-Series medium-duty commercial vehicles that the company has been producing for decades with continuous development of new trucking innovations, and where its customers around the world embrace and count on for the advance features, innovative design, and dependable performance.

“The Isuzu FSR90 and FVR300 medium-duty trucks are the ideal, adaptable, and value-added choice for meeting the requirements of any transport assignment. With the gross vehicle weight of 11,900 kgs for FSR90 and 19,000 kgs for FVR300, we are confident the trucks will be able to provide high utilization with absolute productivity, reliability, and safety for the sustainability of MR D.I.Y.’s soaring business,” said Mr. Nakamura.

*Isuzu engines can run efficiently on Malaysian biodiesel.*

5 powertrain choices

“Isuzu’s F-Series range of commercial vehicles feature a choice of 5 powertrains for a range of performance and torque, optimized wheelbases for greater load capacity and body-mounting capability, offering the versatility today’s businesses need to be successful,” he added.

MR D.I.Y. purchased its first Isuzu truck in 2017 and has been steadily adding more units to its fleet over the last 4 years. With this latest addition, the company now has a total of 100 units of Isuzu trucks in its fleet.

Commenting on the handover of the vehicles, a MR D.I.Y. spokesperson said: “We are on a strong growth trajectory, with 700 stores now, and have plans to open 175 new stores across our 3 brands in 2021. The backbone of our growth is the efficient distribution of goods via our centrally-managed distribution system. Isuzu has been a valued long-standing partner who well understands our needs, and has been supportive in meeting them.”

To know more about the commercial vehicles available from Isuzu Malaysia or to locate an authorised dealership in Malaysia, visit www.isuzu.net.my.

The Secret of Isuzu’s Success in Malaysia

Hino, Isuzu and Toyota to form new partnership in Commercial Vehicle Development

Isuzu Motors Limited, Hino Motors, Ltd., and Toyota Motor Corporation today announced that they will form a new partnership in commercial vehicles with the aim of accelerate societal implementation and dissemination of CASE technologies and services, and to help address various difficulties facing the transportation industry as well as help achieve a carbon-neutral society. ‘CASE’ refers to new areas of Connected vehicles, Autonomous/Automated driving, Shared, and Electric.

The three companies intend to combine Toyota’s CASE technologies with the commercial vehicle foundations cultivated by Isuzu and Hino. Specifically, they plan to jointly work on the development of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), autonomous driving technologies, and electronic platforms centered on the domain of small commercial-purpose trucks.

Wide scope
While working together on BEVs and FCEVs to reduce vehicle costs, the three companies plan to advance infrastructure-coordinated societal implementation, such as by introducing FCEV trucks to hydrogen-based society demonstrations in Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture, and accelerate their dissemination initiatives.

In a joint press conference this afternoon, the leaders of Isuzu, Hino, and Toyota said they also plan to link their connected technology platforms to build a platform for commercial vehicles that can help solve customers’ problems. Through this platform, they intend to provide various logistics solutions that not only help improve commercial vehicle transport efficiencies but also contribute to reducing CO₂emissions.

To promote their partnership, Isuzu, Hino, and Toyota are establishing Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation, a company for planning CASE technologies and services for commercial vehicles based on discussions among its three parent companies.

Going forward, Isuzu, Hino, and Toyota intend to deepen their collaboration while openly considering cooperation with other like-minded partners.

Capital partnership
In conjunction with this new development, Isuzu and Toyota have agreed on a capital partnership. Through acquisition of 39 million shares of Isuzu common stock, Toyota will hold a 4.6% stake in Isuzu, while Isuzu plans to acquire Toyota shares of the same value through a market purchase.

Hino Motors a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation and one of 16 major companies of the Toyota Group. The 78-year old company originally made passenger cars as well but focussed on commercial vehicles after being acquired by Toyota in 1967.

Isuzu maintains lead in truck segment in Malaysia

Isuzu Malaysia continued to be the dominant player in the commercial vehicle market in 2020. From the official data issued by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), the total volumes for Isuzu place it as No. 1 truck for the 7th consecutive year and light-duty truck for the 11th consecutive year.

In 2020, Isuzu Malaysia delivered a total of 4,747 vehicles in all segments, and its record success as the most preferred light-duty truck brand in Malaysia for the 11th consecutive year was achieved by the flagship ELF truck with total sales of 4,551 units.

Highest market share
“Isuzu Malaysia is extremely delighted to have wrapped up the year 2020 with great achievements and to welcome this new year with double celebrations after having secured the top position for both truck and light-duty truck brand categories once again,” said Koji Nakamura, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia.

“The total number of trucks we have sold last year is the highest market share that we have recorded since Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd was established. Last year was also our company’s 40th year anniversary in Malaysia, so this success is definitely a notable milestone for us,” he said. “It is also a reflection of our teams’ unrelenting commitment in making strong progress on our business execution. Our focus is to constantly strengthen the quality of our products and efficiency of our services to serve our customers better.”

“The pandemic situation in the past year had posed many extraordinary challenges for many people and companies across all industries. Despite the uphill market environment, I am pleased that we have managed to stay on course and effectively maximized our resources to help our customers move forward with their business operations,” Mr. Nakamura added.

Continued strategic initiatives
Despite the challenging market situation during the past year, Isuzu Malaysia took continued dealership network expansion, product innovation and ensured timely delivery of new trucks to customers. These strategic initiatives sustained sales growth, complemented by enhancements to service quality for increased customer satisfaction.

*Latest engines in ELF models have B20 biodiesel compatibility.*

Enhanced ELF launched
During 2020. the enhanced Isuzu ELF was launched which offers the Isuzu Safety Plus platform. Besides the combination of safety system upgrades, the enhanced ELF also has B20 biodiesel compatibility and greater warranty benefits. The enhancements are available in 19 variants of the model which offers the widest range in light-duty truck market.

“Isuzu Malaysia’s strategy has always been built around having satisfied and productive customers and I am glad that our achievements had demonstrated a well-performed year for us. I would also like to commend and thank all our employees and skilled dealership teams for always making extra efforts for our customers. Their dedication has contributed hugely to Isuzu Malaysia’s uninterrupted leading position,” said Mr. Nakamura.

*An Isuzu 3S dealership in Taiping, Perak*

“Looking ahead in this new year, I believe that Malaysia’s economy will slowly but steadily improve, and many industries will further recover too. Although Isuzu is now well-known for offering a wide range of trucks that have become the preferred choice for quality, durability and cost-efficiency, we will continue to remain focused on providing more excellence and value to all our customers. Importantly, Isuzu Malaysia’s aim this year is to continue rendering assistance in essential services, ensuring smooth delivery of products and making contribution for people’s daily life and business,” he promised.

To know more about Isuzu’s range of vehicles and locations of dealerships in Malaysia, visit www.isuzu.net.my.

Isuzu Elf range enhanced with extra safety features, B20 compatibility and longer warranty

New Vehicle Sales And Production Summary For September 2020

*Source: Monthly reports of Malaysian Automotive Association*

♦ The government’s Sales Tax exemption incentive continued to encourage many to buy new vehicles in September, pushing the Total Industry Volume past 56,000 units. In fact, it was 26% higher than the same month in 2019.

♦ Of the 56,444 units registered, 9.7% were commercial vehicles which includes pick-up trucks.

♦ Cumulative sales after 9 months have reached 341,489 units, To achieve the MAA’s 470,000-unit forecast for 2020, the industry must sell an average of 42,837 units in the remaining 3 months. Since July, the monthly sales have been over 50,000 units so the question will be whether this level can be sustained until the end of the year?

♦ Production rose slightly as most plants assembled as many units as possible to meet the higher demand. The output rose of 51,987 units was 15% higher than the same month in 2019, but output of commercial vehicles was lower by 26%.

♦ October numbers could be lower as the burden of making monthly instalments has resumed with the cessation of the loan moratorium that was provided by the banks as a form of assistance during this pandemic period. Furthermore, the imposition of the CMCO for two weeks in the month (if not longer) in the region with the most new vehicle sales may have an effect too. However, unlike the situation in March when all car companies had to suspend all activities, businesses can presently continue operating and relevant government agencies also process new vehicle registrations.

Isuzu Malaysia opens first medium/heavy-duty truck dealership in East Malaysia

Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd recently had an official opening of its very first medium and heavy-duty (MHD) truck dealership in East Malaysia. Located in Kuching, Sarawak, this new MHD truck dealership is operated by Dai Max Automobile Sdn Bhd.

The dealership has 3S status, meaning it offers customers sales, service and spare parts. As its location is near industrial areas, it is readily accessible to many truck drivers whenever they require attention for their vehicles.

“We are very excited with the opening of Isuzu Malaysia’s first MHD truck dealership in Kuching which underscores our commitment to expanding our customer reach in this part of Malaysia, as well as strengthening our aftermarket services and maximising our customers’ satisfaction and trust in us,” said Koji Nakamura, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia, during the official opening ceremony.

“This dealership is designed to deliver exceptional sales and service experience to meet the needs of our customers throughout the region. With a large facility combined with a convenient location, it will definitely enable us to serve our East Malaysian customers better, thus contributing to their business productivity,” added Mr. Nakamura.

The premises of the new dealership cover roughly 3,000 square metres, with the service centre area taking up about 650 square metres. Dai Max Automobile took about 5 years to complete the new dealership which is built according to the latest service centre design. Its facilities allow easy manoeuvring of trucks for service or repair.

In addition, there are three extra bays for light commercial vehicles and light-duty vehicles, plus two extra bays for MHD trucks. The dealership also has ample parking spaces and efficient workshop layout for trucks that are waiting to be inspected.

The team of well-trained and skilled technicians use Isuzu’s latest diagnostic tools for all maintenance work. They always aim to minimise truck downtime so as to increase business efficiency for vehicle owners.

Amenities such as family-friendly customer lounge, prayer room and complimentary snacks and beverages are available for truck drivers to enjoy before they hit the road again once the truck is ready.

*One of the latest Isuzu trucks available in Malaysia.*

“With this new MHD truck dealership, our aim is to focus on potential customers, strengthening our team’s product knowledge and technical skills to support Isuzu Malaysia in achieving growth in this region. Through product innovation, quality service and people, we will be able to create new capabilities to provide the best support for our customers,” Mr. Nakamura promised.

“We will do this by providing competitive pricing for parts and technical services to exceed our customers’ expectations. This will eventually connect to fleet and parts sales, attract new fleet customers and create strong product and brand awareness,” he said.

The new dealership brings the total number of Isuzu MHD dealerships to 11, with 10 strategically located around Peninsular Malaysia.

Isuzu Dura Miles Challenge shows fuel efficiency of 1.9-litre Blue Power engine

Isuzu Elf range enhanced with extra safety features, B20 compatibility and longer warranty

Isuzu Malaysia’s latest ELF light-duty truck range has been enhanced with safety upgrades as well as additional warranty benefits for operators. The enhancements are available in 18 variants of the ELF, which range from 4-wheeler to 6-wheeler versions. With the newly enhanced trucks, truck operators will have safer, more productive and sustainable business.

In the area of safety, there is the new Isuzu Safety Plus platform which consists primarily of four main safety features – ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Anti-slip Regulator (ASR) and Supplemental Restraint System Airbag.

ABS, EBD and ASR are active safety systems which will be valuable in helping drivers avoid accidents, especially in slippery conditions. EBD automatically distributes brake force distribution according to the load on board, road condition and speed. With optimised brake force distribution, the driver will be able to have better control of the vehicle.

The ASR function, which can be deactivated when not needed, can prevent the wheels from spinning on slippery surfaces, improving grip. This is helpful during cornering especially and can contribute to increasing the lifespan of the tyres.

Besides the airbag, the seatbelt system in the Elf also has extra functions to maximise the restraint of the driver. A Pre-Tensioner retracts the seatbelt instantly, removing the slack so the driver’s body is firmly secured on the seat. Secondly, a Load-Limiter releases the webbing force gradually so as to not exert too much pressure on the driver’s chest, thus minimizing injury to the body during a frontal collision.

“The enhanced ELF range with Isuzu Safety Plus truly represents a thorough evolution to delivering more superior levels of safety and performance that many truck operators seek in order for them to effectively navigate their business in today’s market environment,” said Koji Nakamura, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia.

This enhanced ELF range incorporates Isuzu’s S.E.E Technology which signifies the three core aspects of Safety, Economy and Environment. “With Isuzu’s S.E.E Technology at its core, the enhanced ELF range with Isuzu Safety Plus corresponds to today’s truck operators’ need for efficiency, safety, cost savings and lower carbon footprint – everything delivered in a dynamic, versatile and reliable light-duty vehicle,” explained Mr. Nakamura.

In support of the government’s promotion of cleaner fuel to increase Malaysia’s energy security, improve air quality and the environment, Isuzu has ensured that its truck engines are readily compatible with B20 biodiesel.

Customers who purchase the enhanced ELF range with Isuzu Safety Plus will enjoy extended warranty coverage of 5 years or a maximum of 200,000 kms. This extensive warranty coverage is said to be one of the best in the market, assuring customers of long-term support with peace of mind and lower costs.

The ELF, assembled at Isuzu Malaysia’s plant in Pahang, has been the top-selling light-duty truck for the past 10 years in Malaysia. “The introduction of this new range is expected to perpetuate its market-leading position. At Isuzu, we believe we have raised the bar once again and we are confident that this enhanced range is poised to propel us to achieving another notable milestone as the most preferred and most sellable light-duty truck in Malaysia this year and beyond,” Mr. Nakamura said.

Isuzu Dura Miles Challenge shows fuel efficiency of 1.9-litre Blue Power engine

Renault Used Trucks launches T 01 Racing model

With the inclusion of the 13-litre engine with 480 bhp in its range of used trucks, Renault Trucks (part of the Volvo Group) now offers the T 01 Racing model. The appearance of this used prime mover semi-trailer tractor of the last Euro6 generation was done by the Halle du Design (HDD), Renault’s own design facility.

The designers were inspired by the world of motorsport to create a modern and dynamic design that reflects the technical performance of the vehicle. From the outside, the T 01 Racing is presented in three colours on an EKLA white background: glossy black, bright red and bright yellow.

The inside of the headlight covers is painted in bright red. Reflective retro stickers that are reminiscent of the world of motorsport are affixed to the outside of the vehicle. The painting of the Viscope outer sunvisor, the rims, the radiator grille and rearview mirror housing complete the sporty appearance. Optionally, a customer can order additional parts in carbonfibre, accessories for LED lighting or horns, or even a special paint job.

The spacious cabin has door sills also specially painted in bright red and bright yellow. An anthracite grey interior with carbonfibre elements is provided with red buttons that stand out clearly from the dashboard.

The T 01 Racing is transformed in the Used Trucks Factory, Renault’s own conversion and adaptation facility for used vehicles, using the same assembly procedures as for new vehicles. Only certified original parts are used, and the selling points are low mileage and a manufacturer’s guarantee of 12 months or 120,000 kms.

Piston.my