NEWS & VIEWS
IVECO TRUCK FULL MANUFACTURING IN AUSTRALIA IS TO END As part of a global transformation process, Iveco has announced the development of a Customisation & Innovation Centre (CIC) and this means Iveco truck full manufacturing in Australia is to end. In announcing the development of the CIC, the company also advised it would move to fully import its Heavy Duty range from Iveco’s manufacturing facility in Madrid, Spain. This transition is anticipated to take place from the end of June 2022. Iveco currently fully imports its Light Duty, Medium Duty, selected Heavy Duty, Minibus and Off-Road models. As an example, the first cab off the rank will probably be the new S-WAY model, which will arrive next year and launch in Australia according to the global launch plan. Iveco states that the decision to fully import its Heavy Duty range will allow the operation in Australia to more closely align model year introduction timings with that of its parent company in Europe. The fully imported dual control Acco model for the local waste market will be part of this new process arriving here as
a built up truck and will be customised at the CIC to ensure its compatibility with the needs of the waste industry in Australia. The arrival of the new S-WAY model for the Australian and New Zealand market will probably herald the end of full truck manufacturing at the Dandenong plant for Iveco. This will mark the end of a long history, dating back to 1952 of full truck manufacturing taking place at the Dandenong facility. “Historically, our most unique value proposition has been our ability to customise and specialise vehicles for our market, leveraging the expertise of our local engineering team and the local facility,” said Michael May, Managing Director Iveco Australia and New Zealand. “By further enhancing this service, we believe there is considerable potential to provide additional value to existing and prospective customers, while growing the CIC’s capacity and scope of work. “Given our brand’s long history of manufacturing in Australia, this next step towards customisation strengthens our ability to remain agile and responsive
to demanding regional requirements. This move will also ensure that we are in a position to offer the market the very latest in Iveco performance, comfort and safety innovation, in the most timely fashion, and at the same time, capitalise on our design and validation engineering expertise and customisation capabilities.” Iveco stated that it will continue to engage with its employees who may be impacted by this announcement, and will provide appropriate support to the involved workforce.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK OF THE YEAR DOUBLE DAF has achieved an International Truck of the Year double, scooping both the ‘Truck of the Year 2022’ gong and the ‘2022 Truck Innovation Award’. The prestigious award was handed over to Harry Wolters, President of DAF Trucks. With a winning score of 150 votes, the Dutch long-haul heavy-duty truck range fought off the challenge posed by Iveco’s recently-launched T-Way construction series and Mercedes-Benz’s batteryelectric eActros (second generation). Taking full advantage of the EU’s new mass and dimension regulations, DAF has created a truck range that dramatically improves aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, active and passive safety, and comfort for the driver. During extended test drives in Spain and central Europe, the IToY jury members appreciated the excellent visibility provided by a large, curved
8
POWERTORQUE January/February 2022
windscreen, side windows with low beltlines and the kerb-view window. These features, along with the digital vision system that replaces the traditional rear mirrors and the new corner view camera, offer excellent all-around visibility, protecting vulnerable road users. The IToY journalists also praised the performance of the new highly efficient powertrains, based on the Paccar MX-11 and MX-13 engines, coupled with TraXon automated gearbox, and the advanced features of predictive cruise control with extended Eco-roll functionalities. “With the introduction of the New Generation, DAF has delivered a hightech heavy-duty truck range that sets a new benchmark in the truck industry,” said Gianenrico Griffini, International Truck of the Year Chairman. “In
addition, it is future-oriented, as it also represents a complete platform for new generations of alternative drivelines”. Read driving impressions of the winner of the 2022 Truck Innovation Award from PowerTorque’s European Correspondent, Will Shiers, on page 66 of this issue.
