MAN looks to buy Swedish rival

FRANKFURT -- Europe's third largest truckmaker MAN Nutzfahrzeuge is offering a cash bid of a reported 9.5 billion euros for Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, according to the Financial Times.

Despite modest shipment increases, manufacturers post highest dollar gains for ’06

OTTAWA -- It was a rise in commodity prices, not necessarily a boost in business, which allowed Canadian factories to hit their highest level of 2006 this past July, according to Stats Canada.

Cat becomes first foreign remanufacturing company in China

PEORIA, Ill. -- Heavy duty engine and construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar is aggressively pursuing the Chinese market, which the company estimates could become as big as $10 billion a year.

Scania rejects takeover bid by rival

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Scania AB shareholders snubbed a $12.2 billion takeover offer from Germany's MAN AG.

The Missouri brakes

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. -- Nobody's quite sure where the 50-millionth Haldex Automatic Brake Adjuster is serving active duty, but everybody's sure of one thing. It's out there.

Canadian trade surplus gap keeps closing

OTTAWA -- Canada's merchandise trade surplus edged down for the second consecutive month in July as imports increased at a slightly faster pace than exports, particularly from the United States.

Freightliner taps new Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing boss

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Freightliner LLC has appointed Friedrich Baumann as president of Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing.

Pre-buy to disrupt ’07 pricing & production: analysts

NEW YORK -- Truck industry analysts Bear Stearns believes that the class 8 pre-buy of 2006 is being severely underestimated.

Ontario small-truck outfitter sets up shop in the west

CALGARY -- In order to cash in on Western Canada's booming sectors, one of Canada's largest contractor van and truck outfitters is setting up shop in Calgary.

Volvo launches I-Shift electronic automatic transmission

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Volvo Trucks North America has announced that its acclaimed 12-speed automated manual transmission, I-Shift, will soon be available in North America. Orders are being taken now for Q2 delivery in all Volvo truck models, including the Volvo VN and Volvo VT highway tractors, and the Volvo VHD vocational truck.

Lack of general skills leads to small business demise: Statscan

OTTAWA -- Financial and management skills are the keys to business success -- more so than asset and equipment growth -- says a new study by Stats Canada.

Volvo Link Sentry and Volvo Action Service standard with EPA ’07 engines

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Volvo Trucks will make its Volvo Link Sentry two-way satellite communications and Volvo Action Service (VAS) 24/7 roadside assistance service standard on all trucks with U.S. '07 engines.

Bendix battles on against knock-offs

ELYRIA, Ohio -- Counterfeit brake parts, mainly from overseas, are a threat to consumer safety and damage the brand reputation of original equipment components manufacturers, says Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC.

Industrial product and raw materials prices edge back down

OTTAWA -- Manufactured goods prices out of the factory gate declined in August as prices for primary metal and petroleum products fell. Raw materials prices also fell in August (down 3.5% from July to August, following a 5.2% increase in July) -- the result of lower prices for crude oil and non-ferrous metals, reports Stats Canada.

Navistar inks engine deal with Chinese powerhouse

WARRENVILLE, Ill. -- Navistar's Brazilian subsidiary has licensed the largest diesel enginemaker in China, Dongfeng Chaoyang Diesel Co., to manufacture and sell select diesel engines in that country.