News
Freightliner Inspiration Truck Unveiled at Hoover Dam
LAS VEGAS, NV - In a spectacular evening presentation at Hoover Dam last night, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) unveiled the Freightliner Inspiration Truck to several hundred international news media, trucking industry analysts, and officials. It's the first licensed autonomous commercial truck to operate on an open public highway in the United States. Developed by engineers at DTNA and Daimler Trucks in Germany, and of course borrowing much from the Mercedes-Benz Future Truck introduced last year, it promises advancements that reduce accidents, improve fuel consumption, cut highway congestion, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
North American Truck Orders Post April Decline
COLUMBUS and BLOOMINGTON, IN -- Orders for new heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks in North America both hit the skids a little bit, but it's no cause for alarm. During April, 39,700 Class 5 through Class 8 truck orders were booked, down 6% compared the April 2014, according to preliminary numbers from the commercial vehicle industry data provider ACT Research. Actual numbers will be published in mid-May. "While the order volume represents a fairly sharp deceleration from the 50,000 units-plus order months experienced from October to February, the pullback is a reflection of already large backlogs as well as a paucity of build slots remaining in 2015," said Kenny Vieth, ACT president and senior analyst. "This month's net orders were not a surprise, considering that the calendar is moving away from peak order season."
Freightliner Licenses Autonomous Truck in Nevada
LAS VEGAS, NV - At a ceremony Tuesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval officially granted the first licence for an autonomous commercial truck to operate on an open public highway in the United States to Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). At the event, hosted by DTNA president & CEO Martin Daum, Sandoval took part in the inaugural trip of the Freightliner Inspiration Truck in autonomous mode with Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG Daimler Trucks & Buses, at the controls.
