#DETROITDIESEL

Design

Cars Without Coffee: Inside Kevin Hunter’s Garage

Tenth in a series. Yes, he’s a designer. But he also likes the visceral enjoyment of driving (good-looking vehicles).

Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, AutoBeat Group

Nielsen Named Head of Daimler’s North American Truck Unit

Roger Nielsen has been appointed president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), effective April 1.

Diesel

Daimler to Expand Diesel Plant Near Detroit

Daimler AG is spending $375 million (€352 million) to add medium-duty diesel engine capacity at its Detroit Diesel Corp. manufacturing complex near Detroit.

Propulsion

Daimler to Expand Michigan Truck Powertrain Plant

Daimler AG's truck unit will invest $120 million to upgrade a factory in Redford Township, Mich., to produce a fully integrated powertrain for the company's Freightliner and Western Star brand heavy-duty trucks.

Diesel

Owners Less Satisfied with Heavy-Truck Engines

The technology required to meet U.S. diesel emission standards is causing more engine problems and less owner satisfaction among Class 8 truck owners, according to J.D.

Design

Voith Hires Truck Veteran Reinhardt

German mechanical engineering firm Voith GmbH has appointed Carsten Reinhardt to serve as a member of its management board and CEO of its Voith Turbo subsidiary, beginning July 1.

Design

Mercedes Voted “ of the Decade” in Great Britain

Perhaps it is our U.S. bias showing, but when we see the word “Mercedes” associated with winning a vehicular award of some note, our default thinking goes along the lines that it must be something that starts with a letter and ends with the word “Class.” Like, for example, “Mercedes E-Class Voted. . .” and it has been voted: EClass Awards to April 2010 (selection) Award Organiser Our Car Regional weekly newspapers in the newly formed German states Yellow Angel ADACmotorwelt Auto Bild Design Award 2009 Auto Bild Best Car of the Year auto motor und sport Auto Trophy 2009 Auto Zeitung Internet Auto Award (Germany) www.autoscout24.de Sports Car of the Year Auto Bild Sportscars Top-Auto 2010 Motor information service EuroCarBody Award 2009 Automotive Circle International Austria's "Car of the Year" award Austrian car, motoring and cycling association Diners Club Magazine Award Diners Club GOOD DESIGN® Award Chicago Athenaeum Autocar Road Test Award Autocar (India) Continental Irish luxury/sports car of the year Irish Motoring Writers Association Best Car of the Year Otohaber (Turkey) But this one struck us as somewhat unusual: Actros voted “Truck of the Decade” in Great Britain Actros?

Mobility

Freightliner Goes Autonomous

Class 8 trucks have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 33,000 lb. or more. So if you’re going to make one that can drive semi-autonomously (driver, yes; controlling the vehicle all the time, no) on public roads, then you really need to get it right. Which is what Daimler Trucks North America has done—and it has license plates from the state of Nevada to prove it.

Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, AutoBeat Group