Malaysia’s Proton opens first dedicated EV plant, signalling rapid shift towards regional electric vehicle hub

MAN Truck & Bus has reached a major milestone with its battery-electric fleet covering over five million kilometres across Europe, driving forward sustainable freight solutions amid rising demand and infrastructure development.MAN Truck & Bus has announced a pretty big milestone for its electric truck fleet, which has now traveled over five million kilometres in logistics operations all across Europe since the start of 2025. The fleet, consisting of roughly 200 battery-electric trucks, is being used actively by major logistics players like DB Schenker, Dachser, Duvenbeck, and Dräxlmaier. These eTrucks are powered solely by renewable energy, which, honestly, makes them quite impressive—they show that such vehicles can work reliably in different sectors, including automotive, timber, and food logistics. On average, these electric trucks consume about 90 kWh per 100 km, and they’ve managed to cut CO₂ emissions by roughly 3,600 tonnes compared to diesel trucks that burn about 27 litres per 100 km. If each truck hits its expected lifetime mileage of about 1.2 million km, the total emissions reduced could actually surpass 172,000 tonnes—which is roughly the annual CO₂ output of a German city with around 32,000 inhabitants. Friedrich Baumann, who’s a member of MAN Truck & Bus’s executive board responsible for sales and customer solutions, emphasized how versatile these eTrucks are and how they’re helping push sustainable freight transportation forward across Europe. Production of MAN’s electric models—the eTGX and eTGS—started at the Munich plant in June 2025. These trucks are designed for medium- and long-haul jobs, as well as for construction and municipal services. The production line is flexible, capable of making up to 100 diesel or electric vehicles a day. Demand for electric trucks remains surprisingly strong—shortly after they launched, nearly 800 orders were placed, and the sales jumped by 238% year-on-year during the first half of 2025. MAN’s goal is to surpass 1,000 electric truck orders by the end of this year, which is quite ambitious. The adoption of MAN’s electric trucks isn’t limited to just Germany—it's spreading across Western, Central, and Northern Europe. For example, in Germany, the Behrens Group uses eTGX trucks that are partially powered by solar energy generated right on site—a pretty clear sign of how logistics companies are increasingly integrating renewable energy sources into their operations. In France, Jacky Perrenot has ordered over 100 units, a testament to growing demand. Meanwhile, companies in the Netherlands like Cornelissen, van Doorn, and Koopman deploy these eTrucks for regional and urban deliveries. Poland’s Danone is also using them to reduce supply chain emissions, and Portuguese freight forwarder TJA has incorporated eTrucks into their national logistics network. Further north, firms like Nor Tekstil in Norway, Royal Unibrew in Denmark, and an Austrian municipal group covering 12 cities and towns are all adopting these vehicles too. The Austrian contract even includes up to 45 eTrucks dedicated to municipal services—pretty interesting, right? MAN’s electric trucks can go up to about 800 km per day on a charge, with fast-charging technology supporting up to 750 kW. The batteries are specifically tailored to meet the demands of commercial vehicles, which is pretty handy. Initial pre-series production started in 2024, with around 200 eTrucks delivered to select customers to test and refine these vehicles—setting the stage for larger deployments in 2025. Adding another layer to this effort, MAN has teamed up with German energy giant E.ON to develop a nationwide charging network tailored for heavy-duty electric trucks. The plan? Support Europe’s goal to cut heavy vehicle emissions by as much as 90% by 2040. By the end of 2025, they expect to have over 80 charging sites, with a target of reaching 170 in the longer run. These sites will feature multiple 400 kW fast chargers, enabling trucks to top up enough range for around 300 km in just about 45 minutes—addressing concerns many have about charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles, I think. While MAN is definitely leading the charge in increasing electric truck production and validating their use in real-world logistics, the rest of the industry is also making significant commitments. Daimler Truck, for example, aims to have 50% of its European sales as electric trucks by 2030—selling up to 30,000 EVs in the region within that decade. Their Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, which is scheduled to start production in late 2024, already has about 2,000 orders. That said, the electric commercial vehicle market isn’t without its hurdles—high manufacturing costs, supply chain issues, and the need to improve charging options are real challenges that still need tackling if this sector is to truly grow. All in all, MAN Truck & Bus’s progress really highlights how far the technology has come and how viable electric heavy-duty vehicles are for freight transport. Their ability to deploy eTrucks across a range of logistics environments, combined with developing infrastructure and increasing customer demand, represents a big step toward decarbonizing road freight in Europe. Seems like a promising sign for the future, don’t you think? Source: Noah Wire Services

Southern Company and Ford Pro have completed a six-month project demonstrating efficient EV fleet charging, while Volkswagen and Audi accelerate North American manufacturing investments to mitigate tariff impacts and boost market share amidst a changing trade landscape.Southern Company and Ford Pro have wrapped up a six-month pilot project aimed at optimizing how fleets charge their electric vehicles (EVs). By blending Ford Pro’s cutting-edge software platform with real-time data pulled from vehicles and chargers, the program showed it’s possible to cut down on energy demand—without messing with the fleet’s ability to operate smoothly. According to what they found, managed charging schedules can really help boost energy efficiency. This offers some useful insights for fleet managers who are either planning or speeding up their switch to electric vehicles. Basically, this project is a good example of how the commercial aftermarket is evolving—trying to balance sustainability goals while still meeting the strict demands of fleet operations, which, you know, can be quite rigorous. At the same time, the larger automotive aftermarket scene is going through some significant shifts, especially as tariffs become more of a concern. Volkswagen, for example, has reported that tariffs in the U.S.—which are currently at 27.5%—have hit their bottom line pretty hard. CEO Oliver Blume shared that the company’s paid several billion euros extra this year because of these tariffs, with brands like Porsche and Audi feeling the pinch the most. The lack of local U.S. manufacturing facilities in those brands has made things worse—they’ve absorbed most of the burden. This tariff burden has led to earnings pressures, with Audi taking a €600 million hit in the first half of 2025 alone and Porsche losing about €300 million during the spring months. It’s kind of a tricky situation, because Volkswagen is now weighing whether to make more investments in the U.S., including expanding manufacturing facilities—something that might get a boost with upcoming tax incentives being discussed by the government. Volkswagen’s broader plan for the U.S. aims to counteract declining sales in China and Europe. They’re aiming for some pretty bold growth targets—trying to bump their U.S. market share from around 4% up to 10% by 2030. Part of that strategy involves investing heavily, like their €4.8 billion battery plant in Ontario, Canada, which is meant to supply EVs for North America. But of course, there’s some uncertainty because tariffs could be extended to add taxes on imports from Mexico, Canada, and Europe. That could make supply chain planning quite complicated. Still, Volkswagen expects its profit margins to stay stable this year. They’re also getting ready to roll out new EV models, including an electric version of the Scout pickup truck—an important move into the U.S. market’s popular SUV and electric segments. Audi, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, is also working to deal with tariff-related issues by expanding its production facilities in North America. They’re expected to decide on exactly where to build these plants sometime this year. The idea is that increasing local manufacturing will help soften the blow from tariffs, especially since they’re supported by incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act. This move is also in line with broader market trends, where demand is shifting toward electric and SUV models—so Audi’s strategy is really trying to adapt to those changing preferences. All these tariff pressures and strategic shifts highlight a pretty complex environment for automakers and parts suppliers alike. Companies are juggling evolving trade policies, the need for investment, and the push toward electrification—all at once. The Southern Company and Ford Pro pilot adds to this narrative by demonstrating how tech can improve fleet efficiency operationally, while Volkswagen and Audi’s moves reflect the geopolitical, economic, and market forces reshaping how vehicles are made and sold in North America. It’s definitely a busy space these days, and it’ll be interesting to see how everything unfolds. Honestly, these developments—both technical and strategic—are pretty fascinating, don’t you think? Source: Noah Wire Services

UK-based aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman appoints Ben Smith as Head of Aftermarket and secures significant funding to enhance production capacity and global support, signalling a strategic shift towards modernisation and growth in the competitive aerospace sector.Britten-Norman, the UK-based producer well-known for its classic Islander aircraft, is going through quite an important change to bolster its global aftermarket support and boost production capacity. Central to these developments is the recent appointment of Ben Smith as Head of Aftermarket, which really signals the company's dedication to modernizing its customer service and operational systems, all while aiming for growth within the aftermarket sector. Ben Smith comes with over ten years of specialized experience in technical sales, digital services, and aviation support. Before he joined Britten-Norman, he was in charge of Garmin’s UK and EMEA aviation sales efforts, where he was quite involved with Britten-Norman’s operations—supporting projects like the avionics integrations of TXi and GTN Xi systems, for instance. His background offers a pretty unique blend of engineering knowledge—he holds a First-Class Honours degree in Aerospace Technology—and practical experience, considering he's a licensed Private Pilot and had early military exposure with the RAF’s University of London Air Squadron. Many see Smith’s move as a strategic move—well, at least to me—that will help improve customer response times and overall operational flow, especially when it comes to maximizing the lifetime value of the Islander fleet through enhanced spares, repairs, upgrades, and support services. Lara Harrison, who’s the company’s Business Development Director, highlighted that Smith’s technical know-how combined with his long-standing relationships within the operator community are key assets. As Britten-Norman aims to upgrade its systems, those relationships will be critical in delivering more efficient, sustainable, and helpful aircraft operations. “Ben’s appointment really marks a significant step for Britten-Norman as it commits to providing top-notch support for its global operator base,” Harrison said. And, interestingly enough, this personnel update happens at the same time as Britten-Norman securing substantial new funding from Beechlands Enterprises—marking its second investment round within just a year. This capital will go towards expanding the company’s production capabilities in the UK and transforming the aftermarket services it offers. Initial plans include increasing Islander production to around eight aircraft annually, with a focus on the unleaded piston version, though about 20% of the output will be turboprop models. The funds will also be used to acquire advanced manufacturing tools and machinery, which should help improve component production, cut lead times, and boost manufacturing efficiency overall. This move towards ramping up production and improving aftermarket support is happening at a pretty crucial leadership point for Britten-Norman. For a long time, William Hynett has been at the helm—guiding the company for over twenty years—but he’s now shifting into a non-executive director role focused more on strategic planning. It’s worth noting that this change coincides with Britten-Norman’s broader transformation under new ownership, after Beechlands Enterprises took over from 4D Capital Partners earlier in 2024. All these shifts—leadership changes, fresh investments, and a modernized approach to aftermarket support—put Britten-Norman in a pretty strong position to serve its worldwide Islander operators better. It’s also about reinforcing the resilience and value of its fleet, especially amidst a quite competitive aerospace support market. Honestly, it seems like the company’s preparing for some exciting times ahead. Source: Noah Wire Services