News: June 2009

Pele and Ronaldo successors rely on MAN coaches

The most famous soccer clubs in Brazil travel on team coaches made by MAN. Ten teams in Brazil’s top league now place their confidence in MAN Latin America vehicles. Clubs that trust MAN’s Volksbus VW 18.320 EOT model include world-famous names such as Corinthians São Paulo, Santos, Vasco da Gama and Flamengo, for which famous players like Pele, Zico, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have all played.

The team coaches are all furnished very differently on the inside, ensuring that the stars of the country that is five-times world champion are well looked after. Special seats and stretchers for injured players, additional medical facilities, game tables and individual meeting spaces for the officials with independent audio and video facilities are just some examples of the features. All of the vehicles also have snack bars, LCD screen televisions and air conditioning. “MAN Latin America is not only providing Brazilian soccer with the best in passenger transportation through this, but is also increasing its media presence,” said Roberto Cortes, President of MAN SE’s Brazilian subsidiary, when expressing his pleasure.

Globetrotter celebrates 30th anniversary

When the Globetrotter cab was launched, Volvo expected to sell a few hundred cabs a year. But this niche product quickly became a success. This year, 30 years after it was launched, nine out of ten new Volvo FH trucks have a Globetrotter cab. Now, just like at the outset, the Globetrotter’s key concepts are driver environment and world class cab comfort.

1979: The first Globetrotter cab is born. Volvo is the first manufacturer to offer a complete solution for driving and living comfort in a truck.

1993: A newly developed Globetrotter is launched for Volvo's new FH series, and quickly becomes Volvo's best-selling cab.

1996: The Globetrotter XL is launched as a variant, with full standing height of 193 cm from floor to ceiling.

2002: The driver environment is upgraded with features including a new instrument panel and new seats.

2008: The cab is made more spacious. The audio and video system is upgraded, and a new folding bed is introduced that converts into a chair. A new swiveling passenger seat is offered as an option.

Dynafleet, the latest version of Volvo Trucks’ transport information system, has been launched

Volvo Trucks has launched a new version of Dynafleet, its transport information system. This system includes new functions such as Customer Online Tracking which enables clients to be connected 24 hours to Dynafleet Online and to see when the cargo was loaded, the exact current location of the vehicle and estimated time of arrival. The life of the dispatcher is also simplified: he can send the driver an order instruction which automatically includes, by clicking on a card within Dynafleet, the delivery address. www.volvo.com

GPS to fail in 2010?

The global positioning system (GPS) that helps many hauliers pinpoint the whereabouts of their vehicles could begin to break down at the beginning of next year, says the US Government.

The GPS depends on satellites that orbit the earth and beam signals back to the ground, but the Americans say that the satellite system has not been maintained well enough. Also, new satellites have hit technical hitches: one was due to be launched at the end of 2007 but has still not been sent into space.

A report to the US Congress says that the result might be a failing system, with sat-nav users finding that from next year they experience failures and blackouts.

General Motors files for bankruptcy

GM filed for bankruptcy yesterday, entering a new and uncertain era of government ownership.

The filing is the third-largest in US history and the largest-ever US manufacturing bankruptcy, according to Reuters, which noted that the decision to push GM into a fast-track bankruptcy, and provide US$30bn of additional taxpayer funds to restructure the automaker is a huge gamble for the Obama presidency.

The GM plan as detailed by US officials is for a quick process that would allow a much smaller GM to emerge from court protection within 60 to 90 days. www.gm.com