Heavy Duty Trucking, November 2018

NOVEMBER 2018 HDT 77 WWW TRUCKINGINFO COMis here Four years after presenting the vision of the Future Truck we are introducing a series production truck with many of the same advantages Some of the high tech features on the new Mercedes Benz Actros that were inspired by the Future Truck concept could well make their way into North American trucks in the future For instance theres a multimedia cockpit using two flat screens instead of the familiar gauges and buttons Active Drive Assist builds on adaptive cruise control to put partially automated driving into regular production The new Active Drive Assist can brake accelerate and steer independently giving the driver partially automated driving in all speed ranges for the first time in a production truck according to Daimler And the main mirrors and wide angle mirrors on the new Actros have been replaced by mirror cams as standard equipment The mirror cam system improves visibility and truck aerodynamics It consists of two cameras mounted on the outside of the vehicle and two 15 inch displays on the A pillars inside the drivers cab Daimler also highlighted its electromobilhave a brand new heavily monetized player on the scene taking advantage of the innovations and inspirations of engineers and designers in well established business divisions around the world It seems almost certain that this influx of new technology new ideas and new players into the global trucking markets will boost competition drive new technologies and create disruption in its own right all over the world including in North America Daimlers current and future tech Daimler took up another entire hall not far from Traton with a display of its brands from all over the world flanking the entrance doors Like Traton it got a head start on the show hosting hundreds of global reporters in an airport hanger the afternoon before to showcase its most recent technologies At the IAA show in 2014 recalled Stefan Buchner head of Mercedes Benz Trucks Daimler Trucks introduced its Future Truck 2025 concept truck which demonstrated automated driving functions It still gives me goosebumps to think about it he told reporters The Future Truck inspired the whole world Now its arrived the future MAN Scania Volkswagen Caminhoes e Onibus and Rio but also its global alliances including new ones with Japans Hino and Chinas Howo Its alliance with Navistar in North America was represented by a bright red International LT tractor which stood out among the sea of Euro style cabovers The night before the show officially opened to reporters Traton CEO Andreas Renschler hosted CEOs from around the globe on stage with him in an event that was clearly intended to send a strong signal to the global trucking industry We are here We are growing quickly And if we are not already selling products in your corner of the world rest assured that we soon will be Its a message intended for customers competitors suppliers and potential investors as Traton gears up for an initial public offering sometime in the near future It seems clear that the companys directors have looked to the dizzying array of partnerships and alliances among truck makers around the globe as well as how competitors Daimler and Volvo have leveraged global scope and decided We can do that too The implications of this push could not be clearer In the near future trucking will Navistars alliance with Traton formerly Volkswagen Truck Bus made itself known with the display of an International LT amidst all the Euro style cabovers Traton was prominently displaying its new name including with this sign outside its display hall This sleek passenger pod on the Mercedes Benz Vans Vision Urbanetic concept is designed to be interchanged with a boxy cargo pod using the same electric autonomous chassis PHOTO DEBORAH LOCKRIDGE PHOTO DEBORAH LOCKRIDGE PHOTO MERCEDES BENZ VANS PHOTO IAA