News: September 2009

First Renault Trucks 26 t HGV will deliver Coca-Cola products in Belgium urban environment

Renault Trucks and Coca-Cola Enterprises Belgium (CCEB) are joining forces to reduce the environmental impact of their activities. To achieve this, Renault Trucks is making a test vehicle with a hybrid propulsion system available to Coca-Cola Enterprises Belgium - a move which will speed up development of the Renault Premium Distribution Hybrys Tech by having it used under actual operating conditions. Furthermore, Renault Trucks is training HGV drivers in rational driving via the Optifuel Programme. Initiatives which are designed to significantly reduce fuel consumption - and proportionately lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Driven by a shared determination to reduce their environmental impact, Renault Trucks and CCEB Belgium are becoming partners in an initiative to develop hybrid technology. The two companies have decided to pool their resources for using and developing a hybrid vehicle by testing it under actual operating conditions.

Russia: Avtovaz will cut up about on-third of its workforce

Avtovaz, which is 25% owned by Renault, will cut up to 27,600 jobs to help it reach "effective and profitable production."

The company employs 102,000 and made the announcement as separate data revealed that car output in Russia fell 62.6% year on year to 369,000 units between January and August.

Output of foreign-branded cars fell 54.2% to 181,200 vehicles in January-August, the trade ministry said, while production of Russian-branded cars fell 68.3% 187,000 units.

Avtovaz said the 27,600 job cuts included 5,000 white collar jobs announced last week. Some 13,000 employees would retire with pensions while another 5,500 would be forced to take early retirement. Some 9,100 employees would be sacked but 6,000 would have the option to work again at Avtovaz in 2012.

Agreement between Scania and SAF-Holland S.A.

Scania has signed a cooperation agreement with the global German trailer axle manufacturer SAF-Holland. The agreement, which is unique within this industry, will provide Scania’s customers a support on the complete vehicle combination that goes beyond the supply of parts and logistics.

The workshops and dealers within Scania’s global service network will be fully authorized to carry out professional service on SAF-Holland trailer axle components. The agreement covers such aspects as logistics, warranty handling, workshop procedures, special tools, help desk and training of workshop technicians.