Ford Gets $5.9 Billion in U.S. Aid to Boost Mileage
from Bloomberg
Ford Motor Co., the only U.S. automaker not receiving emergency federal loans, will get $5.9 billion in government financing to speed work on cars with better fuel economy. Nissan Motor Co. will be able to borrow $1.6 billion under the $25 billion U.S. Energy Department program, and Tesla Motors Inc., a closely held maker of battery-powered autos, was approved for $465 million. More

Commercial Fleets Reveal 2010-MY Buying Intentions
from Automotive Fleet
Fleet ordering for the 2010 model-year is shaping up to be higher than 2009-MY, but that's not saying much since 2009 was such an abysmal year. Many commercial fleets deferred 2009-model ordering. Some fleets purchased no replacement vehicles and skipped the 2009 ordering cycle altogether. A large number of commercial fleets decreased the volume of their 2009 ordering and are now playing catch-up with the 2010 model-year. More

Tomorrow’s Auto Industry
from The Washington Post
The rapid turnarounds at GM and Chrysler are being accomplished with government involvement and because a majority of industry stakeholders agreed, in advance, to painful sacrifices. More important, taxpayers -- who are providing billions of dollars to preserve a critical U.S. manufacturing sector -- now have a right to ask: How will this be different than previous attempts at restructuring? More

Fed Keeps Record Low Interest Rate
from Transport Topics
The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to keep a key U.S. interest rate at a record low "target range" of zero to 0.25 percent. More

May Commercial Trailer Orders Suggest Slight Rebound
from Trailer Body Builders
The second quarter of 2009 continues to show slight improvement for commercial trailer manufacturers as May net orders came in at levels above the dramatic lows experienced in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, according to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report issued by ACT Research Co., LLC. More

PG&E to Test First Smith Electric Vehicles All-Electric Utility Truck
from Automotive Fleet
Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation (SEV U.S.), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., and Birmingham, Ala.-based Altec Industries Inc. unveiled America's first all-electric utility truck with an aerial device at the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference in Williamsburg, Va. The truck is a battery, all-electric Smith Newton produced by SEV U.S. and SEV U.K. with an aerial bucket integrated by Altec Industries Inc., a provider of products and services to the electric utility, telecommunications, and contractor markets. More

DOT Releases $140 Million for Transport Projects
from Transport Topics
The Department of Transportation said it has released about $140 million in federal aid this week to assist 249 transportation improvement projects around the country. "Given the demands on the nation’s transportation system, these grants will be a vital help to communities across the country," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. More

City of Santa Monica Orders All-Electric ZeroTruck
from PR Newswire via Truck Trend
The City of Santa Monica, Calif., will soon receive an all-electric zero-emission ZeroTruck, the first to be ordered. The medium-duty truck will enter service in Santa Monica's Water Services Department, providing a range of up to 100 miles and a top speed of 55 mph. Before joining the Santa Monica fleet, the truck will be equipped with a Scelzi utility body. More