Chrysler 2008 Annual Report Download - page 83

Report on Operations Iveco82
engines, making it more competitive and offering greater
productivity.
At the Samoter exhibition – the international earth-moving and
building machinery exhibition held in Verona – Iveco presented
the Massif, the new all-wheel drive vehicle which introduces
Iveco as a true player in the off-road light truck segment.
Designed by Giugiaro and available in three-door, five-door
and pickup versions, the Massif is developed around the
fundamental feature of all Iveco vehicles, namely the
reinforced chassis frame, which ensures strength and
reliability. Iveco Astra premiered the RD50 rigid dump truck,
which has a payload capacity of 50 metric tons.
In September, at the Hanover Show, the most important for the
commercial vehicle industry, Iveco premiered its new
Eurocargo 4x4. As evidence of the company’s focus on the
environment, Iveco also presented its electric and parallel
diesel-electric hybrid technologies in the form of an electric
Daily van and a Eurocargo hybrid, as well as two prototype
hybrids for passenger transport, an Irisbus Hynovis concept
city bus, and an Irisbus Tourys minibus.
Iveco also presented its “Blue&Me Fleet” digital
communications package at the Hanover show. This system has
been developed on a Fiat-Microsoft platform and was born out
of a collaboration with Qualcomm, a world leader in web-
based fleet management solutions.
In September, Iveco introduced a second light off-road vehicle,
the Campagnola, a passenger transport with the look and
performance of a true off-road vehicle which represents a
return to the traditional off-road vehicle produced by Fiat for
more than 35 years.
In 2008, Iveco Irisbus started selling the Crossway Low Entry, a
highly accessible low-entry bus for short-range intercity
transport, in Italy. In mid-June at the European Mobility
Exhibition held in Paris, Iveco Irisbus presented the Crealis
luxury coach, which features a number of innovative solutions
in both its interior and external design, and the Crealis Neo,
which features a new sloping front screen.
Innovation and Products
Innovation continued with a focus on both product and
methodology.
Product innovation was centred around six key elements: new
generation vehicles, best-in-class fuel efficiency, high
perceived quality of cabin environment, cost-effective solutions
for frames, excellence in preventive security, evolution of
telematic systems.
Method innovation targeted four key areas: product
development processes, virtual analysis, performance
measurement and control, upgrading of technical standards.
In 2008, Iveco continued to seek innovative technological
solutions to both lowering emissions – an area in which Iveco
has always been an innovator – and improving fuel efficiency.
During the year, the line of CNG-powered vehicles was
completed, in advance of the deadline for compliance with
stricter European emissions regulations.
Another technology in which Iveco invested during the year
was the diesel-electric hybrid. Of note was the launch of the
field test for ten diesel-electric hybrid Daily trucks in
collaboration with the world’s largest air express courier.
Iveco’s latest generation of hybrid technology offer up to 30%
fuel savings for urban use, with a similar reduction in CO2
emissions, due to sophisticated operating and control systems.
Iveco is also working on testing alternative fuels and next-
generation lubricants. In particular, current research relates to
two lines of biofuels - one derived from vegetable oil and not
disruptive to the food chain and the other based on biomass -
as well as the new, synthetic ultra-low viscosity lubricant
developed by Iveco for Cursor engines.
In 2008, the Sector completed a major phase of renewal and
expansion of its product range, which saw the launch of 10
new models over a period of 30 months. The new Eurocargo
was introduced in May 2008. This mid-sized model in the range
offers a fully redesigned cabin and upgraded transmission
system and is powered by the successful Tector Euro 5 range of