Repsol YPF

After approving the latest Observatorio de Costes del Transporte de Mercancías – Goods Transport Cost Study - the Ministerio de Fomento has confirmed that activity in the transport sector experienced a fall of 28.4% in the first quarter of this year but has not suffered any variations during the first six months of 2009. The activity that has seen the biggest fall was short distance transport.

The German firm has announced the name of its first ever pick-up, and the vehicle will make its debut in this niche worldwide. The new Volkswagen Amarok is based on and inspired by the prototype that the company presented at the 2008 Hanover International IAA Show. It will be manufactured at the plant the firm has in Pacheco, Argentina.

The Piaggio Porter model has been revamped. It is now adapted to modern times after its design, technology and interior equipment have had a thorough overhaul. Its dimensions have not changed one iota on the Piaggio Porter and so it retains its extraordinary size to load capacity ratio.

The bus and coach market will soon get a stimulus to improve the current situation in the sector. The Cabinet - Consejo de Ministros – approved the Plan VIVE for buses and coaches and awarded it a budget of about €236m. This should allow the purchase of 2 100 vehicles of this type to be subsidised during 2009 and 2010.

The Ministerio de Industria has announced that the deadline set for HGV vehicles to be adapted to the new type of rear-view mirrors, and the relevant regulations enforced, has been delayed until 31st March 2010. The lack of spares and new parts on the market, denounced by Fenadismer before the changes had been made to the norms, has brought about this current situation.

The American Hummer company presented one of its impressive vehicles at the 2009 edition of the Chicago Motor Show. The vehicle was the new Hummer H3T, a pick-up that uses the same platform as on the H3 professional model made by the same firm. Pick-ups like the Hummer H3T have changed from being for work into vehicles used for leisure.