Latest news with #VNL
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Two with Hawaii ties selected to USA Women's VNL Week one Roster
The 2025 Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) roster was announced for USA Volleyball on Friday. The roster with 14 players who will head to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in early June to compete against 17 of the worlds top teams. Former Rainbow Wahine, Amber Igiede and 'Iolani Alum Saige Ka'aha'aina-Torres were named to the roster. Ka'aha'aina-Torres is 1 of 2 setters on the team and will be making her first appearance in her career for the USA in the VNL. Igiede is also making her 1st career appearance on the USA Volleyball squad in the VNL and she is 1 of 4 Middle Blockers on the roster. The USA Women's team are currently ranked no.3 in the world and just recently won the silver medal in the Olympics. This team has won the VNL 3 times since it began in 2018, with their last win coming in 2021. Igiede and Ka'aha'aina-Torres will look to help continue this success as they will head with the team to Brazil from June 4th-8th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The SPAC is back: Kodiak Robotics eyeing a merger
The SPAC is back. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reports that Ares Acquisition Corp. II is in advanced talks to merge with Kodiak Robotics. Ares is a blank-check firm, led by CEO David Kaplin, that raised $450 million in April 2023 and has said in the past it could pursue a combination in any sector. The special purpose acquisition company is 'a way for a small private company — often with no revenue — to access public markets and investment without going through a cumbersome initial public offering' notes Alan Adler, former FreightWaves Detroit bureau chief. For Kodiak, more revenue is on the horizon. The company announced in January that it had sold its driverless RoboTrucks to Atlas Energy Solutions and that Atlas had completed the delivery of 100 loads with the Kodiak-equipped vehicles. The Bloomberg piece estimates the value of the transaction could result in a combined entity of around $2 billion with Ares vying for Kodiak against rival bidders, according to some of the sources. Bloomberg adds, 'A transaction hasn't been finalized and it's possible terms could change or that the talks collapse.'FreightWaves reached out to Kodiak Robotics, which declined to comment. On Tuesday, Volvo Trucks North America announced the redesign of its VNR, the smaller regional haul cousin of the VNL, the sleeper tractor whose refresh was announced last year. The release notes that the new regional haul tractor is a 90% redesign compared to the previous truck, with updates to its proprietary safety systems. Production will take place at Volvo's New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia, with sales beginning in the coming months. Specs for the more maneuverable Class 8 include 4×2, 6×2, and 6×4 tractors and straight trucks with multiple body types. The tractor is also equipped with updated safety features as part of the Volvo Active Safety Platform, including Volvo Active Driver Assist with forward collision warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. The tractor is estimated to deliver up to 7.5% improved fuel efficiency from a combination of better aerodynamics, powertrain adjustments and idle reduction tech. The VNR's co-roll technology will disengage the driveline on a downhill grade and let the truck roll for an optimal amount of time to help save powertrain, the tractor has an improved 13-liter engine, the next-gen D13 VGT, which ranges from 405-455 horsepower with 1,450 to 1,850 pound-feet of torque. Kalmar Ottawa, a pioneer in terminal tractor manufacturing, announced on Tuesday the launch of its OT2 EV Electric Terminal Tractor. The company began sales of the third-generation electric terminal tractor at the Technology & Maintenance Council's 2025 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition in Nashville, Tennessee, Monday through Thursday. This third-generation electric terminal tractor is a leap forward in Kalmar Ottawa's commitment to innovation and sustainability in the logistics industry, according to the company. Eric Streich, western regional sales manager at Kalmar, said in an interview with FreightWaves, 'The Kalmar Ottawa T2 EV, as we refer to it, is our third-generation electric terminal tractor. We launched our Gen. 1 tractor back in 2018. We've gone through a couple of iterations of that, and what we're really excited about on the T2 EV is that it is 100% designed by Kalmar engineers in Ottawa, Kansas.' One of the more significant advancements in the OT2 EV is its streamlined drivetrain design. Streich highlighted this improvement, saying, 'I think probably one of the biggest lessons that we learned with this Gen. 3 tractor is that it does not have a transmission. It has a traction motor that goes directly to the rear axle. So there's a tremendous amount of efficiency that you can pick up with that. And you also have reduced maintenance costs that come with the reduction of that transmission.' Read the full article here. Commercial EV charging and infrastructure provider Greenlane recently unveiled its branded technology suite as part of the ongoing development of the I-15 Commercial EV Charging Corridor. The products include an online mobile app and fleet management portal, expected to be rolled out in phases. Greenlane's flagship charging site in Colton, California, is under construction, with an expected opening in April this year. FreightWaves reports the Trump administration has nominated Seval Oz of California as an assistant secretary of transportation in a role created by the administration, according to a posting by the Senate on Monday. Oz was recently on the board of directors of MicroVision Inc., an advanced driver-assistance systems software company. Range Energy, a commercial trucking electrification startup has completed rigorous winter testing of its advanced eTrailer system, which turns diesel trucks into hybrid electric. The testing involved the performance, safety and reliability of its technology in subzero temps and extreme road conditions conducted in Northern Michigan. Testing also confirmed its system integrates with existing braking and stability control systems from its collaboration with post The SPAC is back: Kodiak Robotics eyeing a merger appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volvo confirms 250+ layoffs coming to New River Valley truck assembly plant
DUBLIN, Va. (WFXR) – Volvo plans to lay off at least 250 employees at its semi-truck plant in Dublin by the end of March, the company confirms to WFXR News. The automaker previously said it would cut staff at the facility in Pulaski County but had not specified a number. Employees learned in a company-issued newsletter in late February that the cuts would range between 250 and 350 employees and are projected to be complete by the end of March; Volvo had previously indicated the layoffs would take place at or near the beginning of April. Volvo's New River Valley assembly plant makes all of the company's semi-trucks sold in North America, including a new VNL model offering enhanced performance and comfort features for truck drivers, which began production last year. According to the employee newsletter, expected impacts of tariffs on imported goods played a role in the decision to lay off staff. Volvo also said the completion of a key phase in manufacturing the new VNL trucks, among other factors, led to the need for staff reductions. It remains unclear whether the layoffs will be temporary or permanent. Volvo says the cuts will be based on seniority. According to Virginia Works, the commonwealth's workforce development agency, this is the third major layoff at the Dublin plant in the last decade. Volvo laid off 516 employees in February 2016 and cut some 700 staff in January 2020 just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volvo AB (VLVLY) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Cash Flow Amid Market Challenges
Net Sales: Declined 6% to SEK138 billion, impacted by softer markets and negative FX of SEK1.1 billion. Adjusted Operating Income: SEK14 billion, with a margin of 10.1%. Operating Cash Flow: Record high of SEK24.3 billion for the quarter. Return on Capital Employed: Almost 36% in Industrial Operations. Earnings Per Share: SEK5.28. Total Truck Deliveries: Declined 11% in Q4. Construction Equipment Deliveries: Down 5%, with Volvo down 23% and SDLG up 20%. Service Sales: Flat year-over-year, adjusted for currency, with a 4% increase excluding Arquus divestment. Book-to-Bill Ratio: Positive at 106% for medium and heavy-duty trucks in Q4. Financial Position: SEK86 billion. Dividend Proposal: Ordinary dividend of SEK8 per share and an extra dividend of SEK10.5 per share. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Sign with VLVLY. Release Date: January 29, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Volvo AB (VLVLY) reported a strong operating cash flow of SEK24.3 billion for the fourth quarter, marking an all-time high for the company. The company maintained a solid return on capital employed in Industrial Operations at nearly 36%, indicating strong financial health. Volvo AB (VLVLY) achieved a positive book-to-bill ratio in Q4, with significant order intake improvements across major regions, particularly in North America. The company successfully launched the all-new VNL in North America, which is expected to enhance market share and future growth. Volvo AB (VLVLY) continues to lead in the electrification space, with a 62% increase in orders for fully electric vehicles and machines, driven by Renault Trucks and SDLG machines. Net sales declined by 6% in Q4, impacted by softer markets and lower volumes, along with a negative currency effect of SEK1.1 billion. Group Trucks North America faced specific challenges, including supply chain disruptions due to storm Helen and additional costs related to the VNL ramp-up. Total truck deliveries declined by 11% in Q4, with a notable decrease in heavy-duty deliveries. The Construction Equipment segment experienced a 19% decline in sales, driven by continued declines in Europe and North America. Volvo AB (VLVLY) revised its forecast for the Chinese market, expecting it to move sideways rather than expand, reducing the forecast by 110,000 units. Q: Can you explain the impact of price versus mix on the average sales per truck, and the pricing environment in general? A: Mats Backman, CFO, explained that the mix impact was significant due to light commercial vehicles. There were no year-over-year pricing effects, but prices are being maintained. Martin Lundstedt, CEO, added that the mix effect was primarily due to changes in light commercial vehicle deliveries. Q: What was the impact of the VNL launch and supply chain issues on Q4, and how long will these impacts last? A: Martin Lundstedt stated that the impact was slightly better than in Q3, where it was about 100 basis points. The issues are expected to gradually fade as the ramp-up progresses. Q: With several quarters of book-to-bill below 1 now turning positive, do you expect any unusual seasonality in 2025? A: Martin Lundstedt noted that the order intake is encouraging, and they are ready for a gradual adjustment upwards. Mats Backman added that the company has a good starting point with lower inventories, which should help manage any seasonality. Q: How do you see the potential for prebuy in the second half of 2025 due to EPA regulations, and how will you position your pricing? A: Martin Lundstedt mentioned that while there is a psychological effect of new regulations, they hope for minimal prebuy to maintain market alignment with economic activities. They remain positive about the market's return. Q: Can you comment on the key actions to improve the gross margin in the Truck division in 2025, and any updates on the Mexico ramp-up plan? A: Martin Lundstedt highlighted that the gross margin was well managed, with specific North American issues gradually fading. The Mexico ramp-up is proceeding according to plan, supporting a strong position in North America. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
