Daimler Trucks North America announced Penske Truck Leasing and NFI Industries will operate the first trucks in its Freightliner Electric Innovation Fleet of battery-electric eCascadia heavy-duty trucks and eM2 106 medium-duty trucks beginning late this year.

Interest in solar panels has grown because truck batteries often are unable to meet the power needs of today’s trucks due to increased driver comfort demands, new idle reduction legislation and increased freight-tracking requirements, according to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency.

Volvo Trucks North America appointed Peter Voorhoeve, currently CEO of Volvo Group Australia, as its president, effective Sept. 1.

Power management company Eaton Corp. announced plans to invest $500 million over the next five years in its new eMobility business to develop smart diagnostic technologies, intelligent power electronics and predictive monitoring for a range of electrified vehicles.

Daimler AG lowered estimates of its earning potential for 2018 as its car unit feels the effect of higher tariffs.

Volkswagen Truck & Bus announced it will rename itself Traton Group to further increase its independence from parent company Volkswagen AG and toward “capital market readiness” in preparation for a potential IPO by the unit.

A diverse group of leading companies and associations launched the Partnership for Transportation Innovation and Opportunity, a collaboration committed to exploring how autonomous vehicles will impact American workers as well as identifying opportunities and developing solutions to address future challenges.

UPS Inc. announced an additional $130 million investment in compressed natural gas vehicles, including 400 semi-tractors and 330 terminal trucks and five more fueling stations — underscoring the company’s role as a major catalyst for wide-scale adoption of natural gas vehicles.

U.S. retail sales of Class 8 trucks in May topped 19,000 and were the fourth-highest in the past 26 months, WardsAuto.com reported. However, analysts said a severely challenged supply chain has stalled even higher sales and added to truck makers’ production-related expenses.