Aeolus Truck & Driver News

While the JAC brand made its first moves into the New Zealand market last year with its battery electric light-duty trucks, the second phase of the introduction is now into gear with Cummins powered diesel models becoming available.

The JAC N90 diesels can be configured as a 9.0t light truck or in 5.9t specification which can be driven by Class 1 license holders.

The Cummins B4 family 4.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine has a Euro VI emissions rating and develops 125kW (165hp) at 2400rpm with peak torque of 600Nm from 1100-1800rpm.

There are three wheelbase variants – 3365mm, 3845mm and 4175mm -  among the four models now available.

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In a move to accelerate the adoption of battery electric heavy vehicles, the Government has extended the RUC (Road User Charge) exemption for such vehicles until 1 July 2027.

The exemption was previously set to end after 31 December 2025. The extended 18 month exemption period gives heavy electric vehicle owners and operators additional time to plan for the transition, while setting clear direction that all vehicles need to contribute to the costs of maintaining the road network.

The Ministry of Transport is developing an RUC structure for electric heavy vehicles and from 1 July 2027, owners of heavy electric vehicles will need to buy and hold a valid RUC d...

There are no 24/7 road closures planned during the second phase of the SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance Project (T2W) this summer.

The project is rebuilding the worst parts of State Highway 1 (SH1) between Tīrau and Waiouru, with the second construction season set to begin from September 1.

By early 2026, contractors working for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) will have rebuilt more than 66km, or 27%, of SH1 between Tīrau and Waiouru.

The SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance Project (T2W) completed 49.4km of road rebuilding in the first season between September 2024 and April 2025.

This coming season will see the pr...

The final projects approved for co-funding by the Low Emission Transport Fund have been announced, taking the total investment commitment in low-and zero-emissions transport projects – on road, off-road and on water – to about $265 million over the past decade.

The Low Emission Transport Fund, administered by EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), was revised in 2021, expanding the remit of its predecessor the Low Emissions Vehicle Contestable Fund (LEVCF), which launched in 2016.

Richard Briggs, EECA’s Group Manager – Delivery and Partnerships, says the LETF has unlocked an extraordinary amount of private capital for projects that would not h...

The 2025 Brisbane Truck Show opened as this month’s New Zealand Truck & Driver went to print. Here’s a quick wrap of the highlights revealed on the first morning of the May 15-18 show. Full coverage to come in the July issue.

Now in its 58th year  – and regarded as the largest heavy commercial vehicle expo in the Southern Hemisphere – the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show was expected to attract more than 40,000 attendees during its four day schedule.

The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre provided more the 35,000sqm of exhibition space with 22 major truck or engine brands and hundreds of other industry suppliers using the biennial...