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INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR ROAD TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY
Anders Lundstrom, President IFRTT
Senior Advisor, Scania
SE-151 87 Sodertalje, Sweden
Phone: +46 (0)8 553 82906
anders_a.lundstrom@scania.com
www.road-transport-technology.org
IFRTT March 2010 Newsletter
Dear IFRTT Forum subscriber,
the weather in the Stockholm region has been unusually stable, we have had snow and below
zero temperatures, minus 27 centigrade is not very comfortable, since before Christmas.
Well, there is much charm in the varying seasons at these latitudes, but sometimes you
have to think hard about it to appreciate it. Imagination is a fantastic human asset.
Unfortunately European economic growth has also been below zero. It seems that the GDP of
most EU countries has decreased 5 to10 percent between 2008 and 2009. Some countries are
doing even worse since they had disequilibrium in their economy initially. The finance ministers
are kept busy.
The situation is reflected in the demand of heavy vehicles, the market seems to have bottomed
out at a level 40 to 50 percent below 2007, 2008 sales. Signs of recovery are so far minute. Like
the weather, this will eventually change for the better.
After some 40 years of professional life, mostly in various R&D positions, I look to the future
by default. Road freight is facing some challenges and innovative solutions are sought for in
vehicle technology, in infrastructure and in logistics. That is why the Heavy Vehicle Transport
Technology conference in Melbourne, March 14 to 17, is an excellent and well-timed event.
It is no too late to register at www.hvttconference.com .
See you in Melbourne just before the autumnal equinox.
And drive safely,
Anders Lundstrom, IFRTT president