PSA-Peugeot officials announced July 15 that they’ve just won a €200 million (US$258 million) loan agreement from European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance their plug-in hybrid electric vehicle program.

Daimler officials announced July 16 that they’ve signed a joint-venture deal with Foton Motor to produce medium- and heavy-duty trucks using the “Auman” nameplate with localized engine technology from Mercedes-Benz.

Nissan officials announced July 15 that they’ve launched sales of the 2-liter diesel engine version of the “X-Trail 20GT” sport utility vehicle in Europe following an earlier debut in Japan’s home market.

Hino officials announced July 12 that they’ve begun production of diesel engines for mid-size trucks in Thailand.

Mack and sister company Volvo North America officials announced July 13 that so far this year they’ve sold more than 10,000 Class 8 diesel trucks meeting ultra-clean U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2010 emissions limits.

Michigan-based EcoMotors officials announced July 12 that Microsoft founder Bill Gates and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla have decided to invest in development of the EcoMotors “opoc” high-efficiency combustion engine.

The world’s first plant convert crude tall-oil from pine trees into all-hydrocarbon renewable diesel at Pitea, Sweden, is starting to ramp-up production this month.

Ecopetrol officials July 14 unveiled a US$80 billion investment plan for 2011 through 2020, 79% of which will go for upstream exploration and production.

Syntroleum/Tyson Foods joint-venture “Dynamic Fuels” officials announced July 15 that their renewable diesel plant in Geismar, Louisiana, is now mechanically complete and would start producing fuel during third quarter 2010.

The diesel-based Ceridian-UCLA “Pulse of Commerce Index” (PCI) by UCLA Anderson School of Management tumbled 1.9% in June after an impressive 3.1% gain in May.

Engine Manufacturers Association officials are seeking better precision on a test for ash content in diesel fuel.

New Brunswick, Canada, Premier Shawn Graham (Liberal Party) warned New England governors at a U.S. conference on energy this week that if a planned “low carbon fuel standard” (LCFS) in the Northeast U.S. goes forward, then both refiners and consumers could suffer.

Hawaii-based ClearFuels Technology officials announced July 13 that they’ve received an investment from “social investment” organization, The Ulupono Initiative, aiming to support bridge financing and partner with the ClearFuels team to develop commercial biomass-to-liquids (BTL) projects in Hawaii.

The Shell & Turcas joint venture just won the fuel supply contract for IDO, a passenger ferry company primarily operating in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey.

U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) late last month announced US$125 million in contracts to jet-engine makers General Electric, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, plus airplane maker Boeing, to develop and demonstrate technologies that will slash kero-jet fuel consumption 33% while also cutting pollutant emissions and noise.

Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Portland International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Spokane International Airport and Washington State University officials July 12 announced a “strategic initiative to promote aviation biofuel development in the [U.S.] Pacific Northwest.”

Ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) prices in major world spot and futures markets bounced back last week on recovering demand, along with some refinery outages.

Spot distillate prices moved up last week on stronger demand and weaker supply.