• ERF is exploring alternatives to its Steyr-sourced ES cab,
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Western Star chief executive Terry Peabody, revealed at last week's Telford IRTE show.
There are no plans to discontinue the ES cab; it is supplied by MAN subsidiary Steyr and is the older valiant of the cab. MAN L2000 and M2000 models use a facelifted version.
One alternative could be the Leyland Trucks-built Roadrunner/45-Series cab used by Leyland Daf. But even though the Leyland plant remains independent, the company has an exclusive marketing agreement with Daf for the cab in Europe. Another possibility could be an Isuzu cab. Leyland Trucks assembles the NKR and NPR light trucks but a 7.5-tonne model is also due.
Further up the scale, lArestern Star will not offer the ERF EC cab in North America, but it will be introduced into Latin America later this year.
It will also be fitted on Western Star's Asian lineup. Western Star and ERF's engineering systems are gradually being combined with CAD/CAM design systems being introduced at ERF.
While Peabody acknowledged that ERF is carrying out trials with Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel engines, he told CM that they were being engineered for international markets. "We shall have to see if they are right for Europe," he added. For the time being ERF's European plans will concentrate on Spain and • France before any expansion is attempted into other markets.