Piper Jaffray analyst Alexander Potter recently surveyed Class 8 truck fleets in order to gauge which engine and transmission combinations are likely to win market share. Regarding future purchase intentions, Cummins (CMI) based drivetrains still score the highest, Potter tells investors in a research note. Among in-house engines, the survey indicates Volvo (VOLVY) and Paccar (PCAR) are gaining momentum at Daimler's expense, while Navistar (NAV) is still rebuilding trust, the analyst adds. Further, in the Class 8 gearbox market, Potter thinks Allison Transmission's (ALSN) market share is effectively maxed out. After several years of success, Allison is running out of headroom for further growth, he contends.

Allison Transmission partnered with SANY, a global heavy equipment manufacturer for the mining and construction markets, to integrate the Allison 4970 Specialty Series transmission into SANY's STC5000 500-ton all-terrain crane. These new cranes will be in operation in remote areas of China including the desert and mountain terrain. "Our off-highway vehicles require a powerful transmission designed to meet the challenge of navigating difficult terrain," said Du Jian, R&D Director of Crane Chassis, SANY. "We selected the Allison 4970 SP due to its proven ability to increase vehicle productivity and maneuverability." In addition to SANY's STC5000 crane, Allison is also the propulsion solution provider for the company's SAC600E 60-ton crane.