Manufacturing activity in the New York region expanded in December to the highest level in seven months, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Thursday.

Truck component manufacturers Dana Holding Corp. and Eaton Corp. will drop their 13-year Roadranger joint marketing venture next year in a separation initiated by Dana, the two Ohio-based companies said last week.

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Co. said it will offer its V-10 gasoline engine to power its Super Duty F650 line of trucks in a bid to reduce costs for fleets that don’t pile up miles on their vehicles.

Truck and engine maker Paccar Inc.’s board of directors has declared an extra cash dividend of 70 cents per share.

Factory orders decreased 0.4% in October, the Commerce Department said Monday.

Several heavy-duty truck manufacturers have succeeded in their drive to make 13-liter engines their new main on-highway power plant, according to R.L. Polk & Co. data, although some engine makers and fleets said 15-liter models will hold their own.

TOKYO — Daimler AG will not have to give away advanced engine and vehicle technologies as part of its new joint venture with a Chinese truck maker because China’s emissions standards are behind Europe’s, and the market is not ready for the more advanced products, the head of Daimler Trucks said last week.

U.S. manufacturing activity jumped in November, showing continued expansion for a 28th consecutive month, the Institute for Supply Management said Thursday.

The Department of Transportation announced a final rule that will ban interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cellphones while operating their vehicles.