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BERLIN — Volkswagen division MAN will next year start selling heavy-duty commercial vehicles with new digital services to make its trucks more efficient, as VW looks to challenge rivals Daimler and Volvo AB.

Navistar International Corp. and Volkswagen AG’s truck unit announced a strategic alliance that includes a $256 million investment by the German vehicle maker in Navistar as well as planned joint development of powertrain, procurement and other collaborative efforts.

Volkswagen AG boosted its target for cost cuts at its trucks division to $1.12 billion (1 billion euros) as cooperation between its Scania and MAN units makes progress after years of tepid results.

Volkswagen AG’s truck unit MAN is nearly tripling the size of its digital division to add self-driving technology and make freight loading more efficient, seeking new sources of income as big rigs are increasingly linked via the Internet.

Volkswagen AG’s heavy-truck division is exploring options for growth that could include acquisitions and an initial public offering as it seeks to reap the benefits of more independence within its rapidly reorganizing parent company.

Volkswagen AG CEO Martin Winterkorn, who during nearly a decade at the helm catapulted VW to the top spot in global sales, stepped down after admitting the automaker cheated on U.S. emissions tests.

Volkswagen AG and banker Friedrich von Metzler agreed to sell fleet-management company LeasePlan Corp. for 3.7 billion euros ($4 billion) to a group of investors including TDR Capital LLP.

Andreas Renschler officially took over as head of Volkswagen’s truck division on Feb. 1, and he will spearhead a growth effort that could include an acquisition in the United States.

Volkswagen AG secured enough backing to move forward with its $9.2 billion bid for Scania AB, removing the last major obstacle to a nearly decadelong effort to forge an integrated heavy-trucks unit.