New generation vehicles and an increased focus on transport and delivery solutions point to the future direction of the trucking industry.
MAN Truck and Bus has launched its new generation of TG trucks in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, its largest launch in years, renewing a product cycle that began some 20 years ago when the first TG truck was released.
The TG range encompasses the TGX, TGS, TGM and TGL, with flexible configuration options to match the vehicle with the exact transport task. Engines are available in emission standards ranging from Euro 2 to 4, 5 and 6d, depending on the market (MAN is one of the few manufacturers still offering Euro 2).
Headline advantages for fleet owners include improved fuel efficiency and enhanced durability, with a three-year warranty on the complete driveline on offer for the truck tractor models. The driver experience has also had a major overhaul, with a completely redesigned cab with two large digital displays, including the speedometer dashboard.
The new trucks have already proven popular, including in Saudi Arabia where they will be built up by local partner Saudi Automotive Manufacturing Company (SAMCO); the manufacturer had already received an order for 150 vehicles at the time of launch, revealed Jörg Mommertz, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales Area Middle East, Africa and Latin America (MEA&LA), speaking at the digital launch.
Mommertz, who covers sales in around 70 countries, says the focus during design and development was to simplify business for customers. “We want to offer the customer and the drivers the best solution, and the initial feedback is just great. Drivers are absolutely happy – this is state-of-the-art design, the interiors the ergonomic features are great, and the trucks meet new EU crash norms and standards. The digitisation and connectivity are state of the art, and this is the best driver workplace I have seen in the last years.”
Benefits of the new range for customers include greater efficiency and economy, with improved fuel efficiency, optimised up-time and a strong partner for customers via a dense service network, says Mommertz. The trucks have extended maintenance cycles – depending on market conditions – while MAN offers improved repair and maintenance contracts. Telematics can generate usagedependent service schedules.
“Combined with a repair and maintenance contract, we can guarantee the customer the lowest cost with the highest availability of the truck,” says Mommertz, who notes that for a customer in Europe, two days of unplanned downtime typically erases the entire profits for the month.
Mommertz says the majority of vehicles in the MEA&LA regions will likely be sold with automated gearboxes, a feature which improves driver performance and experience, reduces fuel consumption and wear, and even increases the payload, since the automated boxes are lighter.
The move to automated is a clear trend, he says. “Even in markets where the qualification level of drivers [is lower], the fleet operator is able to reduce his downtime significantly because you don’t get problems with the clutch, life cycle reliability is much higher, and you have a more stable and a lower level of fuel consumption because the automated gearbox is doing the job better than an average driver.” The automated gearboxes available on MAN trucks sold in MEA are produced by ZF.
The cabs of the new truck range have received enthusiastic reviews from drivers for increased comfort, safety, ergonomics and enhanced layout of controls. The digital dash display is complemented by a second large display with a wheel controller – perhaps a higher level of sophistication than many drivers in the region are used to but an important pillar of MAN’s efforts to improve the digital connections between trucks, drivers and fleet managers.
As for adoption, Mommertz says there are different patterns. Some “conservative” customers at first don’t want anything new. “But my experience after 30 years is that once they touch the new product and have a positive experience, then they don’t want to step back to the old product.”
“And on the other hand, there is always a group of customers – like in the passenger car business – that want to be the first to get the newest technology and the newest product. They want to have the new-looking product, and it’s also good for image building – for them and for us.”
While launch activities for the new generation have been disrupted by the ongoing pandemic, the bigger headache comes from the logistics and supply chain challenges roiling manufacturers in almost every industry. These include a shortage of semiconductors and shipping containers, with rising prices and constrained logistics capacity, notes Mommertz. “We [in the industry] are all faced with the same problems. It’s not a serious problem yet, but it’s a challenge every day to optimise logistics.” Truck makers can expect material costs to continue to rise, but he believes that buyers should not expect any major price increases for new trucks in the future, apart from the regular pricing adjustments.
Looking to the future, Mommertz says the pandemic has improved the image and standing of the global logistics and transport industry. “In some countries, there is a kind of stigma – nobody likes a truck on the highway. But last year logistics and transport and distribution got the image of being systemrelevant. That helps our customers and helps us to be seen in a positive way, as an industry.”
“The truck industry is high-tech and the industry of our partners, logistic and transport, is high-tech as well,” he says. “We need digitisation in the truck to link it to our customers’ systems. This is the road map to the future and also to get prepared to for zero emissions and autonomous driving, or whatever the major trends are of the future. Therefore the new TG range is one milestone in our road map for the future.”
Demand for deliveries
Marco Torta, IVECO Area Manager for Middle East & Gulf, based in Dubai, says the economic recovery is well underway across the MENA region, but tends to be strongest in the countries most successful in combating the coronavirus. “In markets where it has been contained, I see a recovery – definitely the market is improving.”
Major markets for IVECO include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt. In Egypt, demand is improving, especially in the logistics and construction sectors. “The government is investing so the demand is growing,” says Torta.
With growing emphasis on e-commerce and last mile logistics, IVECO has seen growing demand for its Daily in the light segment. While the market is dominated by Japanese OEMs, the Daily has more advanced specifications and a concept geared towards delivery in towns and urban areas. “We are seeing huge demand now in this segment, and plan to launch the Daily Hi-Matic, which has an automatic transmission and is specified for in-town deliveries. We are building our presence in this segment,” says Torta.
The Daily is available in two main configurations: a van, used by courier and logistics companies, and a chassis cab, mainly used with a refrigerated box for food distribution. It has a gross vehicle weight of between 3.5-7 tonnes.
From a total cost of ownership point of view, during five years of operation a customer will save significant amounts from lower fuel consumption and lower repair and maintenance costs, making it cheaper than the competition, says Torta.
Other key models in IVECO’s range include the Performer, a 4×2 prime mover with mechanical suspension, a sleeper cab and high engine power (440hp), the top-seller in the heavy-duty range; the Trakker, for heavy-duty applications such as tippers or tanks; and in the medium-duty range, the Eurocargo, particularly popular for municipality applications.
Another trend in the GCC is a focus on localisation, including truck drivers, especially in Oman and to a lesser degree Saudi Arabia. This raises the importance of driver training, typically offered with the delivery of new vehicles, notes Torta. The increasing use of automated gearboxes also makes things easier for drivers, he says.
“Training is usually the responsibility of the companies, but definitely also the suppliers are supporting the customers, because safety and economy in driving the vehicle are essential.”
