Iveco S-Way takes off in South Africa
Iveco S-Way takes off in South Africa
In what looks set to be a significant launch pad for Iveco’s operations on the African continent, the new Iveco S-Way jetted into South Africa in style at a two-day launch in Hartbeespoort.
At Iveco South Africa’s unveiling of the all-new S-Way range, guests had the chance to get to know the trucks up close and take part in a comprehensive test drive. Putting the trucks through their paces around the test track route, the improvements were plain for all to see.
The aviation theme of the launch was an apt analogy for the S-Way’s introduction into South Africa, as Iveco prepares to spread its wings across the continent. “The launch of the new Iveco S-Way in South Africa forms the first steps toward introducing the new Iveco Way family to the continent,” says Carmelo Impelluso, Iveco head of commercial operations in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “This will enable us to cover the whole set of market demands with a coordinated offer of very differentiated products. Today, our customers see their trucks as a business tool. They look for a complete solution that will deliver the profitability they need. This is what makes our Iveco Way range unique: it delivers everything our customers expect – and more.”
Consolidation of markets
The consolidation of Iveco’s right and left-hand markets in Africa brings a new, united purpose to the company’s regional operations, as Fabio De Serafini, Iveco Africa & Middle East business director, explains: “The split between these markets didn’t make sense from a commercial standpoint. The strategy, business development, and work are all the same. So, following the opening of our South African plant in 2016, we decided to consolidate our markets in the region, with a specific focus on South Africa.
“We have particular product specifications required by certain customers. With one umbrella covering Africa and the Middle East, we can use similar configurations for future customers,” he continues. “Having this common factor is important; and while Europe still represents 75% of the total volume of Iveco’s worldwide sales, when we talk about Euro 3 and Euro 5 emissions, Africa and the Middle East represent the largest base for the business.”
Advanced market in South Africa
De Serafini adds that South Africa provides the perfect testing ground for the S-Way. “The business model is more advanced here than in the rest of the region in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO), maintenance and repair, buyback, and residual value. South Africa is far closer to the logistic mission we have in Europe, so we see it as the ideal regional testing ground for the S-Way’s various product specifications – especially in terms of robustness – allowing us to look at different conditions that can be replicated throughout the region. Conversely, we can also bring the experiences gained in the rest of Africa here.”
Due to Africa’s tough conditions, the S-Way launched here borrows the
7,7 mm chassis from Iveco’s X-Way range. “This S-Way is a more robust version of the European model, taking the best of both models,” says Elvis Mutseura, Iveco SA product marketing manager. “This modular design concept also allows for easy maintenance and low TCO.”
TCO optimised
De Serafini emphasises this sentiment, noting that every detail of the range has been developed to optimise all TCO elements, from fuel consumption, price, and residual value to maintenance and uptime costs, driver satisfaction, and productivity: “With the new Way family, we cover the whole set of market demands with coordinated, but very differentiated. products. The world is moving fast, and transport must not only keep up, but anticipate and drive the change.”
All the design elements of the new cab, which has been redesigned from the ground up, work together towards superior aerodynamic performance, delivering up to 4% fuel savings on top of Iveco’s already impressive fuel efficiency. The range includes a new engine line-up and next-generation rear axle, as well as a host of advanced technologies tailored to the customers’ needs, and builds on the success it has enjoyed since its European launch in 2019.
The new S-Way range includes 6×4 truck tractor models with 3 300 mm wheelbase, with a permissible Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 25 700 kg and a Gross Combination Mass (GCM) of 56 000 kg. The range incorporates the 12,88-litre six-cylinder Iveco Cursor 13 F3HGE611 engine. The engines for the standard and mechanical suspension on-road models boast a maximum power of 349 kW (475 hp) at 1 900 r/min and maximum torque of 2 200 Nm at 1 100 r/min. The pneumatic suspension on-road model and the mechanical suspension off-road model, meanwhile, have maximum power of 321 kW (430 hp) at 1 500 r/min and maximum torque of 2 100 Nm at 1 100 r/min. The Eco-switch as standard is also great for fuel consumption.
Cab designed around drivers
The S-Way has already proved to be extremely popular with European drivers for its high levels of comfort. The new cab incorporates a package of features developed with a focus on driver centricity, boasting a range of enhancements for driver wellness. “Driver wellness is absolutely key to driver performance. We have really tried to give drivers a space that offers them this comfort, with the main aim being to improve safety,” says Mutseura. “Having a fridge as standard on all long-haul vehicles, for example, allows drivers to eat correctly, while 250 litres of storage above the windscreen provides ample room for their belongings. Everything has been done to ensure that the driver is well-rested.”
Customers will appreciate the improvements in performance and TCO delivered by the new truck’s solid reliability; in the face of fierce competition, fleet operators need top-level uptime, efficiency, and productivity.
New range will exceed expectations
“We serve an industry filled with entrepreneurs and industry leaders who are constantly under pressure to deliver goods and services at an ever-increasing pace. This demands innovation, technology, and reduced cost of ownership,” says Martin Liebenberg, Iveco SA commercial manager. “Our aim is to sit down with clients and work out how to exceed these expectations. Our new S-Way range offers a healthy balance between innovation focused on driver comfort, and productivity and technology for efficiency. These are both large contributors to the TCO improvements that have been made.”
“The partnership between dealers, operators and Iveco SA is key,” adds Mutseura. “The better these partnerships are, the better performance the vehicle will be able to deliver.”
De Serafini also notes that Iveco sees South Africa as the first platform for connectivity in Africa and the Middle East. “This is the key focus now in Europe, where almost all trucks are connected with the manufacturers. This is a specific tool allowing greater focus on predicting maintenance and product behaviour in advance. We have a control room based in Italy that follows all our trucks moving everywhere in Europe; we will replicate this experience here in South Africa. Our job now is to support our customers in their fleet management, with the tools the new vehicles allow us to have in terms of connectivity and flow of data. We have a huge database that enables us to predict truck behaviour, so you don’t have to wait for something bad to happen in the middle of nowhere – we are now able to pre-empt these problems.”
Emphasis on uptime
Liebenberg points out that financing has been the biggest growth point in innovation. “As always, uptime is key. Our driver training programme, fleet advisory service, and this year’s rollout of an evolved origination channel will all greatly enhance customer experience.
“With combined force, we have been able to create enough lift for take-off, so that we can reach cruising altitude. The ability of the S-Way range will be tested after the fact – and we are very excited to see what the truck can do once it is running in your operations.”
If the S-Way’s success in Europe is anything to go by, it looks set to soar to new heights in South Africa and across the continent.
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