MAN Trucknology Festival: A feast of trucking tech

August 26, 2023

Over 7,000 people descended on Munich last month to attend the 2023 MAN Trucknology Festival. They were rewarded with a feast of trucking technology!

Technology within the world of trucking is advancing at breakneck speed. Never before have so many driver assistance systems been on offer, while connectivity and lower fuel consumption are being demanded by transport operators. Furthermore, legislators and transport operators alike agree: the truck of the future must be CO₂-free.

MAN is meeting – and even exceeding – many of these demands, with its innovative and environmentally friendly product range. And that’s precisely what visitors to the 2023 MAN Trucknology Festival came to see at the MAN Truck Forum and neighbouring test track: trucks, vans, and body solutions that all set new benchmarks within their segments.

According to Jan Aichinger, managing director of MAN Automotive South Africa, more than 7,000 festival guests from all over the world travelled to this year’s MAN Trucknology Festival. “We invited customers, body manufacturers, and members of the ‘Trucker’s World by MAN’ driver community to the exclusive event to experience around 220 trucks, vans, and body solutions first-hand,” he reveals. “All segments – from distribution and long-distance transport, construction, food, and heavy haulage to municipal and fire services – were represented across the tonnage range from 3.5 to 250 tonnes.”

Visitors were able to learn on site about sustainable and intelligent transport solutions from MAN Truck & Bus and its approximately 75 partners, including Continental, Fliegl Trailer, Humbaur, Kögel, Krone, Liebherr, Schmitz Cargobull, and Würth. “They also received detailed first-hand information on MAN Services & Solutions and current trends in the transport industry like zero emissions, digitalisation, and automation – the state of play and MAN’s contribution,” explains Aichinger.

One of the stars of the show was MAN’s new eTruck, for which 500 orders have already been received. Numerous other eye-catching trucks, vans, and body solutions were on display, including:

MAN TGX for long-haul transport in model year 2024: Aerodynamic optimisations on the semitrailer tractor in combination with the particularly efficient D26 plus engine and new topography function reduce fuel consumption by up to 6%. Even more safety is provided by the new cyclist and pedestrian detection system.
MAN TGX as a top-of-the-range heavy-duty semitrailer tractor model with 640hp and a gross combination mass of 250 tonnes.
MAN TGX as a car transporter: MAN Individual adapted the cab with flat or sloping roof for the transport platform.
MAN TGS as ready-mix concrete mixer: Liebherr combined the lightweight MAN chassis with an electrically driven mixer super-structure.
MAN TGS as a dump truck, running in mining with a total weight of 50 tonnes. The vehicle is destined for an open-cast mining operation in Chile.
MAN TGM as a three-axle beverage transporter. The steered trailing axle makes it very manoeuvrable for city driving, while the small tyre size makes it easier for the driver to load and unload the beverage crates.
MAN TGM in municipal operation: With an interchangeable system, bodies can be exchanged for summer and winter use.
MAN TGL as a three-way tipper equipped with the new Trigenius tipper body from Meiller, which is available for all MAN series.
MAN TGE as a particularly exclusive camper, thanks to refinements from MAN Individual.

Naturally, visitors could get behind the wheel themselves and test drive some models on the MAN test track as well as on the road.

Further exclusive insights into the world of MAN were offered by factory tours, classic car and special exhibitions, a show truck contest, and much more. “A highlight of the festival was the announcement of the most beautiful truck in Europe. A total of around 200 entrepreneurs and drivers from 18 countries entered the competition – which was organised by MAN Truck & Bus – for the most beautiful lion truck on Europe’s roads. The overall winner was the ‘White Lion’ MAN TGX, owned by Paweł Pabich from Poland,” reveals Aichinger.

When his truck was named the “Most Beautiful MAN in Europe” at the MAN Truck Champions finals, Pabich was visibly proud. “The interior items are my own design and were made to measure. The beautiful snow white, the lighting, and all the innovative additions that can be seen from afar make my truck unique and original,” he beamed.

Pabich and the four other finalists from Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Great Britain received their awards from Friedrich Baumann, executive board member for sales & customer solutions at MAN Truck & Bus.

“It is not only the exceptionally beautiful trucks that we are honouring here today that are champions. True champions are above all the drivers who ensure day and night that goods and merchandise get to where we all need them every day. We are celebrating this today with the MAN Truck Champion 2023, but also with the MAN Trucknology Festival,” noted Baumann. “In the transport industry it is still the personal exchange between people that counts for practical solutions and ideas that make logistics possible in the first place. That’s what we’re celebrating here today with drivers, transport companies, body specialists, and suppliers.”

From the unveiling of Europe’s most beautiful truck to the 220 trucks, vans, and body solutions, including the new eTruck… there certainly was cause for celebration at this year’s MAN Trucknology Festival. Which begs the question: how will MAN top this next year?