New Truck Generation from MAN roars into South Africa

Following the highly successful launch of MAN’s new Truck Generation (TG) range of trucks in Europe last year, MAN has launched its new TG range of trucks for customers in South Africa. PIERRE SANSON reports that the new vehicles reflect MAN’s customer-centric approach and are designed to meet their operational requirements – for today and for the future.

The South African launch, held at the Zwartkops racing circuit, was the most appropriate venue to showcase the newest generation of MAN trucks. Attended by more than 100 stalwarts of the transport industry, the occasion provided an opportunity for the visitors to thoroughly appreciate the new standards of the comprehensive package provided by MAN, whether for short or long-haul transport or construction.

The allocated area was divided into four modules, each represented by a specialist instructor, duly appointed, to discuss the finer technical points of the new trucks. The guests rotated between the modules and were able to interact with the MAN instructors, enabling them to obtain first-hand knowledge of the vehicles. The driving experience was in the hands of the appointed competent drivers, who were well versed in providing an excellent insight into the features of each cab – and there were certainly many of them!

The truck range comes with features that are aimed at providing the best-in-class comfort for drivers, contributing even more to safety and efficiency than ever. Some of the vehicles were equipped with their respective “working gear”, emphasising their versatility, from mixer units to general cargo and tipper units.

“The launch of the new MAN TG range is an exciting moment for the entire team  in South Africa. Over the years, MAN has established itself as a strong player in the truck business. We have been voted as the best performing OEM in the customer satisfaction index. Going forward, we will continue to make MAN the preferred choice for customers in Southern Africa,” said Oliver Klein, managing director of MAN Automotive (South Africa).

“With the introduction of the new Truck Generation, MAN also reaffirms its commitment to ‘Simplifying Business’ for its customers. The company aims to achieve this with effective after-sales for service, parts and business advisory, besides our reliable and efficient products. Our 59 years’ presence in South Africa has enabled us to fully understand the local market and remain a leading force, especially with the introduction of the new Truck Generation MAN.”

Dr Andreas Tostmann, CEO of MAN Truck and Bus SE, was a welcome visitor to the launch and provided a brief background to the success of the new MAN. “Development of the new Truck Generation started many years ago and encompassed some 160 000 manhours of research and development. Input was also brought in from hundreds of dealers and drivers themselves in order to ascertain fully the optimum requirement for the ‘perfect’ vehicle. Based on the information provided, the TG3 was configured and today we can be justifiably proud of a vehicle that boasts superb engine efficiency and aerodynamics, providing up to a 10% saving in fuel consumption.

“Key to the design is the cab with ergonomics in the right place for driver comfort and safety. Uptime and service interval improvements complete the innovations leading to the most prestigious award, with the new MAN TGX achieving the International Truck of the Year 2021,” he said.