New cabs and engines comprised the centrepieces on the MAN Truck & Bus UK stand at the CV Show. The XXL and LX were demonstrated on TGX 26.480 and TGS 26.440 products, respectively, but its Euro-5 D08 and D26 EGR engines were, arguably, more significant. They are due to be in mass production by Spring 2009. David Cussans, operations director for MAN, re-emphasised the company's dedication to EGR for future technologies, and
believed at Euro-6 it would underpin drivelines with the possibility small SCR unit needed to meet the enhanced emission levels.
For current products, in the UK, the company sat behind Daf with 14% of marketshare above 6.0t during the first quarter of 2008. At 7.5t, it has 18%, at 18t 19.8% and in the three-axle tractor market 16%. Part of that success has been down to the revamped dealer network, which has gone from 79 owners five years ago with the purchase of ERF, to 28 owners today. Remarkably, 70% of those current owners are former-ERF dealers. It also announced a new £4m site at Bellshill, Glasgow and a £8.6m site at TraffordPark, Manchester.
With the spectre of a future shared with Scania on the cards, MAN continues to tighten up its own operation
as it grows its UK marketshare. Although Bernhard Kerscher, head of region north, was unable to shed any more light on the possible Scania/MAN union, it is distinctly possible 'product synergy' would be the first step.
