MAN Truck and Bus South Africa
MAN Truck & Bus (S.A.) (Pty) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAN Truck & Bus AG in Germany, is a leading manufacturer of medium, heavy and extra-heavy trucks, as well as commuter buses and luxury coaches.
The product has been represented in South Africa since the early 1960’s, initially through agents Meyer and Hiller.
The South African operation has its headquarters in Isando, as well as an assembly plant (Pinetown), a bus and coach manufacturing facility (Olifantsfontein) a central parts depot (Isando), a used commercial vehicle operation in Centurion and a widespread national sales, service and parts dealer network.
The company currently holds second position in the heavy truck market and is the leading supplier of passenger buses in the country.
History
MAN’s history in South Africa began in 1962 when two German entrepreneurs, Meyer and Hiller, built the current assembly plant.
In 1974 MAN Truck & Bus took over local distributors, Meyer and Hiller, and renamed the company MAN Truck & Bus. The deal included Meyer and Hiller’s Pinetown assembly plant, which has been expanded over the years to meet increasing demand.
The company maintained a relatively low profile and little growth until 1999 when the bus manufacturing facility was purchased from TFM and renamed MAN Bus & Coach.
This was followed in 2001 by the opening of state-of-the-art flagship dealerships in Centurion and Pinetown, signalling MAN’s intention to become a major player in the South African commercial vehicle market. In 2002, another custom designed dealership was opened on the N4 highway outside of Nelspruit.
In 2002, MAN opened a modern used commercial vehicle facility in Centurion, the first of its kind by a commercial vehicle manufacturer in South Africa.
Directors
Markus Geyer (Non-Executive/Chairman) (German), Bruce Dickson, Ray Karshagen, Max Heller (German), Sarah Luthuli (Non-Executive)
Management board
Bruce Dickson (Joint CEO), Ray Karshagen (Joint CEO), Max Heller (CFO), Heiko Kayser (Truck & Bus Chassis Assembly - Production), Mike Macdonald (Centre Leader), Shane Naidoo (Head of MAN Sub-Equatorial Africa), Wayne Powdrell (Business Development After Sales) and Thandi Thankge (Human Resources).
The Directors and Management Board have many years of experience, in the commercial vehicle industry between them, both locally and internationally.
This adds a new dimension in capability and focus on service to the MAN operation in South Africa, for both the customer and the commercial vehicle industry that few players in the South African automotive arena can match.
While the performance of it's products remains virtually unchallenged in the transport industry, it is in the area of customer service and satisfaction that MAN believes it can continually add value to it's concept of 'Total customer support'.
The marque
The history of MAN is synonymous with the history of trucking and transport itself. The MAN story began with the construction of steam engines at two plants in the German cities, which appear in the company’s full name: ‘Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg’.
The manufacturer of MAN commercial vehicles started in 1915, barely 20 years after Rudolf Diesel invented the combustion engine, which bears his name. MAN took Diesel’s invention and developed it to production level and in doing so launched a new era of mobility.
In 1924 MAN pioneered the world’s first truck powered with a direct injection diesel engine and this was followed in 1951 by the first German turbo-charged truck engine.
Background
For decades MAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the German parent company, has been one of the major players in the South African truck and bus market. However, until the late ‘90’s , the company and its products maintained a low public profile.
Facing a new millennium, MAN in South Africa brought about some dramatic changes. In 1997 the company was re-organised, with MAN Automotive continuing to serve government and parastatals and MAN Truck & Bus concentrating fully on the retail markets. A new, more aggressive marketing policy made an almost immediate impact with an increased national market share. As part of MAN’s globalization strategy effective from 2008 MAN Truck and Bus (S.A.) (Pty) Ltd has been given total responsibility for the African continent.
MAN is renowned for using innovative technology which impacts on performance. As a result of this, together with decades of market experience and the highest possible level of technical skill, MAN is able to develop and build top quality commercial vehicles used in many areas of the South African industry, including transport haulage, agriculture, forestry, mining, food and beverage and construction.
The company’s philosophy in South Africa has remained simple. MAN will continue to pursue a forceful marketing strategy with a formidable line-up of products that is hard to beat, or even compete with.
This is backed by a clear commitment from Germany where the board recognises the strategic importance of Africa, both as assembler and manufacturer, not only for the South African market but the rest of Africa where MAN Truck & Bus is currently responsible for 52 other countries.
Commitment to customer service
'Consistently efficient' is MAN’s slogan in South Africa. With this is highlighted an important aspect of the company’s success: the efficiency with which the needs of customers are addressed, both personally and as a company goal.
This is our benchmark, irrespective of whether we provide a service looking after the interests of an external customer or whether we support other departments in the company. We know that in every case, at the end of the value-chain is a customer who will only choose the product if it promises him better value than the competition.
Model ranges
The MAN truck line-up in South Africa consists of the TGL, TGM and CLA ranges of medium trucks (10 to 26 ton GVM) and the TGA-WW range of heavy trucks in 4x2, 6x4 and 6x6 configurations (45 to 160 tons GCM).
Both model ranges are extremely versatile and are suitable for a wide variety of transport applications such as national and international long haul transport, agriculture, forestry, food and beverage distribution, courier services, furniture removal, municipal services, special application vehicles, severe duty vehicles, construction and mining.
Three bus model options are offered in a front-engine chassis : 18.232 FOC 4x2 bus chassis, 18.282 FOC 4x2 bus chassis and the18.352 FOC 4x2 bus chassis. The range includes two-axle solo buses and three-axle articulated buses, which are utilized for commuter transport, as well as long distance and semi-luxury touring coaches, that are optimally adapted to meet the challenging operating conditions of Southern Africa.
Head Office
The company’s head office is situated on 20 388 square meters in Isando and has a staff complement of 191 people.
The facility houses the sales, marketing, finance and administration functions, as well as a vehicle refurbishment workshop for used commercial vehicles.
The MAN Training Academy is also situated in Isando and offers a wide range of technical courses to apprentices and qualified artisans, ensuring that the MAN organisation in South Africa is always at the leading edge of technical know-how.
Chassis assembly plant
The facility is situated on 32, 544m² and is located 20km from Durban harbour and 35km from Durban International Airport. The Plant has 172 employees. Appriximately2400 units were produced in 2011. The Pinetown Assembly Plant celebrates it’s 50 year anniversary this year. It was on 10th August 1962 that Meyer & Hiller opened the 1st MAN Truck and Bus production plant in Pinetown.
Bus and coach manufacturing plant
MAN Bus & coach, situated in Olifantsfontein, is the only manufacturer in South Africa able to supply complete bus and coach products (chassis and body). The bodies are build on MAN or VW chassis. The product range covers bodies on two axle solo buses, 3 axle articulated, 4 axle bi-articulated and low entry buses.
The facility is situated on 14270 square meters and has 234 employees. In 2011 404 unites were produced.
Central parts depot
The parts warehouse is situated on 7 785 square meters in Isando. It has a stockholding of R293-million and supplies 6 700 line items to a Dealer network of 29 in South Africa and a further 17 in neighbouring African countries. The parts operation forms an important part of MAN’s ‘total customer support’ philosophy and an emergency service ensures that parts can be delivered anywhere in South Africa within 24-hours.
Select used vehicles
The purpose-built commercial vehicle facility is situated on the N1 highway in Centurion and reflects the seriousness with which MAN regards this market.
Select comprises a specialist and focused team of people, dedicated to supporting MAN’s countrywide network in their efforts to sell used trucks and buses.
The Select programme offers three categories of MAN used commercial vehicles (Select, Select Plus and Select Ready-to-Drive) as well as a wide selection of ‘All Makes’ trucks, buses and trailers.
Dealer network
A network of 14 full dealerships and 15 service and parts dealerships is strategically situated throughout Southern Africa, in order to provide complete support to MAN’s widespread customer base.
A Dealer Development Department, which set targets and monitor performance on an ongoing basis, manages the dealer network. A Customer Satisfaction Monitor (CSM) measures each dealerships individual performance, as well as each marques performance in the sales, service and parts categories. MAN is currently the leading marque in CSM ratings.
A Dealer Standards Programme defines objectives and measure scores throughout the year, culminating in a ‘Dealer of the Year’ trophy being awarded each year. MAN Truck & Bus Nelspruit is the holder of the 2002 ‘Dealer of the Year’ title.
Employment
A total of 796 people are employed at our facilities throughout South Africa, which include an assembly plant in Pinetown, a bus manufacturing facility in Olifantsfontein, as well a parts operation, a head office located in Isando and the dealer network.
Customer orders for both trucks and buses generate additional employment opportunities, due to the Complete Knock-Down (CKD) kits imported from Germany being assembled at the Pinetown plant, as well as bus bodies being built onto chassis at the manufacturing plant in Olifantsfontein.
Investments
MAN has invested in excess of R130-million in South Africa since the beginning of 1999. Notable investments were the acquisition of the MAN Bus & Coach facility, which was purchased at the beginning of 1999 for a total of R24-million, th Pinetown and Centurion dealerships which represent a further R20-million investment each, an R8-million Training Academy in Isando, as well as a R10-million Select used truck facility situated in Centurion. Recently a further R35-million was invested in the further expansion of the MAN Bus & Coach and the Pinetown Assmbly facilities.
MAN continued with investments in South Africa. One of the largest in 2012 was the acquisition of the MAN Cape Town premises.
The property was purchased for a total of R41-million. MAN invested in Pinetown where R5-million was spent to refurbish the Assembly plant.
