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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
DECEMBER 2015
31
TRANSPORT
Study Customer Service Index for sales and
service, as well as leading in the productivity
category in terms of fuel consumption and
payload. This was topped by the Freightliner
Argosy winning its category in the Focus on
Transport Truck Test.
The FUSO team launched the FA 9-137, the
first vehicle to be imported by FUSO Trucks
Southern Africa from the Daimler India
Commercial Vehicle (DICV) plant in Chennai,
which will see more ‘built in India’ products
in the future.
Not to be outdone, Mercedes-Benz Bus &
Coach was the first manufacturer to offer
buses running on Compressed Natural Gas
(CNG) to the local market. These engines
surpass Euro V standards, with up to a
90% reduction in nitrogen oxide and 20%
in carbon monoxide emissions. These envi-
ronmentally-friendly vehicles also result in
no particulate matter (ash) or solid residual
being generated.
As testament to its customer commitment,
Mercedes-Benz Bus & Coach will soon be
offering dual-fuel buses as well. This inno-
vative technology works by mixing diesel
and gas together to produce eco-friendly
vehicles.
Regarded as an indestructible truck, the
Western Star continued being associated
with impossible recovery situations and
abnormal load applications. Throughout
2015, this truck showed why it is capable
of 24/7 operation without showing any signs
of slowing down. This was achieved in part
owing to its strong custom chassis frame, a
purpose-built drivetrain and constantly look-
ing for ways to reduce customer’s cost per
ton.
DT&B’s superior telematics system, Fleet-
Board, remains the product of choice for
most of Daimler’s vehicles as more than
60% of all Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks
purchased were fitted with FleetBoard at
point of sale.
Another exemplary division of MBSA is Truck-
Store, based in Centurion, established as the
first outlet of TruckStore outside Europe. As
a pre-owned vehicles business, TruckStore
proved to be one of the most successful di-
visions within MBSA during 2015, building
on the success already achieved in 2014,
with sales of more than 700 units
In yet another effort to enhance the user’s
experience, DT&B’s maintenance and ser-
vice contracts arm, CharterWay, guarantees
customer uptime and ensures a single point
of contact for all after-sales requirements.
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS)
being the in-house finance company has
proved its worth in supporting the sales drive
by offering innovative financial products to
customers. In their support of the product
range, MBFS has achieved the billion Rand
mark in sales.
“As the pace setter in safety, efficiency, fi-
nancing, maintenance, and all other com-
mercial vehicle related activities, 2015 has
proven to be a mixed bag for DT&B, but as
a company who has been in the lead for
125 years, we allowed what was previously
thought to be impossible, we consistently
made it possible. One of the reasons DT&B
remains a leader is our value chain offer-
ings, which allow us to walk the journey with
our customers, right from point of purchase
until the vehicle is decommissioned. We
could not have had such a resounding year
had it not been for all of our stakeholders,”
concludes Van Zyl.