What are some key engineering advancements contributing to the exceptional reliability of MAN vehicles, and how are these features integrated into new models?
MAN has gone to great lengths to ensure that its new generation of trucks maintains the high product quality of its predecessors. The company has focused on safety-related components, including the body, chassis, lighting and brake system, driveline, and visibility equipment.
Since 2012, the TÜV (the German Technical Inspection Agency) has been evaluating the results of statutory inspections for commercial vehicles. Since the collection of this data began, MAN has consistently increased its high number of defect-free trucks.
Additionally, as MAN vehicles age, they exhibit above-average results in terms of being defect-free and has attained the best results among all trucks evaluated by the TÜV, serving as a testament to the dependability of MAN vehicles throughout its operational lifespan. Furthermore, as driver assistance technologies continue to expand, so does the need for increasingly scalable vehicle electrical systems in order to manage the growing complexity of commercial vehicle systems.
The MAN TipMatic® – automated shift system uses software control functions to determine the optimum moving-off and gearshift strategy in all situations in conjunction with the load and slope detection function, thus protecting the driveline.
Additionally, the company’s vehicles offer several other advantages. For example, an intelligent electrical architecture enables detailed and guided fault diagnosis. The vehicles also feature a ‘Driver Assistance for Greater Reliability’ system to assist drivers in potentially critical situations, whether on long-haul routes, construction sites, or city drives.
The New MAN Truck Generation (NTG) comes equipped with the right suite of assistance systems. These include tried-and-tested aids such as the lane return assistant, which intervenes if the vehicle unintentionally drifts from its lane. Additionally, the MAN Emergency Brake Assistant helps prevent rear-end collisions by warning of impending ones and initiating emergency braking when necessary, thus exceeding the legal requirements.
How does MAN test and adapt its vehicles to ensure they perform reliably under varying conditions?
When faced with challenging conditions, such as extreme temperatures, specific equipment options are crucial for ensuring a vehicle’s reliability and durability. The NTG offers appropriate configuration choices to meet these needs.
To ensure operational capability and driver comfort within a specific temperature range, the vehicle’s suitability for deployment is determined by selecting the right temperature range. This involves equipping the vehicle with specific materials and components, such as coolant with frost resistance, axle and gearbox oil with the correct viscosity, and engine capsules/fuel filters.
In hot climates, MAN uses an effective fan control system that triggers the cooling fan at a low coolant temperature, allowing for a faster reduction of coolant temperature. This provides additional reserves for operating the retarder, thereby increasing its availability. An auxiliary air conditioning system is also available to keep the cab temperature cool.
For colder climates, MAN restricts the retarder to approximately 80% of its technically possible brake output. This approach ensures that the engine cooling system can handle the heat input into the coolant even in hotter ambient temperatures, significantly extending the operation period before the retarder output needs to be reduced. The additional thermal cab insulation includes various large, heat-insulating elements installed behind the interior, and panelling on the side and rear walls. The thermal insulation prevents both excessive heating and strong cooling of the interior.
The MAN truck’s three-piece steel bumper offers robust protection for vehicles used in traction and construction site operations. It features a durable front step unit and allows for easy maintenance, with individual components replaceable after accident damage, reducing repair costs.
Additionally, MAN vehicles include features such as stone protection for front headlights, wide and fine mesh radiator protection grills, and a single-disc clutch reinforced for longevity. These features collectively ensure that MAN trucks can withstand extreme temperatures, rough terrains, and heavy loads.
How does MAN ensure a robust and responsive spare parts network, both locally and globally, to support its customers and minimise downtime?
MAN Truck maintains a network of service centres, offering optimum support through advanced vehicle diagnostics. The trained staff from the authorised MAN importer team are always on-site, assessing services for cost-effectiveness to provide customers with the best cost-benefit ratio.
The company also offers MAN service contracts, which ensure planning and cost certainty.
Maintenance and repairs are carried out using MAN genuine parts. Workshops usually have 80% of these parts in stock, with the remaining 95% available the next day at the latest, ensuring maximum uptime. Moreover, reliable mobile vans are part of the MAN service portfolio, offering help and support in the event of a breakdown. With MAN Mobile24, we offer our customers a safe, reliable breakdown service across the region.
MAN ensures that its genuine parts are manufactured according to strict guidelines and carefully inspected to comply with rigorous quality standards. These measures guarantee maximum reliability and economy. Demonstrating its commitment to quality, MAN offers a 24-month warranty, valid worldwide, on each genuine part. This commitment to quality helps customers minimise their total cost of ownership.
We also provide warranty extensions of up to 72 months, offering additional protection against unforeseen repair costs. These attractive warranty extensions can be contracted for both the driveline and the entire vehicle.
Additionally, customers can find a comprehensive range of seminars under MAN ProfiDrive®. These cover various topics, from vehicle introduction and in-depth technology and safety systems courses to efficiency and driving safety training for both on-road and off-road sectors. MAN’s practical seminars are geared towards the driver’s needs while also focusing on the business owner’s requirements.
Finally, how does MAN Trucks incorporate customer feedback regarding reliability and performance into their product development process?
The motto of the New MAN Truck Generation, “Simply my Truck,” is not just a slogan but a fundamental principle guiding its development. To understand firsthand how a truck’s ideal workspace and living space should be designed, MAN developers presented different prototype solutions to over 700 drivers, including during visits to truck stops and service stations. The professional feedback and personal wishes of these drivers directly informed the design of the new series.
Moreover, MAN invited 300 national and international customers from 16 countries to Munich to define the essential requirements for a new vehicle in workshop settings. Developers compared this diverse input with feedback from driver interviews and incorporated the core ideas that emerged into the innovative features of the New MAN Truck Generation.
Informed by over 50,000 personal customer surveys annually, new services and products are created to help customers optimally utilise their New MAN TGX, TGS, or TGM. This proactive approach to customer feedback demonstrates MAN Trucks’ commitment to continually enhancing reliability and performance.