The MAN group, which is part of Volkswagen, will continue to concentrate on measures to optimise processes and cost structures as part of its global priority list in 2018. This has been articulated in the truck and bus maker’s statement earlier this week following the declaration of results for 2017.

MAN is facing up to the major challenges coming its way as a result of future issues such as digitisation, automation, and electrification. Modern powertrain technologies are key triggers for this change — and innovative commercial vehicles are paving the way for autonomous driving.

There is, therefore, a need for new ideas and sustainable concepts in both business areas. MAN will leverage the opportunities resulting from this change. It is working closely together with its customers as part of this endeavor.

From the India point of view, MAN has been around for a little over a decade and plans to increase its global role from here in the coming years. This will see a thrust in exports while catering to the needs of the heavy duty segment in India too.

Patience is key

In a market dominated by strong players such as Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, MAN believes that the key is to be patient in India and take one thing at a time while staying true to its core DNA of heavy trucks.

“It is not about getting the biggest market share but a kind of positioning in India,” Joerg Mommertz, Chairman & Managing Director of the Indian operations, had said in an earlier interview. “We want to be considered by the more demanding customer, step by step, for all transport-related business.”

On a global perspective, the key to MAN’s successful future in today’s dynamic environment is ‘tempo’. This means being fast and flexible while setting the trends in each market environment independently. It will also encourage new developments through technical innovations and intelligent approaches that meet future customer requirements. MAN is striving to make transportation and energy generation more efficient, more environmentally friendly, and safer. This is why it is driving innovation forward and investing in its future. MAN Truck & Bus, for example, is investing around €2.4 billion to strengthen its sites over five years up to 2020 with the aim of ensuring a high level of plant efficiency and product quality in the long term.

Digital initiative

The RIO digital brand initiated by MAN is another example of its strong innovative capability: an open, cloud-based platform for the entire transportation industry that now operates as an independent brand of Volkswagen Truck & Bus. RIO went live with an initial services offering at the end of 2017 and will help drive the company further forward in 2018.

MAN Truck & Bus, MAN Latin America, and Scania are working closely together within the Volkswagen Truck & Bus Group. In line with the lead engineering concept, cross-brand teams are working on drivetrain development projects.

In the process, common platforms for engines, transmissions, axles, and exhaust after-treatment systems are being created that can be adapted by the individual brands. The development cooperation initiative also includes the technological fields of electrification and autonomous driving. Efficiency, zero emissions, and sustainability play a significant role here.

The MAN Group anticipates slight growth in sales revenue in 2018, to which all divisions are likely to contribute. A moderate increase in unit sales is assumed in the commercial vehicles business area, whereas order intake in the power engineering business area is expected to remain level year-on year.

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