MAN Truck and Bus UK CEO Des Evans believes the 2013 CV Show is the most important in its 35-year history as it will provide a vital wake up call to operators on the transition to Euro-6.
Evans said there is widespread ignorance on the latest EU emissions standard which comes into force in 2014, and MAN's mission is to "demystify" the technology. "It is not as complicated as people are making out," said Evans.
So far the expected surge in orders for Euro-6 vehicles has not materialised, with only 9,000 trucks over 6 tonnes registered in the first quarter of 2013.
Evans does not expect the market to exceed 40,000 vehicles for the the full year. Nevertheless, he warned: "Time is running out on Euro 6; April/May will be decision time."
MAN is only showing rigid TGX, TGM and TGL trucks at Euro-6 at the CV Show as it is continuing to sell Euro-5 TGX EfficientLine tractors until the last quarter of 2013.
"There is no huge demand for Euro-6 tractors," saidEvans. "EfficientLine is 15% more fuel efficient than standard."
MAN has teamed up with a number of body builders to offer a range of off-the-shelf bodied rigids available immediately.
Evans said that in future, operators will run trucks longer, with the 1 million km tractor and 500,000 km rigid being the norm.
"Trucks have never been cheaper but that will change," he said. "Their economic life will be 72 to 84 months."
MAN is offering attractive repair and maintenance packages on new trucks that will give fixed operating costs for 1 million km which can be as low as 2 pence per/km for both Euro-5 and Euro-6 trucks.
