Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd now has a medium and heavy-duty (MHD) truck dealership in Sabah to provide a complete range of sales and aftersales services to customers. The first MHD truck dealer is Universal Motor Sdn Bhd which is located in the state’s capital city of Kota Kinabalu. With this new MHD dealership, Isuzu Malaysia now has 12 MHD dealerships nationwide.
The dealership, which occupies a land area of 3.5 acres, has a total of 20 service bays, 13 of which are for light-duty trucks, medium, heavy-duty trucks and prime movers. The remaining 7 bays are for the D-MAX pick-up truck, a popular Isuzu model with multi-role capabilities for business and personal use.
In support of the moves to reduce air pollution and improve efficiency of powerplants, MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia) introduced its new truck generation with low-emission engines that meet Euro 5 standards. These standards set very low levels of sulphur content (among others) which is not only better for the engine but also the air we breathe.
Its trucks are assembled at its own plant in Serendah, Selangor, and the first batch of the New MAN Truck Generation was recently handed over to the first operators in the country. These operators are six transport companies, of which two are first-time MAN Truck customers.
At the handover event of the seven trucks, MAN Malaysia Managing Director Andrew O’Brooks thanked the customers for joining the sustainability journey with MAN. “In November 2021, MAN became the first truck manufacturer in Malaysia to offer Euro 5 engines as standard across its entire product portfolio. It was a bold move as we were challenging Malaysian transporters to join the journey and take the lead in reducing carbon emissions.”
Mr. O’Brooks said the company was delighted that the Malaysian transport companies took up the challenge, with overwhelming market response. “This clearly demonstrates that transporters in Malaysia are more than willing to do their part as the nation aims for carbon neutral status by 2050. They know that with our New MAN Truck Generation, they can attain both profitability and sustainability,” he said.
The six companies to use the new trucks are LTS Distribution (M) Sdn Bhd, Sim Aik Chan Trading Sdn Bhd, Sea Hawk Global Lines Sdn Bhd, Timur Permai Haulage Sdn Bhd, Rani Transport Sdn Bhd and Globonus Sdn Bhd.
The models available have varied specification to suit different transport requirements. There are 5 variants which can be used for three main applications: 4×2 and 6×2 for haulage/container; 6×4 for construction and heavy-duty use; and 4×2 and 6×2 with ADR (Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) specifications.
Customers can choose from 2 engine options. The 4×2 and 6×2 variants for haulage and transport of dangerous goods are powered by the proven and reliable MAN D20, 10.5-litre, 6-cylinder inline Euro 5 diesel engine. The heavy duty-oriented 6×4 variant has the bigger but equally efficient 12.4-litre D26 engine. Both engines are coupled to a smooth and quiet 12-speed MAN TipMatic intelligent gearbox with advanced software and selectable driving programmes for different applications.
Meeting the Euro 5 emission standard means significantly lower emissions of toxic nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases. This is achieved through the use of low sulphur Euro 5 diesel and AdBlue exhaust treatment. Euro 5 diesel, available in B7 and B10 grades, has been available in the Malaysian market since 2014, with BHPetrol having been the first company to offer it.
Newly developed consumption-reducing driveline and software components also ensure a new level of efficiency to deliver improved fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions. The improved aerodynamics of the new vehicle design also play their part in this reduction.
According to Mr. O’Brooks, the New MAN Truck Generation was a transformational product that marked the evolution of MAN Truck & Bus from a vehicle manufacturer to provider of intelligent and sustainable transport solutions. “It is the most ambitious project by MAN Truck & Bus in 20 years. It is the answer that our customers expect us to provide in face of increasingly diverse and complex challenges confronting the transportation industry all over the world, including here in Malaysia,” he said.
MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia) has launched its flagship model of the New MAN Truck Generation line-up – the MAN TGX. The company expects that the truck, designed for long-haul and cross-border trips that typically last a few days, will find significant demand from fleet operators in the country.
More space, larger cab
The MAN TGX is offered alongside its more familiar stablemate, the flexible and versatile MAN TGS that is typically the model of choice in this market. However, the TGX offers more spaciousness with the largest cab among all the New MAN Truck Generation models, especially with its high roof.
The spacious cabin offers more than 520 litres of combined storage space while the standing height of 2,100 mm allows easy movement for the driver and co-driver. The exterior dimensions of the cab are a width of 2,440 mm, length of 2,280 mm and height of 2,150 mm.
Euro-5 compliant engine
The MAN TGX is powered by the proven MAN D2676 LF08 which has maximum power output of 540 bhp/2,500 Nm and is coupled to a 12-speed MAN TipMatic gearbox. It generates lower carbon emissions to comply with stricter Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards that are the norm in today’s business environment. As with all the other models MAN Malaysia has been offering since November 2021, the diesel D266 LF 08 engine is Euro 5-compliant.
The engines of all MAN trucks sold in Malaysia are Euro-5 compliant.
MAN Malaysia Managing Director Andrew O’Brooks said that the move demonstrated the company’s desire to stand-up and be counted in Malaysia’s journey towards carbon-neutral status by 2050. “We are effectively challenging the Malaysian transporters to join the journey and take the lead in reducing carbon emissions. In Europe, long-distance transport vehicles produce as much as 27% of CO2 gases. Malaysia must look and act now to reduce its carbon footprint; and the commercial vehicle industry as well as public service vehicles can do their part in this environmental challenge,” he said.
‘Industry needs to reinvest’
As a manufacturer, MAN is doing its part to offer the right solution. “The industry certainly needs to reinvest in new, future-proof trucks that meet these criteria especially in the current business environment that demands strict environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance,” Mr. O’Brooks added.
