Capital Equipment News June 2018

EXTRA-HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Having undergone 16 million test kilometres in South Africa, the new Actros has been launched locally.

Efficiency is the sum of the details The new Mercedes-Benz Actros takes road efficiency to a whole new level with a design focus that sums up all the crucial details – lower total cost of ownership, safety and maximum uptime, writes Munesu Shoko .

H aving been launched in Europe as far back as 2011, the new Mercedes- Benz Actros has finally made its much-awaited debut in South Africa. The range builds on the success of the previous Actros family, which sold more than 25 000 units into the local market since the first introduction in 1998. Michael Dietz, Head of Global Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, says, unlike its predecessor, the new Actros will exclusively be available as a truck- tractor for long haul, distribution and hazardous goods, in both air and steel suspension. To cater for construction, off-road and specialised applications, Mercedes-Benz will be launching its new Arocs in September this year. Initially, the new Actros arrives in South Africa with eight new air-suspended models. Four 4x2 air-suspended truck tractors and four 6x4 air-suspended truck-tractors, as well as further steel and air-suspended truck-tractors will be making their debut during the second half of the year. As their new Actros rolls off the East London production line, what really makes the new offering tick? Major talking points abound. Jasper Hafkamp, Executive Director, Daimler Truck and Bus Southern Africa, explains that the success of the new Actros range will hinge on three major elements – reliability, efficiency and safety – and the sum of those details offers customers greater road efficiency. “Efficiency is the sum of the details. With several features that speak to lower cost of ownership, greater safety and maximised availability, we are offering our customers a new level of road efficiency,” explains Hafkamp. Efficiency in focus

QUICK TAKE

The vehicle was tested under extreme South African conditions at maximum 56 t loads and returned a fuel saving of 6%

The New Actros offers fuel savings of up to 7% on the Euro V and up to 4% on the Euro III

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS JUNE 2018 16