Scania Launches Award-Winning New Generation Trucks To Help Customers Improve Profitability
Scania (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has launched the new generation of award-winning Scania trucks that have been designed and engineered to help its customers, particularly fleet owners, improve their profitability as well as achieve greater total operating economy. At the same time, these new trucks have lower CO2 emissions, allowing fleet owners to meet the stringent requirements of some of their customers.
The new generation of Scania trucks is touted to have innovations that will save the customer about 3% on fuel costs, a result of 10 years of development work by Scania, at a cost of about SEK 20 billion (approximately RM10 billion; the company’s largest-ever investment), and over 12 million kilometres of test-driving.
“Our New Truck Generation has won many awards since the launch in Europe like the International Truck of the Year award and has achieved 100% in all European press tests, twice. In addition to enhancing performance of the vehicle, we also recognise that the driver plays a significant role in the success of our customers’ business. This can be experienced with the new Generation as well. It includes enhanced cab safety, enriched driver’s environment and improved drivability which makes a happy driver and therefore inevitably a happy business,” said Marie Sjödin Enström, Managing Director of Scania Southeast Asia.
Key to the the business of Scania’s customers is profitability, and Scania’s new third-generation Euro 3 diesel engines have been improved to reduce fuel consumption by up to 3%. Scania engines can run on B10 biodiesel without modifications to the engine or service interval. In some markets, Scania vehicles run on a variety of fuel sources including bioethanol, natural gas, biogas, and hydro-treated vegetable oil. Further, Scania is testing the use of untreated biogas from waste materials in its engines. Beyond that, the aerodynamics is improved with newly designed front and chassis.
“Fuel savings translate directly into reduced operating costs and with the latest updates, we can guarantee a further reduction in consumption for all the diesel powertrains in our new truck range that has been tailored to address specific challenges for fleet operators and owners,” said Marie.
The new trucks’ modular design allows for numerous duties like long haulage, construction and urban applications. Design and technical improvements have been made to the P-series, G-series and R-series truck cabs, while the L-series and S-series cabs are new to Malaysia.
The L-series is a specially designed cab for urban use such as distribution and waste collection. The spacious cab is set low for the practical purpose of running in congested conditions. Meanwhile, the S-series is the tallest in the Scania range and features a flat floor and a high roof (approximately 7′) to maximise interior space and comfort for long-distance haulage.
The new S-series was awarded the prestigious Truck of the Year 2017 by a panel of leading trucking journalists from 25 countries in Europe. It was judged to have delivered substantial improvements in cab aerodynamics, driveability, comfort, safety and driveline performance. The new generation trucks also topped the 1,000 Point Test in 2016 and 2017, which is a fuel performance challenge.
For the drivers, they also benefit from the choice of seat adjustment options, storage options, and rollover curtain side airbags (a first in Malaysia) that can reduce fatality rate from rollover accidents by up to 25%. There is also a new infotainment system that features a 7″ touchscreen.
Drivers also benefit from better driving visibility due to the repositioning of the seat, a lower instrument panel and optimised A-pillars. The steering column is also designed to absorb impact to reduce injury. Camera sensors and other warning systems are also available as additional safety options.
An additional range introduced by Scania is the XT, which features additional specifications for increased robustness in tough work conditions like construction sites and rough terrain. This includes a sturdy steel bumper, skid plates, headlamp protectors, fold-out service step in the bumper and inspection step at the side of the cab. It also includes the use of a high air intake for the cleanest air possible when operating in dusty conditions, and a front tow pin with 40-tonne towing capacity to enable the truck to be pulled out if necessary.
Due to the modular nature of the range, Scania customers can customise their vehicle configurations with a choice of cabs, engines and chassis. This modular approach maximises spare parts availability which helps to minimise downtime.
Safety-wise, the new trucks have a more robust monocoque structure with high tensile steel, engineered in collaboration with Scania’s sister company, Porsche Engineering (FYI, Scania is part of the Volkswagen Group). The front axle has been moved 50 mm to the front and has a lower centre of gravity, allowing for a shorter overhang that reduces the degree of kneeling under braking. Together with the 30″ brake chambers for the front disc brakes, the truck’s active safety features improve braking distance by 5%, from 40 metres to 38 metres for a truck with a 40-tonne gross trailer weight.
“No effort was spared in the extensive development process to ensure that the drivers enjoy the best possible visibility, manoeuvrability, comfort and driving experience to ensure the safest interaction with other road users,” added Marie.
To ensure its vehicles stay on the road, Scania continues to provide its Scania Total Solutions package to ensure its customers’ vehicles are performing in peak condition and efficiency. Customers can also use the Fleet Management System to keep track of their fleet in real-time, as well as Fleet Care services for service planning and fleet optimisation functions, for better management of productivity.
Scania also conducts driver training and coaching to upgrade the skills of drivers in terms of efficient and safe driving. “We have a holistic approach to partner with customers well beyond the sale. We look into the long-term aspects of planned maintenance, data analysis and driver skills to help customers get the most uptime and revenue from each vehicle they buy,” explained Marie.
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