Marc Appelt Appointed New Managing Director Of MAN Malaysia; Charts Growth-Focused Roadmap
MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd has announced the appointment of Marc Appelt as its new Managing Director, and with him comes a strong global track record and a clear strategy to drive growth, network expansion, and service innovation across Malaysia.
Appelt, who hails from Lüneburg, Germany, is a veteran of MAN with over 2 decades of experience, including global leadership roles in sales, finance, and human resources. He previously served as a member of the Commercial Board at MAN, overseeing international commercial operations. He has also worked in Bangkok as Finance Director for the ASEAN region, a role that gave him early exposure to the Malaysian market.
Taking over from Andrew O’Brooks who is now leading MAN’s Greater China operations, Appelt inherits a strong foundation. He credits his predecessor for building an experienced and motivated local team that has enhanced brand visibility and aftersales excellence across Malaysia.
“My predecessor has done an amazing job in building a skilled, experienced and motivated team that is consistently delivering quality aftersales service and uptime demanded by customers. The current MAN set-up and network is extremely professional, which makes my task of growing the business easier,” he commented. 
Appelt’s immediate focus will be expanding the MAN dealer network and cementing the brand’s leadership in the heavy-duty commercial vehicle space. The company has already established itself as the pioneer of Euro V-compliant trucks in Malaysia, with a growing number of units proving their value in real-world conditions since 2021.
“As the first heavy truck with Euro V engines as standard in Malaysia, we have the most experience in helping transporters achieve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and lower total cost of ownership (TCO),” said Appelt. “Our Euro V MAN Trucks are proven and reliable solutions, having been operating here in real-world conditions since 2021.” 
The company’s Euro V MAN Coach Chassis has also been well received, with a strong and growing order book. Appelt believes this segment will be an important contributor to the brand’s expansion in the years ahead.
Despite increasing competition from lower-cost Chinese brands and aggressive discounting in the market, Appelt is confident in MAN’s value-driven offering. “We are simplifying business with a very compelling and comprehensive customer-focused solution. With our easy in-house financing, owning a MAN is now more affordable than ever with no heavy upfront capital outlay.”
MAN is also focused on enhancing customer experience through digitalisation. Service centres operate until 2:30 a.m., and offer contactless check-ins and online service bookings. Combined with competitively priced MAN Genuine Parts — including remanufactured options backed by a 2-year unlimited mileage warranty — the brand aims to deliver worry-free vehicle ownership and maximum uptime.
Appelt will be visiting customers nationwide as he settles into his new role, to reaffirm MAN’s long-term commitment to supporting Malaysian transport operators. “If you are playing the long game, MAN is the reliable partner for you. We have the right products and set-up to support and grow with your business,” he said. 
