On course for growth
MAN Nutzfahrzeuge pursues an international growth strategy that goes beyond the core market of Europe to specifically develop the growth markets of Asia and Eastern Europe, including the Russian Federation. With products and services specially tailored to these markets and by setting up and expanding its sales and service network, MAN has been able to significantly strengthen its position in these markets in the past few years.
Expansion of production capacity / joint ventures
In order to be able to service the lively demand for trucks in its focus markets, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge has made timely investments in the extension and expansion of production facilities. In summer 2007, after a construction period of only 12 months, one of the most modern truck assembly plants worldwide was able to begin operations near Kraków (Poland).
In a joint venture with Force Motors under the name of MAN FORCE TRUCKS Private Limited in Pithampur (India), MAN Nutzfahrzeuge is represented in yet another growth market. Following the start of production last year, approximately 7000 trucks are to be produced there in 2008; by the year 2010, this number is to rise to 25,000 trucks per year. The heavy trucks of the CLA model series are intended above all for the target markets in Asia and Africa.
Concentration on core skills
Major components of the international growth strategy of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge are its concentration on core skills and optimization of vertical integration. As part of this strategy, MAN set up a joint venture for the component plant in Penzberg (D) in the year 2005. Another logical step was the transfer of the plant for pressed parts in Gustavsburg (D) to a joint venture with the Hörmann Group. Both companies are developing very well.
Integration of the bus division
In the bus business unit, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge has initiated necessary restructuring measures to strengthen and sustain its profitability in the mid and long term. In order to be able to leverage the synergies with the truck business unit quickly and consistently, the bus division was fully integrated into the organisation structure of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge on 1 February 2008. This means that the bus division is managed in exactly the same way as other divisions by the board of directors of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge with the aim of continuing the initiated restructuring measures consistently and at full power.
Very good perspectives for 2008
For the ongoing year, MAN expects a positive business development, with sales figures that will continue rising. The consolidating European market will be supplemented to an increasingly degree by the very good sales development in Eastern Europe and the GUS states (including Russia) as well as in Asia.
Technical innovations and good positioning of the MAN range of products ensure continuous and sustained growth. In the industry, MAN enjoys the best reputation of any truck manufacturer: with regard to recognition levels and image, the brand with the lion in its emblem is the undisputed number 1 in Germany. This is demonstrated in a representative survey of 400 fleet decision-makers in transportation firms, freight forwarders, industry and trade, run by the market research institute TNS Emnid as commissioned by the German weekly transport magazine VerkehrsRundschau.
