MAN Nutzfahrzeuge well prepared for the future
The MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group, with its head office in Munich, is the largest subsidiary of the MAN Group and one of the leading international suppliers of commercial vehicles and transport solutions. The MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group includes MAN trucks and buses and NEOPLAN buses. We have four production locations in Germany: Munich, Nuremberg, Salzgitter and Plauen. We also have production plants in Vienna and Steyr (Austria), in Poznan, Starachowice and Cracow (Poland), and in Ankara (Turkey).
Outside Europe MAN Nutzfahrzeuge maintains production locations in Olifantsfontein and Pinetown (South Africa), in Pune (India), and in Querétaro (Mexico). There was further growth at the beginning of 2009: in January a truck assembly plant was opened in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Outside Europe MAN Nutzfahrzeuge maintains production locations in Olifantsfontein and Pinetown (South Africa), in Pune (India), and in Querétaro (Mexico). There was further growth at the beginning of 2009: in January a truck assembly plant was opened in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
After a successful financial year in 2008 the company is solidly set up for the difficult year ahead.
2008 was once again a successful year for the MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group: in spite of the marked drop in demand in the second half of the year, again over 100,000 trucks and buses were sold worldwide.
MAN Nutzfahrzeuge - living in partnership
Record truck sales
Record sales were again achieved in this sector in 2008. This success can mostly be attributed to the introduction of the TGS and TGX in 2007. Because of the impact of the economic crisis, the European truck market shrank in 2008 from around 421,000 to 412,000 units (- 2 %). In spite of this, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge was able to record an increase of 3 % in truck sales and thereby increase its market share in trucks over 6 tons by 0.4 of a percentage point to 16.6 %. In spite of the difficult conditions, MAN has thus taken a significant step closer to its medium-term objective; an 18.0 % market share in Europe. MAN is therefore the truck brand which has been able to consolidate its market position in Europe to most sustained effect. In addition to the core European market, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge has been able to strengthen and further consolidate its place in global truck markets such as those in Eastern Europe, Russia/CIS and the Middle East. Thanks to its international growth strategy 2008 saw MAN generate 38 % of truck sales in the markets outside Europe a considerable improvement of the 26 % achieved in 2005.
Increased turnover in the bus sector
There has already been a positive impact seen from the restructuring that was initiated in the bus division in 2007.. Turnover in 2008 rose by almost 10 % to € 1,522 million (2007: € 1,387 million), the operating profit improving after a loss of € 13 million in 2007 by € 32 million to € 19 million. Within the framework of its restructuring of the German NEOPLAN locations, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge has taken a significant step towards securing the sustained profit-yielding future of its bus operations. The Plauen site in Saxony has been expanded and is now producing complete NEOPLAN buses. The bus plant in Pilsting has been taken over by the newly founded VISEON Bus GmbH.
MAN Nutzfahrzeuge investing in the future
At € 528 million investment was up by 48 % from previous year's levels. One example of how these funds were channelled is the 50% increase in shares in the Indian company MAN FORCE Trucks. This demonstarates how MAN Nutzfahrzeuge is taking on more responsibility in this particular joint venture and is looking to step up the sales of trucks produced in India and in the growth markets in Asia and Africa. # In the production sector a sum of € 64 million has been invested in the Nuremberg plant over all machining centres for special engine components. As one of the world's leading manufacturers, the MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group believes it has a responsibility to make a significant contribution to improving transport efficiency. That is why in 2008 MAN Nutzfahrzeuge invested € 257 million (2007: € 234 million) in research and development.
Outlook for 2009
This year MAN Nutzfahrzeuge will be venturing into important future sectors. In order to continuously improve the proximity to customers, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge is further expanding its service network, especially in the growth markets of Eastern Europe. This summer will witness the opening of the new MAN Forum at the Munich site; this will be a modern world of experience dedicated to everything related to commercial vehicles. Situated directly next to the MAN Forum is the NEOPLAN Forum, which will open around at the turn of the year 2009/2010.
