MAN Nutzfahrzeuge masters the crisis
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).
Outside Europe MAN Nutzfahrzeuge maintains production locations in Olifantsfontein and Pinetown (South Africa), in Pune (India), and in Querétaro (Mexico).
Reducing costs, consolidating strengths
MAN Nutzfahrzeuge used "the good years" to increase productivity still further, to reduce manufacturing penetration and to make the administrative processes more efficient. Moreover, big investments were made in production facilities, new technologies and products, as well as in the world-wide Sales and Service network: these investments are standing the company in good stead during the current difficult situation. The reduction in the volume of investment in 2009 to €204 mill. (€492 mill.) takes into account the difficult economic environment.
MAN Nutzfahrzeuge - living in partnership
Truck Division
As a consequence of the financial and economic crisis the European truck market halved in 2009, from around 410,000 to 220,000 units (– 46%). MAN Nutzfahrzeuge was able to increase its market share of trucks over six tonnes slightly, from 16.6% in 2008 to 16.7% last year. The number of trucks ordered dropped by 52% from 68,872 to 33,272. Incoming orders for heavy trucks were down 54%. During the course of last year, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge delivered 40,535 trucks, which is 58% fewer than in 2008 (96,478). Sales were down by 44% to €5.1 bill. (€9.1 bill.), and the operative result was down by €1,126 mill. to – €89 million.
Bus Division
The European bus market was much less affected than the truck market by the financial and economic crisis in 2009. The volume of registrations decreased by not quite 12% to around 30,500 units (2008: 34,970). The biggest decreases were seen in the coach market (– 31%), followed by the market for intercity buses (– 13.5%). The city bus segment reversed the trend and exhibited a slight growth of almost 4%. MAN Nutzfahrzeuge was able to gain a considerably bigger share of the bus market, improving from 12.8% to 14.8%; the city-bus business made a particularly important contribution here. Incoming orders for the Bus Division decreased by €404 mill. (– 28%) to €1.0 billion. In all, 4,712 buses (6,625) were ordered. During the course of last year 6,232 buses (2008: 7,227) were delivered to customers, sales dropped by 14% to €1.3 billion.
The operative result for the Bus Division rose by €21 mill., from €19 mill. the previous year to €40 mill., mainly due to the restructuring program initiated in 2007. The operative result is also affected by several major orders: the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport ordered 400 city and intercity buses from MAN, of which 250 were delivered in 2009. Another major order was landed by MAN Truck & Bus (S.A.) (Pty.) Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa: 110 MAN Lion’s Explorer intercity buses were ordered by the state-owned PRASA (Public Rail Agency of South Africa) to carry football fans to the stadiums during the 2010 World Cup. During 2009, 66 of them were delivered.
Outlook for 2010
2010 is going to be an exciting year for buses at MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, with the two bus brands celebrating two important milestones. In March, for the first time ever, the "MAN BusDays" are taking place in the new Bus Forum. Over a thousand customers from around the world will be getting up-to-date information on the latest technologies, products and services for buses. In this framework, the NEOPLAN 75th anniversary celebrations will kick off.
The new MAN TGS-WW celebrates its world premiere at the 29th International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines, Construction Vehicles and Construction Equipment from April 19 through 25 in Munich. The TGS-WW was designed especially for the requirements of customers outside Europe.
At the IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hanover MAN is presenting its international commercial vehicle range and will attract the public with interesting innovations Here, MAN will be showing its environmentally friendly city bus, the MAN Lion’s City Hybrid, to a broad section of the public for the first time. The Hybrid uses up to 30% less fuel than a conventional diesel-powered bus.