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(By Olaolu Olusina) Daimler Trucks is set to launch the All-new Actros and Arocs across 40 central African markets in a phased manner, starting Wednesday, March 7, 2018, thus consolidating on the success of the real “Truck you Can Trust” in the African market in the last two decades.
Daimler trucks are very popular and feasible on the African roads. With strong presence in key countries such as Kenya, Mali, Cameroon, Sudan, Nigeria, DRC, Gabon, Senegal, Angola and Ivory Coast, the great performance of the Mercedes-Benz trucks in the African market speaks volumes of their reliability.
In Nigeria, for instance, the reception for, and patronage of the Mercedes-Benz Actros and other Daimler trucks , have been fantastic over the years, going by the sales figure. Mercedes-Benz Actros and other Mercedes-Benz trucks have been making waves in the Nigerian market for more than two decades . The experience has been the same in other African markets and industry watchers have been wondering what could have been the ‘magic wand’ for the great success .
According to the launch programme, the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Region of Daimler AG will kick-start the phased launch of the new generation of Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty truck on Wednesday, March 7.
Promising more reliability, versatility and beauty, Stephan Kramb, Exterior Designer of the all-new Actros, explained that the development of the cab exterior of the new Actros means giving a face to the vehicle that generates emotions and triggers a ‘WOW Effect’.
”The practical benefits in day-to-day long-distance transport must be at the center of attention. One of the driver’s prime concerns is to have sufficient stowage space in the cab. We took exactly this point into consideration, for example with our ergonomic space concept, and developed the new GigaSpace cab, which offers greater interior space and stowage volume,” Kramb said.
The cabs also impress with their practical design, robustness and safety. With a total of up to 22 cab variants available from 2.3 m S-cab with engine tunnel to 2.5 m L-cab with level floor – the new cabs meet all the requirements encountered in on-road and mixed road transport.
Rodrigue Kajio, Regional Sales Manager, Mercedes-Benz Trucks – Regional Centre Africa at Daimler AG, had earlier hinted AUTO REPORT AFRICA of the phased – launch in an email correspondence, through Dibyojyoti Dey of the Mercedes-Benz Network Development (Central Africa), Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA FZE, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Kajio said: “In 2018, Daimler will launch All-new Actros and Arocs across 40 central African markets in a phased manner. The All- new Actros and Arocs will come with powershift & Euro 3 version. It will be more RELIABLE, more Efficient, more Robust, more VERSATILE, more SAFE and more APPEALING.”
He was also optimistic about the prospects in the new year for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, saying “2018 looks promising.”
According to him, “ Global growth is expected to get stronger as the recovery in investment, manufacturing and trade would continue. Most of the developing African economies depended on commodity exports are expected to benefit from the firming commodity prices.”
Kajio also maintained that the tremendous growth being witnessed in the African trucks market over the past few years will continue in 2018.
According to the Africa Regional Sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, “Despite current challenges (political instability and socio-political uncertainty, lower oil prices, commodity demand dip, currency deterioration, Forex crisis), we see Central African Truck markets showing untapped potential.”
This, according to him, can be attributed to the following trends: “GDP growth continues to be supported by an increase in investment and household consumption; Catering to the needs of the growing population in the whole region. The population (over 770m) is larger than the US (over 300m) or EU (500m); Increased urbanization; and Emerging markets across the Central African markets.”
