The Scania New Truck Generation range of prime movers has finally been launched in Malaysia. This is the much awaited replacement of the Scania P, G and R or PGR Generation of trucks which are a familiar sight on Malaysian roads. The New Truck Generation of Scania trucks have been designed and engineered to give fleet owners greater total operating economy and profitability, as well as lower CO2 emissions. These are still the P,G and R series but we now have the new L and S series of trucks to complement the range.
The Scania New Generation range of trucks was first introduced in Europe in late-2016 and according to Scania, over 79,000 units of trucks have been sold worldwide to date. If you want to know why it has taken Scania Malaysia about three years or so to launch the truck here we have to look at two things - One is the fact that Scania locally assembled the PGR Series here and secondly, Scania has to take into account local demand which includes Malaysia fuel quality, the usual hurdle that vehicle manufacturers have to face here. Where most developed countries are running on Euro 5 or 6 grade of diesel, we are still running on Euro 3 for the normal, readily available grade. This usually puts a damper on things, but now, Scania has 'Malaysianised' the New Generation trucks and they are produced here at their Port Klang assembly plant.
According to Scania Malaysia, the trucks have garnered some very favourable response during the pre-launch period which started last year. To-date, over 28 customers have decided to place an order for more than 125 trucks. It would seem that the new Scania trucks will be welcomed by operators with open arms. Scania Malaysia also held a handover ceremony at the launch with some of the customers officially 'receiving' their trucks at the launch held last Thursday, 28th March 2019.
In terms of improvements and what is new with the Scania trucks, the New Truck Generation by Scania is equipped with powertrain innovations that cut fuel costs by 3%. This number may seem small if you only take one truck into account, but it will matter to an operator which operates a fleet of trucks. The fuel savings and other improvements on the New Truck Generation is the result of the company’s largest-ever investment of some SEK 20 billion (RM10 billion).
Scania has also put in about 10 years of development work and more than 12 million kilometres of test-driving. Basically, Scania had continued development of their trucks while they were selling the PGR series of trucks. Like any other good manufacturer, research continued throughout the previous model's lifespan. One important note is that these new Scania trucks can run Malaysian biodiesel and could be of the cleanest running Euro 3 diesel trucks here at the moment.
Some notable features of the latest range of Scania trucks include Powertrain updates resulting in exceptional fuel efficiency and driving performance, a new cabin design and shape of the front and chassis for improved aerodynamics (full cladding on the prime mover's sides covering most of the ancillaries - battery, fuel tank, etc) as well as maintenance based on operation increase uptime and profitability for operators.
Other driver-centric features include unique safety features such as roll-over curtain side airbags, enhanced driver’s seat adjustment options, extended storage options, a new infotainment system with 7” touch screen and in the top specced S Series variant, a super high ceiling so that the driver can stand and stretch his or her legs whilst still inside the cabin.
When asked at the launch about the new trucks, Marie Sjödin Enström, Managing Director of Scania Southeast Asia said, “Our New Truck Generation has won many awards since the launch in Europe like the International Truck of the year award and has achieved 100% in all European press tests, twice. In addition to enhancing performance of the vehicle, we also recognise that the driver plays a significant role in the success of our customers’ business. This can be experienced with the new Generation as well. It includes enhanced cab safety, enriched driver’s environment and improved driveability which makes a happy driver and therefore inevitably a happy business,”
The launch of the trucks was officiated by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Dr. Ong Kian Ming, who acknowledged that the introduction of the New Truck Generation is timely as it meets the demands of the heavy commercial vehicle industry in reducing fuel consumption, improving profitability and at the same time taking care of the environment.
Do take a look at the product brief below, and if we have the time later in the near future, we will try request Scania Malaysia for a closer look at the truck for you folks out there.
SCANIA NEW TRUCK GENERATION PRODUCT BRIEF:
Fuel Economy
Facilitating the drive towards sustainable transport solutions, the new
Scania trucks have been designed to achieve up to 3 per cent reduction in
fuel consumption on conventional Euro 3 diesel engines that are now in its
third generation and relies on selective catalytic reduction technology for
exhaust.
“Fuel savings translate directly into reduced operating costs and with the
latest updates, we can guarantee a further reduction in consumption for all
the diesel powertrains in our new truck range that has been tailored to
address specific challenges of for fleet operators and owners,” said Marie.
“We can now see Scania trucks doing their work and making important
contributions to our economy with more savings to fleet operators and less
impact to our environment due to the lower carbon emissions they produce.”
Scania has always been and continues to offer the broadest range of
alternative fuel and technology solutions on its new trucks including engines
that operate on natural gas, hydro-treated vegetable oil, bioethanol, biogas,
biodiesel as well as hybrid drivetrains, platooning and autonomous vehicle
systems.
New Modular Range
The New Truck Generation by Scania has been developed for long haulage,
construction and urban applications, with a strong focus on customer
profitability.
It features design and technical improvements to the P-series, G-series and
R-series cabs that were mainstays of the PGR generation. In addition, the
launch also revealed the new L-series and S-series cabs to complete the full
range of options for Malaysian customers.
The L-series cab is purpose-designed for urban applications – such as
distribution, refuse collection and maintenance – in congested city
conditions. It is a spacious low cab that puts the driver at the same level as
other vehicles on the road. Meanwhile, the S-series cab, the tallest in the
range, features a flat floor and a high roof to maximise interior space and
comfort for long-distance driving.
Scania also introduced the XT range with additional technical specifications
built to enhance the robustness of trucks that work in rough terrains such as
construction sites. These include a high air intake to supply the engine with
the cleanest air possible in dusty environments and a tow pin with 40-tonne
towing capacity in the front to enable the truck to be pulled out quickly.
The XT range also features a sturdy steel bumper, skid plate and headlamp
protection to withstand harsh working conditions. The addition of a fold-out
service step in the bumper and an inspection step at the side of the cab,
together with grab handles, further allows for safe and easy access to check
the engine, body or cargo.
The new generation continues to adopt Scania’s unique modular system,
where customers can customise their vehicle configurations according to
their choice of cabs, engines and chassis. This system maximises spare
parts availability and minimises downtime for vehicles needing repairs and
replacements, allowing customers to benefit from incremental revenues.
Safety Focus
The New Truck Generation features a more robust monocoque structure
with high tensile steel, engineered in collaboration with Scania’s sister
company, Porsche Engineering. Apart from the advanced emergency braking
system, the new generation has built in a number of new safety features.
The repositioned front axle 50 millimetres closer to the front and a lower
centre of gravity create a shorter overhang to reduce the degree of kneeling
under heavy braking. The 30” brake chambers for the disc brakes on the
front axle, which is a basic configuration for long-haul vehicles, further
guarantees good braking performance. These active safety features work
together to improve braking distance by 5 per cent, from 40 metres to 38
metres for a truck with a 40-tonne gross trailer weight assuming the same
tyre and road conditions.
First in Malaysia, the new generation features rollover side curtain airbags,
which can potentially reduce fatalities from rollover accidents by up to 25
per cent. The Scania engineers who designed this innovative feature were
recognised with the European Traffic Safety Award for Commercial Vehicles
in 2017, an accolade presented by the European Association for Accident
Research and Accident Analysis, DEKRA and the German Road Traffic Safety
Council.
The interior ergonomics of the cab design enhances comfort and
functionality. Drivers can now drive more safely with a better view of the
road due to a lower instrument panel and optimised A-pillars combined with
the positioning of the driver 6.5 millimetres closer to the windscreen and 20
millimetres towards the side.
The design of the steering column directly beneath the steering wheel is also
intended to absorb impact energy and reduce impact force to the driver
during incidents. Optional camera sensors and other warning systems are
available to further enhance safety.
“No effort was spared in the extensive development process to ensure that
the drivers enjoy the best possible visibility, manoeuvrability, comfort and
driving experience to ensure the safest interaction with other road users,”
said Marie.
Scania Total Solutions
Scania continues to provide a package of productivity-enhancing services
for customers to unlock more value from their new trucks. This includes the
widest service network in Malaysia that provides the best services for safety,
fuel economy, uptime and environmentally friendly solutions for truck, bus
and coach operations.
Customers can also leverage the connectivity of the trucks to use the Fleet
Management System for real-time tracking of the trucks, and Fleet Care
services, which outsources the service planning and fleet optimisation
functions to Scania.
These connected services yield real-time data and long-term trends for fleet
owners and operators to plan how to manage their vehicles and drivers.
Scania also conducts driver training and coaching to upgrade the skills of
drivers to be able to increase fuel efficiency and road safety.
“We have a holistic approach to partner with customers well beyond the sale.
We look into the long-term aspects of planned maintenance, data analysis
and driver skills to help customers get the most uptime and revenues from
each vehicle they buy,” said Marie.
“Scania Total Solutions provide the value-added assurance to customers
that their fleets are performing in peak condition to bring about more fuel
efficiency and total operating economy.”
Market Acceptance and Achievements
Scania’s New Truck Generation has received several international
accolades. It topped the 1,000 Point Test in 2016 and 2017, a fuel
performance challenge scored by European trucking journalists and
organised by Germany’s ETM Verlag.
The new S-series truck clinched the prestigious International Truck of the
Year 2017, awarded by a panel of leading trucking journalists representing
25 countries in Europe. It was judged to have delivered substantial
improvements in cab aerodynamics, driveability, comfort, safety and
driveline performance.
Scania also received the Green Truck Award for two years consecutively, in
2017 and 2018, from VerkehrsRundschau and Trucker magazines, which
recognised the fuel economy of the new R-series trucks.
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