MAN Malaysia aims for a comeback into Sarawak- The MAN Malaysia team visits Kuching, Bintulu and Sibu

MAN Trucks are steadily making inroads into being a popular brand within the prime mover segment here in Malaysia. So for their latest push into regaining market segments, MAN Malaysia have now set their sights in making a  comeback into Sarawak with a visit to customers who operate MAN vehicles in Kuching, Bintulu and Sibu.. From 2005 till 2013, nearly 190 MAN Trucks were sold by the appointed dealer in Sarawak and was quite an important market for MAN Trucks here with a large customer base . 

In Kuching, the MAN Malaysia team paid a courtesy call to a customer whose fleet consisted of MAN CLA medium/heavy duty trucks that unfortunately has been largely decommissioned after serving for over a decade.  One of the drivers who was assigned a MAN CLA shared his amazement at the impressive pulling power of the truck on hilly roads despite its tiny 6.8-litre engine (in truck terms, this is small).

The team also visited the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (Pertahanan Awam) which operated the MAN TGM 18.280 4x4 that was used primarily for rescue missions and the evening of the same day, they hosted a dinner for members of the 40-year-old Sarawak Lorries Transport Association.  The cordial gathering provided valuable insights into the needs of transporters there who are currently operating mainly Japanese and Chinese trucks.

The next day saw the team head over to Bintulu where it had the opportunity to reconnect with more ex-customers there.  They also had the opportunity to meet with the current president of the Federation of Sarawak Lorry Association.

On the third day, the MAN Malaysia team went on a three-hour drive on the new Pan Borneo Highway from Bintulu to Sibu. A stop at the coastal town of Mukah enabled the team to check in on several decade-old MAN TGA 33.400 6x4 and MAN TGS 33.440 6x4 that were still being used to transport coal from an underground mine to a power station in the same district.

In Sibu, just before flying back to Kuala Lumpur, the team paid a courtesy call to a customer whose team had visited the MAN Pavilion at the 2024 MCVE. A packed three day trip to Sarawak we reckon.

“We are encouraged by the feedback from the Sarawak market.  Those that had operated MAN Trucks before had a lot of positive experiences with the power and durability of our products.  Some also expressed interest in the class-leading features of our new Euro V-powered MAN Trucks,” said MAN Malaysia Managing Director Andrew O’Brooks.

As for the current crop of MAN Trucks, these heavy duty prime movers are equipped with efficient Euro V engines and also lead the way in driver orientation, fuel efficiency, assistance systems, digital networking and above all, sustainability. 

For more information on the MAN directly especially for their latest offerings, head over to www.man.com.my.