During a two-day management visit to Malaysia, members from the senior management of MAN Truck & Bus SE stated that the commonly adopted “buy cheap, use and dispose” approach used by some transporters often results in higher total cost of ownership (TCO), unpredictable downtime and increased environmental impact..They had also urged Malaysian transporters to prioritise quality and lifecycle value when investing in fleet assets, stressing that true sustainability is achieved through durability, reliability and long-term efficiency rather than short-term cost savings.
We attended an event organised by MAN SE here in Shah Alam which showcased the latest MAN TGS Prime Mover truck and a handover ceremony of new MAN trucks Two separate events for trucks (official handover of 30 units to new customers) and bus ( this was the signing of a total of 137 units of MAN buses by customers over the two day event) were held in conjunction with the visit. . This was attended by customers, MAN SE personnel, invited guests and members of the media. There was also a media Q&A which was attended by Friedrich Baumann (4th from the right), Member of the Executive Board and Head of Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus SE, Thomas Hemmerich (3rd from left), Head of Sales Area International at MAN Truck & Bus SE and Marc Appelt (3rd from right), the Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus Malaysia.
During the press conference, they added that vehicles with shorter lifespans typically face frequent repairs, lower availability and premature replacement, while also contributing to unnecessary waste when not properly managed at end-of-life. Operating a fleet of commercial vehicles,, whether trucks or buses, requires more than purchasing a vehicle. It requires a strong and trusted partnership with the brand behind it.
Friedrich Baumann, Member of the Executive Board and Head of Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus SE, said transporters who invest in well-engineered vehicles supported by professional maintenance are better positioned to build resilient and sustainable operations.
“True sustainability means maximising return on investment by operating vehicles efficiently, reliably and responsibly over many years. Quality engineering combined with professional maintenance ensures higher uptime, lower total cost of ownership and long-term business viability,” he concludes.
MAN emphasised that its commercial vehicles and engines are engineered for service lives exceeding one million kilometres without overhaul. To support fleet owners, MAN offers Repair and Maintenance Contracts with fixed monthly costs, expert servicing by trained technicians and the use of genuine MAN parts, enabling predictable operating expenses and improved vehicle uptime.
Effective fleet operations depend on using the right vehicle for the right application, supported by a partner who understands the customer’s business and has the right expertise and service capability to keep vehicles running reliably. A true partner stands by the customer when challenges arise and commits for the long term.
Thomas Hemmerich, Head of Sales Area International at MAN Truck & Bus SE, added, “MAN offers technology solutions for nearly all transport applications, backed by highly trained and passionate teams on the ground who provide full operational support. This is even more important in the field of e-mobility. We are looking ahead to bring our battery-electric trucks and buses (BEV) technology to Malaysia.”
Having already proven its performance and reliability across Europe, MAN is confident in delivering the same value to Malaysian companies. While the Malaysian arm is fully prepared to support this next step, the full commitment of government authorities is needed in investment in infrastructure and the introduction of incentives or subsidies to help companies adopt BEV technology (as the future path in transportation here).
MAN Malaysia delivered a strong performance in 2025. Although the prime mover segment contracted by more than 45% year-on-year to 1,207 units, MAN managed to increase its market share despite intense competition from Chinese brands. The German brand now shares market leadership among European manufacturers, reflecting strong customer confidence in its product quality, reliability and total cost efficiency.
MAN was in second position the express bus segment with a 32% market share among European brands in Malaysia. Demand for MAN bus chassis has remained strong into 2026, with the current order book at its highest level in 10 years.
The strong performance of MAN trucks and buses here in Malaysia is the culmination of what basically started slightly more than half a decade ago. I remember bumping into the then MD of MAN Malaysia at the time, Richard Franz at the Malaysia commercial vehicle expo sometime in 2020 that he was on a fact finding mission to understand and channel his findings on the Malaysian market and to start MAN's newest strategic initiatives that led to his successor, Andrew O'Brooks' successful tenure here that has brought MAN Malaysia's strong performance to date. Now, under the helm of Mr. Appelt, things is bound to continue in leaps and bounds.
However, the folks at MAN SE are oh, so progressive here. Aside from the push towards their latest, EURO 6 trucks and buses, they have started their MAN TopUsed used truck programme here. The brand will bring in used trucks, which are around 4-5years old from the United Kingdom, which will be sold here officially with MAN warranty. The used MAN trucks, which have been carefully selected and refurbished (where needed), can have up to 36 months and up to a certain mileage warranty together with a service package, which is almost like buying a brand new truck from MAN. The TopUsed trucks will be more affordable compared to brand new MAN trucks and will cater to those that want entry into the European prime mover segment but are price sensitive. A very good move.
For more information, visit www.man.com.my both for the new trucks and buses as well as the TopUsed trucks too .
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