Survey of 201 customers puts fuel efficiency as top purchase factor
90.5% of tractor converts say mileage equal to or better than before
Nine out of 10 customers who switched to a MAN tractor say the vehicle's fuel efficiency is equal to or better than that of their previous truck, according to a survey by MAN Truck & Bus Korea.
The company said Wednesday it conducted the "MAN Customer Real-World Fuel Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness Survey" among 201 customers from July 14 to Aug. 14.
Fuel efficiency ranked as the top factor customers consider when purchasing a truck. In a multiple-response survey, fuel efficiency led with 147 responses (about 73%), followed by maintenance costs with 122, durability with 110, vehicle price with 73, and service network with 52.
The trend was particularly pronounced among tractor customers, who tend to log high mileage on long-haul routes and are therefore more sensitive to fuel costs as a share of operating expenses.
Among the 42 respondents who had switched to a MAN tractor from another brand, 38 — or 90.5 percent — said the current vehicle's fuel efficiency was equal to or better than their previous one. Among 60 respondents engaged in long-haul trunk transport or port and container logistics, 56, or about 93 percent, gave a positive assessment of fuel efficiency.
MAN Truck & Bus Korea said it works to reduce customers' total cost of ownership through fuel efficiency, durability and service support. Its domestically sold New MAN TG series features the new D26 and D38 engines, which meet Euro 6E standards, along with aerodynamic design elements aimed at improving fuel economy. The New MAN TGX 540 tractor, equipped with the new D26 engine, can cut fuel consumption by up to 7 percent compared with the previous flagship model through improved engine efficiency, aerodynamic design and a final drive ratio optimized for long-distance transport.
The company also runs the MAN UPTIME program to minimize vehicle downtime. If a warranty repair takes three or more days, customers receive 200,000 won ($144) per day starting from the third day to offset the cost of lost operating time.
Peter Andersson, president of MAN Truck & Bus Korea, said the survey confirmed again how important fuel efficiency and overall operating economics are to customers' truck-buying decisions. "The fact that so many customers rated MAN Truck's fuel efficiency positively shows that our strategic direction — strengthening competitiveness through fuel efficiency, durability and reliable service — is aligned with what customers need," he said.
Meanwhile, MAN Truck & Bus Korea has been expanding customer engagement through various marketing activities, including a nationwide test-drive tour that lets customers get behind the wheel of its flagship 540-horsepower heavy-duty tractor.
eyre@heraldcorp.com
