Truck&Fleet ME February 2018

VEHICLES/ TECH / TranSporTaTIon/LogISTICS

O49/FEBRUARY 2O18

MIDDLE EAST

PU BLI CATI O N LI CENSED BY D U BAI PRO D U CTI O N CIT Y

d A O R T hE

d a E H a

d n a s t p e c n o ec h t t a k o o l l cia ry t s u d n i T&FME’s spe e h t ing p a h s e r y g technolo

L L o r o T Al bor n iTs REGiOn

An BEGins d E s is s E n h ThE G80 GE iT w T U O l ROl

contents

contents COVER STORY

06 / TECH piOnEERS Bee’ah and Tesla prove the region can take a lead in technology adoption.

also this issue … nETWORK

06 / pREpARE FOR diSRUpTiOn

10

14

20

26

32

37

India’s Truxapp believes the region could be a spring-board for its cloud-based logistics business.

LAUnCHES

10 / pUT A BAdgE On iT Volvo re-brands and upgrades Terex’ mighty range of rigid dump trucks. inTERViEW

14 / COACH CLASS MAN’s Rudi Kuchta on introducing the New Lion’s Coach to the market.

TECHnOLOgY SpECiAL

20 / WHAT’S in THE BOx? Toyota and Amazon partner up to introduce the uniquely-designed ‘box on wheels’ E-Palette.

TECHnOLOgY SpECiAL

24 / TECH in TRAining MiX Telematics on the contribution technology can make to driver training.

TECHnOLOgY SpECiAL

26 / ROAd TO AUTOmATiOn ITF’s major survey and report is the best look at how technology is changing the industry yet. dELiVERiES

32 / WHAT BiKERS WAnT RoadSafetyUAE and AF Honda on one of our most vulnerable set of deliverers.

FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 01

WELCOME

GROUP MANAGING DIRECtOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5483 EDItORIAL DIRECtOR VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5472 EDItORIAL

Bee’ah semi purchase is no haLF measure I was both surprised and pleased that Bee’ah revealed that it would be the first fleet owner to purchase the Tesla Semi in the region last month.

A number of years ago, I was invited to visit Bee’ah’s massive waste and recycling operation on the outskirts of Sharjah. As a first time visitor, I didn’t really know what to expect and I wasn’t ready for the town-scale size of the complex. Machines and trucks that would elsewhere look monstrous were dwarfed by recycling units tasked with divining whatever useful material had been collected by Bee’ah’s huge fleet from homes and business in the emirate. But these were nothing compared to the pits that were being dug to deal with waste. While I was awe-struck by what I saw, I came out of it feeling ashamed that I may have contributed to the waste there. For all the good intentions of the people from Bee’ah I met and talked to; the city-wide coverage of their recycling effort; the continual messaging in schools; and more; the cynical journalist in me came out of there feeling they could be fighting a losing battle when it came to their lofty goals of zero waste. Fastforward almost half a decade on and I’m beginning to accept that I may have underestimated the full width and humour of their ambition.

The biggest hurdle at the time in my opinion was going to be its ability to make the leap from diverting close to 70% of waste in the emirate from lanfill to 100%. From its beginning in 2007 – significantly with the target set out right from the start – until my visit in 2013, Bee’ah had made great strides picking the low- and medium-hanging fruit but was rurnning out of time to acheive its goal by 2015. And while that may have turned out to be true, it has persevered and through its venture with Masdar, its Waste to Energy initiative is primed to make 2020 a realistic year for it to realise its dream. But its pioneering work is not going to end there.

It may have only purchased 10 Tesla Semi trucks – a minute number relative to its 1,000-strong fleet, but it is 10 more heavy duty electric vehicles than any other company in the region.A small beginning it may be but what it learns from them (assuming Elon Musk’s company delivers), will be vital for companies, manufacturers, and, quite possibly, the future of the industry in the region.

EDItOR StEpHEN wHItE stephen.white@cpitrademedia.com +44 7541 244 377 sUB EDItOR AELRED DOYLE aelred.doyle@cpitrademedia.com ADVERtIsING sALEs MANAGER BIpIN SONEJI bipin.soneji@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 433 2856 DEsIGN ARt DIRECtOR SIMON COBON simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com PHOtOGRAPHY MAKSYM pORIECHKIN maksym.poriechkin@cpitrademedia.com MARKEtING MARKEtING MANAGER SHEENA SApSfORD sheena.sapsford@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5498 CIRCULAtION & PRODUCtION DIstRIBUtION MANAGER SUNIL KUMAR sunil.kumar@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5476 PRODUCtION MANAGER VIpIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 WEB DEVELOPMENt MOHAMMAD AwAIS SADIQ SIDDIQUI FINANCE ACCOUNts NAHEED HOOD naheed.hood@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5474 CREDIt CONtROL ExECUtIVE CAMERON CARDOZO cameron.cardozo@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5499 FOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) PRINtED BY pRINtwELL pRINtINg pRESS LLC

Licensed by tECOM to registered company, CpI trade publishing fZ LLC whose registered office is 207 – 209, Building 3, Dubai Studio City, Dubai, UAE. www.cpitrademedia.com the publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. the opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers.

stEPHEN WHItE EdiToR, TRUCK&FLEET ME STEPHEN.WHiTE@CPiTRAdEMEdiA.CoM 02 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. the ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing.

YO U R B U S I N E S S PA R T N E R A SYSTEM FOR YOU

FULL OFFERING

EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY

AFTER SALE SERVICE

FINANCING SOLUTIONS

Wide range of Commercial Vehicles Most advanced Technologies Competitive costs

Reliability, Flexibility,Versatility, Prestige High Performance and robust trucks for extreme off-road conditions High Quality complete line-up in terms of tonnage, power, torque, safety, ergonomics Advanced logistics

Repair and Maintenance contracts Competitive Warranty conditions Origin 100% Iveco Parts Widespread coverage

Tailor-made solutions Top Financial Partners Qualified team of experts

YOUR NEEDS, OUR SOLUTIONS. BAHARAIN - Y.K. ALMOAYYED AND SONS B.S.C. - Manama - almoayyed@almoayyed.com.bh IRAQ - MTT - MACHINE TECHNOLOGY TRADING CO. - Baghdad - commercial@mtt-iraq.com JORDAN - GLOBAL BRAND TRUCKS LIMITED - Amman - sales.admin@ivecojordan.com LEBANON - OMATRA - Beirut - lebanon@omatra.org OMAN IVECO - International Integrated Equipment LLC (IEE) - Muscat - iie@sbigh.com OMAN ASTRA - AL FAIRUZ TRADING AND CONT. CO. LLC - Muscat - jobby@alfairuzoman.com KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA - ORIENT MARKETING & TRADING COMPANY LLC Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Abha, Al Madinah Al Munawara, Jubail - iveco@alfuttaim.sa KUWAIT - KUWAIT AUTOMOTIVE IMPORTS CO.W.L.L (Al Shaya & Al Sagar) - mail@kaico.net U.A.E. - AL GHANDI AUTOMOTIVE GROUP - Dubai - samj@alghandi.com U.A.E. - UNITED ALSAQER HEAVY EQUIPMENT L.L.C. - Abu Dhabi - mohammad.himmo@alsaqergroup.com IVECO Middle East Representative Office: marco.torta@iveco.com IVECO CAPITAL Middle East: waleed.alshatnawi@cnhind.com

ONLINE

MOST POPULAR

REAdERS’ COMMENTS

fEATUREd

CONSTRUCTION

$1.4bN hIGhWAy TO KSA

Carillion crisis – Regional projects will continue

This achievement deserves a lot of attention (UAE opens upgraded $1.4bn highway to Saudi Arabia, January 24, 2018).

Although everyone loves to hear about exciting stories like the Hyperloop One or flying taxis in Dubai, I think projects like this are actually far more important for everyday lives.

Thousands of trucks and cars carrying goods and people cross our borders every single day, and investment into the highways that cross the continent is absolutely critical to development here. As we continue to wait for the GCC Railway to be completed, the roads will remain the most important link between the countries of the region – the traffic notwithstanding.

I’m sure I’m not alone in welcoming improvements to the Gulf’s main highways. You only have to take a look at the number plates of cars in Dubai during the holiday periods to see how many families are already coming to the UAE from Saudi… Personally, I can’t wait to take a road trip on the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Highway from Abu Dhabi to the border!

CONSULTANT

Chris Seymour appointed as MD of Mott MacDonald ME

Video: GCC Power Market Overview 2018

CONSTRUCTION

Laing O’Rourke wins Expo 2020 contracts worth $182m

CONSTRUCTION

Abu Dhabi to build world’s largest desalination plant

CONSTRUCTION

Nakheel, AccorHotels to debut Raffles on Palm Jumeirah 04 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

Video: What to expect at Middle East Electricity 2018

Name withheld by request

MITSUBISHI

FUSO CANTER 2 YEARS INTEREST*

THE UNDISPUTED MARKET LEADER NOW WITH

4 YEARS / 240,000 KM MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY* Trusted by thousands in the UAE. Low maintenance cost will keep your business profitable.

Best resale value in its class.

Availability of spare parts across the UAE. Fully trained technicians.

Maintenance facilities available on Fridays at select service centres.

Available in 2WD/4WD in single and double cabin variants.

8641

686492

www.habtoormotors.com/fusouae

* T & C apply.

8 Aftersales facilities across the UAE.

NETWORK

BEE’AH FIRST TO ORDER TESLA SEMI / RTA INITIATIvES / TRUxAPP GROWTH FAMCO’S FIRST FUELWATCH / UHME HANDS OvER NEW LION’S COACH / LExUS SALES

network Bee’ah first to order Tesla Semi in the region TECHNOLOGY Sharjah-based environmental management company Bee’ah says it is set to be the first company to own a fleet of Tesla Semi trucks in the Middle East. The organisation said it placed an order for 50 of the all-electric vehicles immediately after its launch in November, “to underline Bee’ah’s steadfast commitment to sustainability across its entire operations.”

The company its targeting regional expansion, and said a larger transport fleet will “ensure” the new operational demands can be met.

The incoming Tesla Semi trucks, which enter production in 2019, will primarily be used for waste collection and transportation, including transportation of materials for recovery. They will also add to Bee’ah’s growing 1,000 vehicle fleet.

“We are extremely pleased to turn towards Tesla for a solution that enhances our leadership of sustainable practices in the region. As a company that strives to be the best in our field, we only work with partners that we consider to be the best in theirs,” commented His

Excellency Salim Al Owais, Chairman of Bee’ah. “Through this latest investment, we hope to demonstrate to others the value and importance of seeking out better, more viable ways of achieving our business aims, all for the greater good of our communities.”

Bee’ah has previously purchased Tesla’s Powerpack battery technology for its state-of-the-art net zero energy headquarter complex, which is currently under construction. The Tesla batteries will store solar energy to power the building,

and any excess electricity generated will be fed directly into Sharjah’s main power supply grid, thereby ensuring maximum efficiency.

Designed by late-BritishIraqi architect Zaha Hadid, the new headquarters is currently under construction in Sharjah, UAE, and will become a platinum LEED certified building upon completion.

“Bee’ah’s investment is a further example of our quest to take a holistic approach to environmental management, stretching far beyond waste management,” added Al Owais.

ACCORDING TO FROST & SULLIvAN, KSA AND UAE ARE THE LARGEST GCC LOGISTICS MARKETS WITH ESTIMATED SIZES OF $55BN AND $30BN

06 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

NETWORK

INDIAN TRUCKING DISRUPTER TARGETS $400 MILLION IN REvENUES BY 2022

RTA LAUNCHES 20 INITIATIvES TO MARK YEAR OF ZAYED PROJECTS

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has kicked-off 20 initiatives to mark the Year of Zayed. The move is in response to HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, declaring 2018 as the Year of Zayed, a national event for the UAE. The initiatives feature three key drivers, the landmark achievements of Sheikh Zayed, commemorating Sheikh Zayed’s anniversary and boosting the national identity. The RTA’s initiatives include holding a temporary mobile exhibition within its premises to highlight the key events and achievements of Sheikh Zayed, while the authority plans to donate the auction proceeds of distinctive number plate ‘Z 1971’ to the RTA Foundation.

Other initiatives include improving the infrastructure of developing countries (in the form of engineering consultancies, maintenance works) in collaboration with the International Humanitarian City and broadening the scope of the Tamkeen initiative of RTA Foundation to include other emirates. The RTA will also upgrade the Meals-on-Wheels initiative to benefit from it in other events (Eids, Back to School), produce a special edition NOL Card and decorate customer service centres with portraits and statements of Sheikh Zayed. The authority also plans to revive school notebooks bearing Sheikh Zayed’s images and will distribute them to schools in support of education.

“The Year of Zayed is a huge step towards introducing the next generations to the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in shaping and enriching our beloved nation. It offers us lessons and conclusions to continue building our growing nation,” said Speaking about the initiatives, HE Mattar Al Tayer, directorgeneral, and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA. “The internal initiatives of the Year of Zayed include broadcasting key achievements and axioms of Sheikh Zayed to RTA employees through social media channels, launching internal monthly competitions for employees, and holding an internal exhibition within the RTA to showcase Sheikh Zayed achievements during National Day celebrations.”

LOGISTICS Truxapp, one of the first Uber-esque trucking companies in India, says that it is on course to reach revenues of $400 million in the GCC and $1 billion globally by 2022. Since starting operations in 2015, the company has targeted establishing itself as a market leader in the road freight and trucking sector and has aggregated over 350,000 trucks and over 200 corporate clients. It entered the UAE market in 2017 and Truxapp claims it has 20,000 trucks listed in the GCC. According to executives at the company, this figure continues to grow as it builds a steady list of Blue Chip Clients across various sectors.

“While several industries are becoming digitally enabled, the logistics sector has largely been neglected, or not given the necessary attention, because of its complexities as a B2B service. Unlike technologies behind B2C ride-sharing companies, road freight has many more variables and a complete knowledge of the logistics sector is critical when developing a platform like Truxapp,”

said Naseer Ahmed, co-founder and CEO for Truxapp – International.

“Once appropriately established, digitally-enabled trucking services can immensely support all industries as well as the drive toward seamless Smart Cities. Currently, the logistics is lagging and this is affecting growth in many other sectors that depend on the efficient movements of goods.”

Ahmed believes the business will continue to expand in the UAE as it, “has a growing population with increased consumption and highinternet penetration rates, the nation is witnessing an expanding e-commerce sector, expected to reach $10 billion in the next two to three years. This is in addition to the overall increase in merchandise trade. Digital savvy and connected consumers expect faster, accurate deliveries and an optimal user experience which can make or break brand loyalty. These are some of the factors that will put a strain on companies reliant on logistics and transportation if they fail to rapidly adapt to changing market dynamics and meet customer expectations.”

FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 07

NETWORK

FAMCO HOSTS FIRST FUELWATCH CHALLENGE

FUEL EFFICIENCY

Fujairah-based driver Amandeep Singh has won the region’s first Fuelwatch Challenge organised recently by Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO), the Volvo Trucks dealer in the UAE. Introduced by Volvo Trucks as a global competition, the Fuelwatch

Challenge is an initiative that aims to test and reward the best drivers in fuel-efficient driving and puts the spotlight on their skill and discipline, said FAMCO. The UAE-leg saw 20 drivers showcasing their capabilities in fuel-efficient driving as well as general vehicle handling. The drivers’ competency in vehicle handling at

optimal fuel efficiency was measured using Dynafleet, Volvo Trucks’ proprietary fleet management system.

Fuel efficiency scores were tabulated based on four aspects – braking, speed adaptation, engine and gear utilisation and standstill. The truck used in the competition was a Volvo FH, in which the winning driver completed the 13km course consuming 18% less fuel than his competitors. According to FAMCO, the competition margins offer significant cost saving potential when put into a real-life context. For instance, during an average long-haul operation of 150,000km, the on-road fuel efficiency margins could result in approximately 5,000l less fuel consumption per truck each year.

SHARJAH RTA BUYS NEW MAN LION’S COACH FLEET RENEWAL MAN Truck & Bus’s official partner in the UAE, United Motors & Heavy Equipment (UMHE) handed over a fleet of 10 new MAN Lion’s Coaches to the Sharjah RTA on 8 January, 2018. It is the first time these safety features have been used on a MAN Lion’s Coach in the UAE. The parties involved said the purchase is in line with both the RTA Sharjah’s vision for safer roads in the UAE and MAN Truck & Bus’ own commitment towards improving road safety for buses in the Middle East.

MAN’s vehicles are equipped with advanced technology to reduce accidents, improve

passenger comfort and ensure efficient and safe driving. The Adaptive Cruise Control and Emergency Brake Assist systems use radar and onboard cameras to detect the speed and distance of other vehicles ahead of the MAN Lion’s Coach on the road.

The vehicle automatically adjusts speed to ensure a safe distance is maintained and the Emergency Brake Assist will initiate braking if the driver fails to react to warnings of potential collisions.

Likewise, the Lane Guard System (LGS) will warn drivers if they are drifting out of their lane.

In a statement, Franz von Redwitz, managing director, MAN Truck & Bus Middle

East, said: “Improving road safety is one of our highest priorities at MAN and we are honoured to be supporting the RTA Sharjah and our other regional partners by providing technology and training that can have a real impact on road safety in the Middle East.”

As part of the agreement, Khalifa Saif Darwish AI Ketbi, managing director of UMHE, and Engineer Yousuf Saleh Al Suwaiji, chairman of Sharjah RTA, reaffirmed the two organisations’ commitment to building a strong relationship.

Lexus sees 251% increase in Hybrid saLes HYBRID vEHICLES

Luxury car brand Lexus saw a 251% rise in sales of models in its Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) range in the UAE last year compared to 2016, according to its UAE distributor Al-Futtaim Motors.

Chris Buxton, managing director for Lexus at Al-Futtaim Motors, attributed the hike to an increased interest in HEV technology in general as well as the introduction of two new Lexus HEV models in 2017 - the LC 500h and LS 500h. Initiatives such as promotional activities by the brand, including a Hybrid Drive-in experience in November, a dedicated HEV-only display at the Dubai International Motor Show were other factors behind the hike, he added, as were other incentivising offers throughout the year.

“Being the first choice when it comes to green luxury motoring has enabled Lexus to meet the shifts in market demand and achieve high HEV sales.

We will continue prioritising our efforts in that same direction, in line with our commitment to support the targets set for the UAE Vision 2021,” Buxton said.

Launched in November, the redesigned LS 500h is the latest addition to the green luxury fleet at Lexus and has recorded an impressive increase in sales, said Al-Futtaim Motors. The smoothness of the model’s powertrain, its ride quietness, craftsmanship and longterm quality, as well as its new styling combining a coupe-like silhouette with ample interior space, are other reason for its popularity, said the dealer. Among other Lexus models, the luxury crossover RX h range recorded a 252% increase in sales in 2017 compared to 2016.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF T&FME: TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL LOOKING AT AUTONOMOUS DRIvING, NEW STYLES OF TRANSPORT AND E-LEARNING

08 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

NETWORK

INCREASE IN BUYERS FOR EURO AUCTIONS

cGc to buiLd ten kuwait petroL stations FUEL RETAIL

The Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has appointed Kuwait-based Combined Group Contracting Company (CGC) to build 10 new filling stations across the country. The deal is said to be worth $51.25m according to the Kuwait news Agency. The contract was signed by Mohammed Al-Mutairi, chief executive officer of KNPC and Raad Al-Abdullah, vice chairman of CGC. The deal is part of KNPC’s plans to build a total of 19 new petrol stations in Kuwait.

The stations will be built using a modern architectural style and will incorporate various services and amenities. Al-Mutairi noted that the contract for the nine remaining stations will be awarded at a later date.

AUCTIONS Euro Auctions says that it saw a 40% increase in the number of bidders opting to attend the second sale at its new permanent site in Dubai held in December.

The global auctioneer said the follow up sale attracted more buyers and vendors, “confirming that its entry into this geographic sector was the right move.”

In a statement the auctioneers added: “There was more than a 40% increase in the number of bidders. There were also a number of new vendors consigning equipment to this event for the first time, eager to benefit from the strong hammer prices achieved – and they were not disappointed.”

According to Euro Auctions over 400 lots went under the hammer in a packed day,

attracting strong interest from right across the Middle East as well as from India, Western Europe and Russia. Almost $2 million in sales were attributed to UAE-based bidders with significant purchases also going to Oman and Saudi Arabia: “Europe accounted for a further US$700,000 of the total hammer with key consignments going to bidders in Europe.

Floor sales on the day

accounted for the vast majority of business with just over 20% being transacted online again proving that physical presence in the region is vital to meet local demand.”

“We are absolutely delighted about how this sale has gone, firmly placing our Dubai operation in the region and on the calendar,” said Jonnie Keys, commercial manager, Euro Auctions.

BAHRI ASSEMBLES TRUCK TECH ROAD SHOW IN SAUDI ARABIA

FLEET EvENT

Nation-wide roadshow draws attention to logistics company’s services, milestones and future opportunities Transportation and logistics company Bahri recently launched a Saudi-wide roadshow – the Bahri Truck Roadshow - demonstrating state-of-the-art truck technology, to highlight the company’s services, key achievements and future opportunities.

Following its launch, the Bahri Truck Roadshow has already visited several government and private

organisations in Saudi Arabia. The roadshow has made stops at the headquarters of Saudi Coast Guard, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), and Saudi Railways Company (SAR), allowing the entities the opportunity to learn more about the growth story of the Kingdom’s maritime transportation sector, as well as to discover Bahri’s journey through modern and sophisticated technologies integrated into the truck.

The Bahri Truck Roadshow introduces valuable information about

the history of Bahri, since its inception in 1978 to its latest achievements in 2017, including the launch of “Doorto-Door Services. In addition, the roadshow offers visitors insights into the company’s endeavors in Big Data analytics and how it leverages the technology to achieve increased revenue growth and cost optimization, as well as to make rapid strides in smart operations and customer service excellence.

“The Bahri Truck Roadshow provides us with an excellent opportunity to reiterate our emphasis

on harnessing innovation and new technologies, not only to enhance our offerings, but also to improve our communications and strengthen relationships with our customers “As we wrap up another successful year, it makes us immensely proud to highlight our unmatched contributions toward bolstering the Kingdom’s economic integration and connectivity regionally and internationally, and our commitment to the Saudi vision 2030 through supporting the Kingdom’s position as a strategic hub and logistic gateway that connects the three continents.

Additionally, an interactive map in the truck displays the global reach of Bahri and maritime connectivity by displaying new routes of vessels operated by its business units; a strategy that strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a unique regional hub,” said Wael Al-Sarhan, SVP, marketing and communication, Bahri.

Al-Sarhan added that Bahri Truck Roadshow will continue its tour in 2018 to reach out to Bahri’s clients in KSA.

FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 09

LAUNCHES

VOLVO GROUP UNVEILS A NEw LINE-UP AND NEw APPOACH OF RIGID HAULERS FOR THE REGION / THE GENESIS G80 MAkES ITS REGIONAL DEBUT

lau nches FLAGSHIP MODEL ThE nEw R100E has 100T CapaCiTy

Volvo overhauls rigids TEREX TRUCkS’ GIANT RIGID HAULERS TO BE RE-BRANDED wITH SwEDISH MARqUE Volvo CE is entering the rigid hauler market in the second quarter of 2018 with a range of four Volvobranded machines developed in collaboration with its subsidiary Terex Trucks.

The range, which will initially be launched in less regulated markets, consists of the 45t R45D, 60t R60D, 72t R70D and the flagship 100t R100E. According to a statement by Volvo CE, the development of the new rigid hauler range has relied heavily on the longstanding rigid hauler expertise of Terex Trucks using the expertise of its Motherwell

facility in Scotland, combined with the technological strength of the Volvo Group.

According to Volvo CE, the E-Series R100E is a completely new Volvo CE 100t rigid hauler that combines a wealth of market and customer knowledge with proven components, new technologies and a striking new design, providing a cost-effective and productive solution to fulfil the needs of today’s mining and quarrying customers.

The other three models – the D-Series R45D, R60D and R70D rigid haulers – are based on the existing

10 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

Terex Trucks TR-Series.

Their development follows an engineering review to ensure the machines meet set Volvo standards in their target markets and segments. Improvements include greater visibility and safety systems, along with Volvo technical support and branding, the statement added.

Volvo CE also added that as a result of the launch of the Volvo-branded rigid haulers, production of Terex Trucks rigid haulers will cease over time.

“Our purchase of Terex Trucks in 2014 was a

strategic decision that allowed Volvo to offer customers a rigid hauler option,” said Thomas Bitter, senior vice president of the Marketing and Product Portfolio (MaPP) function at Volvo CE. “Since then, we’ve been working to design a completely new rigid hauler that builds on Terex Trucks’ 84-year heritage, while also incorporating Volvo CE’s industry-leading technology and core values of quality, safety and environmental care. Today we move to the next stage, and the new Volvo machines, especially the E-Series R100E, are

LAUNCHES

END OF THE LINE? production of Terex Trucks-branded rigid haulers will cease over time, said Volvo Group.

HEAVY LOAD BUT A LIGHT TOUCH The new E-series R100E is a completely new machine, it’s quick and simple to operate and maintain, claims Volvo Group

swedish-owned and scottish-made

the outcome of this work. we’re confident that they will impress customers working in the mining and quarrying segments.”

The all-new flagship R100E is designed to be a rigid hauler that delivers high performance and productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and good operator comfort, said Volvo CE. with high capacity and hauling speeds, new V-shaped body, intelligent monitoring systems and operator environment, Volvo expects the R100E to help customers move more material in less time.

“Terex Trucks’ rigid haulers are known for performing well in tough conditions, while also being easy to maintain and delivering low cost of ownership,” said Paul Douglas, Volvo CE’s vice president of Rigid Haulers and Terex Trucks. “Our proven design has provided a strong DNA on which to help develop Volvo CE’s innovative entry into this product line.

The new E-Series R100E is a completely new machine that delivers stability, a long service life, high profitability, durability and comfort.

And moreover, it’s quick and simple to operate and maintain.”

The new Volvo-branded rigid haulers will be manufactured at the rebranded Volvo Motherwell production facility in Scotland and sold exclusively through the Volvo dealer network.

Meanwhile, Terex Trucks’ articulated hauler range will continue to be designed, built and developed at the Motherwell facility, and distributed using the preexisting Terex Trucks independent dealer network. The Motherwell plant has been operating since 1950, when it was opened by a subsidiary of US company Euclid. The Ohio-based company had established itself as the manufacturer of the world’s first offhighway rear dump truck. Euclid was soon afterwards purchased by General Motors in 1953 and would later rebrand its earthmovin-g division Terex - derived from the Latin for Terra (earth) and Rex (king).

Since developing Terex’ first ever articulated dump truck in the 1980s (the 3204 which was designed, tested and produce in Scotland), the Motherwell plant has been producing both styles of off-highway trucks. Following the sale of Terex Trucks to the Volvo Group three years ago, it has manufactured all seven of its mainline models in the country.

Speaking about the first couple of years of ownership, Andrew Knight, vice president of strategy and business development at Volvo CE, recently made clear to our sister

publication CMME that the company has not deviated from its initial plan for Terex Trucks in almost any respect.

“When we bought the business, we made some clear statements – we said that we were committed to the brand, committed to the product and committed to the dealers – and we haven’t strayed from that at all with our actions. We bought a business with a well-regarded reputation and an established population of products in the field,” he said.

“Machines that need looking after with parts and services, and that offer a good revenue stream. We bought Terex Trucks because it has a range of products that we don’t have – rigid haulers – but also because we could see advantages in having a value brand of articulated haulers in our portfolio.”

Since the acquisition, Terex Trucks has needed to push forward and stabilise its position in the market. This has meant Volvo investing in making products more reliable, as well as easier to use and support. It has also helped promote the brand by championing Terex Trucks at conventions such as Bauma and Intermat.

“The influence of having a large parent isn’t always obvious from the outside, but there’s been a large amount of support. A lot of time has been spent improving the way Terex Trucks goes to market, how the brand is supported and strengthening the sales team and dealer network.”

FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 11

LAUNCHES

Birth of a uae market presence GENESIS G80 MAkES DUBAI MOTOR SHOw DEBUT The Genesis G80 and G80 Sport are quickly establishing themselves as contenders in the Middle East’s highly-competitive midsize luxury sedan segment, offering classleading levels of comfort, convenience, design and technology, as well as a dynamic driving experience.

The Genesis G80 was on display as part of Genesis’ first ever participation in the Dubai International Motor Show last year.

“The Genesis G80 carries the sense of authenticity that is at the heart of a true luxury brand,” said Manfred Fitzgerald, head of Genesis Brand. “with each

SMOOTH SEDAN 8-spEED shiFTROniC

new Genesis model, we are creating something original – we are not trying to imitate anybody. Customers who value that authenticity will be attracted to our brand.”

Genesis launched internationally, and in selected Middle East markets, during 2016, and has gained widespread attention. All Genesis G80 models come equipped with a suite of advanced safety technologies for superior passenger and vehicle protection. The 2018 Genesis G80 further enhances its vehicle safety with the addition of Pedestrian Detection to the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system as well as Driver Attention Alert as new no-cost standard safety

features. Additionally, an available 360-degree multi-view camera system with four exterior cameras provides a clear view of outside surroundings.

Genesis says the G80 offers three engine options.

The 315 PS Lambda 3.8l GDI V6 and 425 PS Tau 5.0l GDI V8 are both paired with a smooth shifting 8-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC, maximising both performance and fuel efficiency. The G80 Sport features a 3.3l twin-turbo V6 with 370 PS and 509 Nm of torque, matched to a sport-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission and the continuous Damping Control (CDC) suspension, combining to provide a rapid and agile ride.

SPECIFICATIONS

establishin

BUILDING A REPUTATION t are quickly The Genesis G80 and G80 spor Middle East. g themselves as contenders in the

12 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

Engine

3.8l Lambda GDi V6

Power

315 ps

Engine

Tau 5.0-liter GDi V8

Power

425 ps

Transmission

8-speed automatic with shiFTROniC

Minsk Automobile Plant provides with more than 500 models of Fifth Wheel Tractors, Dump Trucks, Drop-Side Trucks, Busses, Municipal Vehicles, Cranes, Chasis for different needs and Trailers EnginES FroM LEADing gLoBAL ProDuCErS 4x2, 4x4, 6x4, 6x6, 8x4 DriVETrAin

UAE - Express Engineering - sales@exeuae.com Kuwait - Al-Ajmi & Partner General Trading and Consulting WLL - info@alajmi.cc Oman - Al Watanyiah Motors LLC - info@alwatanyiahmotors.com North Africa Representative offce - ivan.mazegypt@mail.ru

MAZ Middle East Representative Office mazbranch.emirates@gmail.com +871 56 631 1389

Visit Us: www.maz.by

INTERVIEW

SucceSS by deSign MAN Truck & Bus talks about preparing a new coach for the Middle East and for the future of e-Mobility

M

AN Truck & Bus’ bold new design of its Lion’s Coach pulled into Busworld in October for its first ever public showing and ended up leaving with three of the six major awards, including the prestigious Grand Award Coach. Also notching up recognition for design and comfort, T&FME was keen to talk to some of the team behind the success and to understand their vision for the future of passenger transport.

With the new MAN Lion’s Coach [which incidentally started to enter the Middle East as T&FME went to press] MAN is assured that a competitive TCO (total cost of ownership) will be attractive to fleet owners dealing with the region’s rapid transformation towards 14 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

modern, cleaner and safer transportation (MAN describes the lastest model its safest-ever).

During its first public outing at Busworld, Rudi Kuchta, head of Bus Sales at MAN Truck & Bus tells T&FME that the stylish-looking vehicle beat a record number of entries to win .

“I couldn’t be any prouder,” comments Kuchta. “That we are given the honour to take the Grand Award Coach home is really awesome. Even more if you know that there were eleven other candidates this year. This Grand Award is always a plus, especially because the winner is chosen by a professional jury.”

He continues: “Winning a Grand Award at the world’s best exhibition with an ever-increasing international profile not only creates trust in our customers, but also in all our employees who helped develop

We have increased sales by 30% over the last few years thanks to having some really leading products”

and market the new Lion’s Coach.”

The MAN Lion’s Coach was first launched in 2001. Compared to the 50-yearold Skyliner produced by NEOPLAN (the luxury bus manufacturer that was acquired

by MAN in 2001), it may be a relative newcomer in the market, but it is currently the manufacturer’s best-selling vehicle in the segment. According to MAN, part of that success has been attributed to a focus on value for fleet buyers. Whether it’s the new materials that make the bus lighter and more robust or the careful separation of the driver’s cockpit and passenger compartment, the luggage compartment and the drive unit to make maintenance easier: this is a vehicle made with economy as a priority.

Kuchta adds that, in addition to its functional

INTERVIEW

but stylish and aerodynamic design, the latest generation boasts some of the most advanced technology ever used on a coach.

“We have completely re-organised and re-designed the interior, but we also have a completely new drivetrain which, in combination with the new design, gives a real TCO. We can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 10%,” he remarks.

The new Lion’s Coach is MAN’S latest success since it began a complete roots and branch overhaul its of bus business three years ago. Mainline bus production for both its MAN and NEOPLAN lines first moved into its plant in the Turkish capital of Ankara in 2014. The former home for its public service and coach vehicles in Plauen in east Germany was consequently transformed into its first Bus Modification Centre, a stateof-the-art facility designed to implement specific customer requirements. Its plant in Starachowice based across the border in Poland now also handles body assembly for its Lion’s City buses and City bus chassis.

Kuchta tells T&FME that the premiere is a significant milestone in this three-year journey that has seen the company completely change its approach and improve its fortunes.

“It was difficult,” admits Kuchta, “but we have concentrated on forming a complete strategy. We have focused on not just product and sales but also on production. Our performance has been outstanding and we have achieved an increase in sales by 30% over the last few years, thanks largely to having some industry leading and technologically advanced product.”

Noting the appearance at Busworld of both the Lion’s Coach and the latest version of the double-decker touring coach, the NEOPLAN Skyliner, he adds the company is excited to be taking new products into the market.

“The Lion’s Coach has been a reliable and representative bus but when you’re in sales it is always wonderful to have a brand-new product to sell. The launches aren’t ending yet either as next year, we will launch the new City bus and this will also be important for sales.”

The German commercial vehicles manufacturer was one of the first to start asking fleet owners to consider the total cost of ownership when purchasing and Kuchta cites an example of how MAN is shifting the mindset of fleets in the region: “We have an interesting story in Morocco where they have tended to buy chassis and body bases at cheap prices in the past,” he begins. “In Morocco diesel prices are quite high and they are doing long lines up to Berlin and doing between 2-300,000 kilometres per year. By talking to them about TCO they bought 20 buses.”

Gas natural for region As one of the indisputable leaders in the field, the company has been very successfully producing and selling gas-powered vehicles since the start of the century. With the fuel in abundance in the Middle East, Kuchta argues that it is a vital waypoint in the region’s progress to greener vehicles on its roads, particularly as the demands of air conditioning in a space as large as a bus are frustratingly high for the current generation of electric vehicles.

“They are testing gas-powered models in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and this could be a better way to improve emissions as adapting electric vehicles is difficult because of the extreme conditions,” he explains. “Ultimately gas is a technology that we believe in.”

Jan Aichinger, VP, head of Product Marketing – Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, says MAN has been testing a CNG bus in Abu Dhabi since March 2017 and has been pleased

i think the tipping point will be in 2020, when a lot of cities will need to go for electric or gas buses but some others are still asking for diesel. i think therefore it’s very risky for some companies to go for just electric or hybrid”

with its performance so far. Aichinger, who once spent three years living in Saudi Arabia, adds he believes there is a potential for the fuel to have an immediate impact in the region.

“If you’re considering CNG for long-haul, then it is debatable because of the infrastructure needed but, looking at the City bus side, I definitely see you could use it tomorrow,” Aichinger says. “A CNG engine, without any effort, achieves Euro-5. Our technology is reaching the equivalent of Euro-6 and with the quality of gas available in the Middle East it will be achievable. Gas as a resource is also more readily available than diesel in the region, and our City bus can operate for two days without being refuelled making it economically viable too..”

Returning to the challenges of adopting electric vehicles, Aichinger clarifies why MAN is cautious regarding its viability in the Middle East: “We always look at what you can achieve on the last day of the battery. That is because the customer wants to know when he will need to replace it and how far can he go at the end of its six-year lifespan. We are seeing that you can go as far as 200km if you are driving when it is 15-20oC outside. If you want to heat or cool a bus, the consumption doubles and the range is halved. You will go from 200km to 100km.”

Aichinger argues that a further challenge is that most electric bus designs use the expanse of the roof to install their batteries. In the cauldron of the Middle East, this would place them under extreme stress: “You have no shade on the roof and that’s where most of the build-up of heat is going to be. The lifetime of the battery will be greatly reduced because you’ve heated them up too much.”

The passenger car segment saw many manufacturers offer targets for halting traditional fuels vehicle production in 2017. While it has yet to announce a total freeze on production,

ModIFYING FoR MIddlE EAsT clIENTs Saudi bus operator SAPTCO (Saudi Public Transport Company) signed a contract for 242 MAN Lion’s City M city buses in July 2017. With the buses set to be delivered this year, Stephan Schönerr gives his insight in designing the buses to meet SAPTCO’s exacting requirements.

“This actually was a nice project in the way that we could work on some issues which are actually not

allowed in Europe. We worked with a French designer and he had this idea of how it should look. But he was so open and knows how difficult it is when you have a ready bus and you cannot change everything.

“We tried to get the ideas he had into the design when we did the modification. It is always fun when you don’t have someone who comes and tells you that something is not necessary. I think this is why the bus looks totally

different. It was nice to work on and a different experience.”

“We at MAN Bus Design normally work all the time with countries and areas to fulfil the different demands of a customer. We will probably soon work with the new Lion’s Coach when it is transferred to the Middle East. There will be a lot of modifications. When you have climate issues, you need an AC unit which is bigger than normal, for example.”

FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 15

INTERVIEW

Volkswagen, MAN’s owner, has said it will offer an electrical option for all of its car models by 2030. Because of the technical challenges facing commercial vehicles producers, Aichinger is convinced that the industry will not see a similar wave of announcements any time soon.

“It is a question for the crystal ball, but if you go far enough into the future then I think definitely the traditional commercial vehicle engine will disappear. But that point is really far away… not in 10 or 15 years.”

Behind the sales effort that comes with the launch of a new vehicle like the Lion’s Coach is the design team. Designer Stephan Schönherr says he and his team draw on customer feedback relayed by the sales teams, as well as insipiration from trends inside and outside the industry in technology and design: “We talk to customers as it’s very important to get feedback. When designing a bus it helps to avoid problems caused by ideas not translating well into engineering and function,” Schönherr remarks.

While he talks, Schönherr recalls how when he started at NEOPLAN he and the lead engineer were the only two people assigned to bus design. He remembers with fondness their long conversations sat in a bus trying to get inspiration for their next design: “It was perfect, once a week we met in the bus and sat together and thought about what we could come up with next in terms of design and functionality.”

Today, Schönherr continues to be responsible for the exterior and interior design of MAN’s stunning new generation of coaches – but he isn’t doing it alone: “When I started at MAN I had to do everything myself. I started as a one man show in 1998.

Winning a grand Award at the world’s best exhibition creates trust in our customers, but also in all our employees who helped develop and market the new Lion’s coach”

EdGE oF TEcHNoloGY MAN Lion’s Coaches use industry-leading accident prevention features, such as Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Lane Guard System (LGS) as well as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

16 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

And then of course the team grew.”

Schönherr’s bus team works on sculpting customer interior and exterior requirements from across the globe into working designs. It also gets to create the next generation of vehicles and the new Lion’s Coach is testimony to the team’s talent to continue to push the practical demands of passenger transport design in some unexpected directions. He talks in great detail about how its distinctive curves are the result of a very peculiar property of working with lasers which has a typically functional purpose.

“If you have a lump of steel, you can do it ugly with sharp pointy edges or you can start with a nice cut. A laser actually prefers a round surface because it’s faster,” he says.

Schönherr elaborates on MAN’s now award-winning work on the Lion’s Coach: “We’ve created an elegant design that is very close to all the functional properties required and competitive TCO of course. But the philosophy in our department is that we think that brilliant design and styling has to equally enhance usability . In the end bus are built to safely transport passengers.”

Before we part, T&FME is handed a small replica model of the new Lion’s Coach.

Schönherr tells the magazine it was created using the exact same design data of the real thing. After 20 years of working in design, his home must be full of similar miniature models?

“You know, I’m lucky I can put my whole portfolio in front of me. My wife used to hate it because our place was full of models – but now we only have the things I’m working on…,” he pauses to smile. “You know, once I had a big collection...”

FEElING IT IN THE pIT oF YoUR sToMAcH Stephan Schönerr, designer, Engineering Vehicle Styling Bus, (EVSB), Design Bus, MAN Truck & Bus says that MAN is creating an identity for its vehicles. With Lion’s Coach now unveiled, he and his team are working on the next MAN City bus. The challenge, he says, is to ensure the design is consistent on both inside and outside of vehicles and reflected in even the smallest details.

“The new NEOPLANs have a sharp-cut design, so you would also work on putting that feel on the inside. Even if you’re doing a seat for instance. It all fits together and when you come into the bus and you feel this is a NeoPlan or this is a MAN. I mean a normal person will not see it but they will feel it in their stomach.”

Schönerr says that drivers and passengers across the world share a similar and primal instinct for good design.

He explains: “We did tests where we put different buses in front of a group of people and all the people, all the passengers, all went into the Skyliner.

“We know from research on human behaviour that humans always pick the nicer things. We may have different tastes but there’s also a general taste. In Asia you will have the same thought about which bus looks beautiful as you would in Europe. It is always the same as the same focus.

“And of course you always want to be with something good looking because it appeals to you instinctively as healthy. And you don’t want to spend time with something unhealthy because it’s bad for reproduction and the future of the human race.”

480 hp Cummins

S&T

420 hp Doosan

Single / HUB

340 hp Doosan 225 hp Doosan

ZF

ATOS 80 STEEL

S&T

Outstanding driving and handling characteristics, superb comfort and convenience that comes with • Spacious and comfortable cabin • Powerful and rugged powertrain options • Impressive hauling and carrying capabilities • Optimized After-Sales Moreover it is built to handle round-the-clock high speed operations that will enhance your bottom-line giving you lowest cost of ownership.

- 056 680 9271 - 04 704 3777

TATA Daewoo Commercial Vehicles g.singh@tata-daewoo.com www.daewootrucks-me.com

- 050 741 4110 - 02 554 7666

ADVERTORIAL

The righT soluTion Ford Trucks is empowering the region’s fleets

F

ord Trucks’ 57-year production experience with market-specific product development drives it to produce compatible products and have a better understanding of its customers’ needs and expectations. Ford Trucks has reached its position as one of the globe’s biggest trucks producers by demonstrating an appreciation for its customers; always listening to their feedback and being prepared to take suggestions from the market. It has taken this approach into the Middle East; learning from its potential and existing customers so it can use their valuable insight to continuously improve its trucks and stay competitive in the market.

Its preparation for new Euro 4 regulation in the UAE typifies this dedication. Following the announcement, Ford Trucks began immediately ensuring it could enable its customers to meet the change in standards with the right vehicles and customised after sales contracts and driver training. Able to draw on years of regional testing, it swiftly introduced changes such as the new 12R24 tyres, an enhanced Air Conditioning system and vertical pipe to meet GCC customer needs.

Safety is another essential concern for Ford Trucks in a region of tough environmental conditions and vast logistics networks. For that reason, it has developed secure technologies within its new series, including its cruise control system and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) which ensures vehicle stability in low traction and difficult driving conditions. The Active Emergency Brake System is also another innovation which ably demonstrates Ford Trucks models offer a considerably high level of safety.

18 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

Ford Trucks has also improved braking on its new models: compared to its previous generation, the New Ford Trucks series has a braking system that is now seven times stronger. In addition to a 400 kW engine brake, it also offers a 600 kW intarder as an option to fleets. Placing an emphasis on movement on the road, the total 1,000 kW braking power clearly shows how much the new Ford Trucks Series’ cares about stopping. By using these auxiliary braking systems, maintenance interval of service brakes will be increased significantly. Thus, TCO will be improved, resulting in a more profitable business for fleet owners.

The 12-Speed ZF Automated transmission was introduced for driver comfort. With the new Ford Trucks Series powered by the latest Ecotorq Engine, the passenger-like shifter arm makes driving so easy.

Both from a performance and comfort perspective; the automated transmission is one of the most important features Ford Trucks is providing.

The automated transmission has three different modes to improve driving comfort. Power Mode enables shifting at higher engine speeds while Rocking Mode eases take off at difficult road conditions and lastly Eco Mode improves fuel consumption. In the hands of any driver, the automated transmission offers better drivability with more efficient fuel consumption.

Powering the trucks are the 9L and 12.7L Ecotorq engines which were especially developed to meet customer expectations and requirements in the often harsh conditions of the region. Since their introduction to the region’s fleets, the engines have proved their robustness and reliability over and over again while boosting the profits of transporters. The 9L Ecotorq engine has 330 hp and 1,300 Nm whereas

the 12.7 Ecotorq engine has 430 hp and 2,150 Nm with both engines offering high torque at low engine revolutions per minute (RPM). The integrated engine brake is standard for each engine, improving service maintenance intervals of service brakes. Common rail system provides up to 2,500 bar pressure, resulting higher performance and better fuel economy than ever.

Ford Trucks also supports its clients with customised after sales solutions and its dedicated dealers serve regional customers with a complete support programme which also includes on-the-spot repairs. Ford Trucks after sales service is boosted by mobile services and a GCC-wide network of service centres operated by official Ford Trucks Dealers. The Ford Academy meanwhile invests in constant trainee programmes to offer a seamless and comprehensive range of support services. All Ford Trucks technical teams and parts personnel have been carefully trained to meet Ford Trucks’ meticulous standards in order to ensure every individual leaves with total satisfaction.

As one of the major issues for clients is spare parts, Ford Trucks ensures the availability of each component by holding stock levels at 95% in the manufacturer’s warehousing facilities. Thanks to Ford Trucks’ operation system, a necessary item can always be sent to dealer workshops within a maximum of 48 hours.

When fleet customers begin their journey with Ford Trucks they will find a company prepared to understand their requirements and purchasing levels to develop tailored customised solutions and after sales support. With all related information to their trucks in its detailed Ford Trucks database, customers will also continue to get the support they need to keep their business moving.

EnduRace RA

EnduRace RT

EnduMile LHA

REGIONAL /ALL POSITION SUPERIOR HANDLING

REGIONAL / TRAILER ENHANCED MILEAGE

LONGHAUL /ALL POSITION SAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS

Middle East Tyres

Nasser Building, Al Itihad Road, Hor Al Anz, Dubai, P.O Box 1219, Tel.: +971 42557172 Email: sales@middleeasttyres.com/Website: www.middleeasttyres.com

TECHNOLOGY

It’s good to share

Meet the e-Palette, Toyota’s grand vision for a shareable future 20 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

TECHNOLOGY

a

s responses to vehicle releases go, @ PeytonHoward8’s tweet on the Pizza Hut version of Toyota’s e-Palette could possibly be the most convoluted ever posted on Twitter.

“One day this thing is going to run over some guy bc (sic) he was distracted by some girl and then an insurance agency will send a lady out to go investigate by checking witness’s (sic) memories, then she’ll accidentally review the memory of a recent murder and get everyone but a hamster killed,” he wrote.

Unless you are a watcher of the Netflix series Black Mirror, then his and many other references to the episode Crocodile proliferated all over the Pizza Hut twitter feed like peperoni on a Texas Meat Meltdown in January will have made no sense. However, with a quick google it is easy to see how the fictitious autonomous vehicle owned

by Fences Pizza bears are an uncanny resemblance to the concept unveiled by Toyota at last month’s CES event in Las Vegas.

The “e-Palette” is science fiction meeting science fact and Toyota is bringing along a seriously heavyweight collection of partners along to see if its ‘store’ or ‘box’ on wheels concept can herald in a new era of transportation. At T&FME, we have written extensively – almost on a monthly basis – on vehicles that want to [ahem] deliver on the promise of revolutionising the way goods and people get around. And in many ways, Toyota’s e-Palette is yet another one.

But for every Superbus there is an e-Canter, so it should be dismissed at our peril.

Probably the least impressive thing

about the e-Palette is what it looks like. Be it the 4.8m version which was unveiled at the CES pre-opening event or the 7m truck demonstrated in Toyota’s presentation, the box-on-wheels comparisons given to it by observers are pretty much spot on. Toyota, however, isn’t expecting you to be blown away by its aesthetics, but by its flexibility.

Standing in front of the audience at the world’s largest consumer technology show with fridge magnet slogans like Mobility Company and Toyota Connected behind him Toyota’s chairman Akio Toyoda described it as offering, “a platform for an e-commerceon-demand retail experience, a multi-purpose moving experience, mobile personal shops, an individual, personalised mobile showroom.”

In other words, the magic sauce at work with the e-Palette is its ability to be whatever Toyota’s corporate customer wants it to be – while enabling the company to make a step from platform to service provider.

This is not new. All the major OEMs are attempting to leverage digital technology to make the same movement but Toyota has sensibly brought in launch partners such as Pizza Hut, Amazon, DiDi and Uber. It is also extending its partnership with Mazda (which includes the building of a $1.6 billion Trump-approved care plant in Alabama) to explore the viability of the concept. Toyota has previously stated it is developing electric vehicle technology with Mazda, Panasonic and Suzuki, and the e-Palette is likely to be derivative of that research in combination with its progress in autonomous driving.

“This announcement marks a major step forward in our evolution towards sustainable mobility, demonstrating our

toyota remains committed to making ever better cars.

Just as important, we are developing mobility solutions to help everyone enjoy their lives, and we are doing our part to create an ever-better society for the next 100 years and beyond”

continued expansion beyond traditional cars and trucks to the creation of new values including services for customers,” added Toyoda, who said he wants Toyota to be a personal assistant on wheels.

“The automobile industry is clearly amid its most dramatic period of change as technologies like electrification, connected and automated driving are making significant progress. Toyota remains committed to making ever better cars. Just as important, we are developing mobility solutions to help everyone enjoy their lives, and we are doing our part to create an ever-better society for the next 100 years and beyond.”

A new mobility service business alliance brought together by Toyota will work with its proprietary Mobility Services Platform (MSPF) to develop a suite of connected mobility solutions and a flexible, purposebuilt fully-autonomous – and fully realised vehicle. Before that can happen, the alliance is working on creating a broad-based ecosystem of hardware and software support designed to help a range of companies utilise advanced mobility technology to better serve customers.

“The e-Palette partners will be able to make use of the e-Palette Concept in co-ordination with the full range of MSPF services, or incorporate it into their own technology development programmes,” said Toyota’s supporting material. “The vehicle’s design reflects this commitment to flexibility and partnership, with an open control interface and a set of software tools that will allow partner companies to install their own automated driving system if desired.

Simply put: Toyota with help from its friends will be putting the box

MAiN FEATURES OF THE E-PALETTE Extensive interior space There are three sizes of e-Palette, with lengths of between approximately four and seven metres, depending on the purpose-built specification.

Thanks to a flat, extensive and barrier-free interior with a low floor, equipment can be installed in accordance with the user’s needs, for example, ride sharing, hotel rooms or retail shopping. The model on display at CES measures 4,800mm long, 2,000mm wide and 2,250mm high.

Next gen vehicle control interface Vehicle control technology is being used as an interface for technology providers. These providers can receive an open Application Programming Interface (API), such as vehicle state and vehicle control, necessary for developing automated driving systems (driving control, cameras, sensors, etc). The e-Palette Concept also leverages the power of the MSPF to enable over-the-air updating of the automated driving systems.

MSPF-enabled Vehicle information is gathered from the e-Palette Concept’s Data Communication Module (DCM) and accumulated in the Toyota Big Data Center (TBDC) through a global communication platform.

The e-Palette will capitalise on this vehicle information to support a variety of finance options, as well as high-level maintenance in co-operation with Toyota dealers.

The API required by service providers, such as vehicle state and dynamic management, can be viewed on the MSPF.

FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 21

TECHNOLOGY

together but it will be up to companies to decide what to put in it.

“In addition to supporting the services provided through Toyota’s MSPF, the e-Palette concept vehicle’s open vehicle control interface and a set of software tools allow partner companies to install their own automated driving system and vehicle management technology,” said Toyota. “When a partner company’s automated driving system is installed, Toyota’s Guardian technology (its driver=assist system) will act as a safety net to help ensure appropriate operation.”

In terms of how it could work in practice, Pizza Hut considers the e-Palette as supporting the company’s delivery business in the future or serving as a mobile kitchen in areas of the world where such an experience would meet consumer interest.

“We are truly inspired to be part of this alliance, as the visions for our brand and those of Toyota are very similar,” said an enthused Milind Pant, President, Pizza Hut International. “We are about making it easier to get a better pizza and Toyota is about providing mobility for all.

Toyota is an exceptional fit as a technology partner to accelerate our commitment to the best delivery experience.”

Arguably more exciting than being a mobile pizza kitchen, it was suggested at CES that the same vehicle could be used to carry people or goods as it moves from destination to destination. Toyota plans to conduct feasibility testing of the e-Palette Concept in various world regions in the early 2020s.

It also hopes to contribute to the success of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020 by providing innovative mobility solutions, such as the e-Palette.

Alexa: “Take me home”

If the e-Palette is a vision by Toyota of how it can provide services to businesses, CES was also an opportunity for the Japanese company to expand on its B2C Concept-i family of mobility platforms. While the update of the Entune 3.0 – its smart app-driven multimedia and telematics suite – which is installed in the 2018 Camry was warmly welcomed, it was the unveiling of Amazon’s Alexa to select Toyota and Lexus vehicles that stole the show.

If you are unfamiliar with Alexa, it is Amazon’s cloud-driven and virtual personal assistant. Most popularly housed within its Echo Bluetooth speakers, it has also been integrated into Amazon’s suite of tablets allowing people to ask questions like what will the weather be like in Ajman today?

22 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

BEYOND E-PALETTE: TOYOTA’S OTHER FUTURE CONCEPTS Concept-i Series: The Toyota Concept-i Series is Toyota’s vision of a future where artificial intelligence (AI) enables personal mobility that is more responsive to the needs of its users by recognising emotions, anticipating preferences, and allowing people and cars to become partners.

Toyota Concept-i The Toyota Concept-i is a four-wheel model that combines AI technology which understands people (“LEARN”) with automated driving and agent technology that provides drivers with safety and peace of mind (“PROTECT”) and new Fun to Drive experiences (“INSPIRE”) that enrich the enjoyment of moving.

Toyota Concept-i RiDE The Concept-i RIDE is a small mobility vehicle designed to deliver “user-friendly city mobility.” While the seat layout and automated driving functions make it possible for anyone to drive safely and securely, its gull-wing doors, electric universal sliding seat, and joystick offer particularly user-friendly operation for wheelchair users.

Toyota Concept-i WALK With its compact size, the i-WALK can operate safely on sidewalks and other

areas alongside pedestrians.

Equipped with an easily operated steering function as well as an automated driving capability, this mobility vehicle helps increase the user’s range of movement.

TRi Platform 3.0 Toyota Research Institute’s next-gen research vehicle, Platform 3.0, combines more sophisticated automated driving technology and new harmonized styling into the Lexus LS model’s design. Its sensor-rich package makes it one of the most perceptive automated test cars on the road. The vehicle includes a powerful LIDAR architecture strategically positioned for a sensing range of up to o 200 meters around the 360 perimeter of the vehicle, giving the automated driving systems more time to react to potentially hazardous scenarios.

Fine-Comfort Ride Fine-Comfort Ride is a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) that features a flexible layout unique to electric-powered vehicles and utilises hydrogen as an energy source to generate a large amount of electric power. The Fine-Comfort Ride discharges no CO2 or substances of concern (SoC) while offering a generous cruising range and a hydrogen refuelling time of about three minutes.

or where can I find my nearest shopping mall? Of course, that is something most people have their phones for, but Amazon’s end game will be to ensure as many gadgets, appliances – and yes – cars have some level of Alexa connectivity.

Ford and BMW have both previously announced plans to add Alexa to their own in-car systems but, according to Zack Hicks, CIO of Toyota Motor North America and CEO and president of Toyota Connected, Toyota is, for now, the first manufacturer to; ”bring the convenience of Alexa into the car and onto the road.”

He continued: “Access to Alexa will allow Toyota and Lexus customers to conveniently take advantage of its industry leading natural language, cloud-based technology. Alexa offers more than 30,000 natural language skills and works with over 4,000 smart home devices, but what will that mean for Toyota and Lexus drivers?

“In the car, customers can access Alexa’s full range of skills, including commands like playing music or turning on the lights in your home. Outside of the car, it enables new features like remotely starting or locking the vehicle, or even asking about fuel levels.”

John Scumniotales, head of product, Amazon Alexa Automotive, says Alexa will be able to help with thousands of things in the car: “she can help you get directions and play music, check the news and control your smart home devices and more. Let me share a few more details. In the car, you’ll be able to ask Alexa for Italian restaurants near you, then get directions.”

He continued” “Or, when you start your commute home, you could ask Alexa to adjust your home’s temperature so it’s comfortable when you get there. You can even place your Starbucks order with your voice, while you’re on your way to pick it up.

The diversity of skills and creativity we’ve seen from developers is immense. You can ask Alexa to do things like control lights, thermostats, garage doors and more. You can manage finances, and you can even ask Alexa to help you learn a new language.”

Scumniotales describes these capabilities as just the beginning and will lead to Alexa being able to do more and more for customers over time. And, in its way, Toyota is now offering two types of store fronts for some of the world’s biggest consumer brands. The e-Palette may still be a concept but the imminent roll-out of Alexa and Amazon’s track record of using existing technology to roll out of services may set the tone of much of its future direction.

TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING

Putting the e intO leArning

MiX Telematic’s Qasim Shah on how technology is changing training

O

rganisations that depend on fleets for their daily operation should give serious consideration to accredited driver training as the pressure to improve efficiencies and lower costs mounts. Whether you employ a small team of drivers or manage a large fleet of vehicles, all your employees need to be responsible and safe on the road.

Driving has become one of the most hazardous activities that employees undertake. Car accidents take an average of 9,000 lives annually in Saudi Arabia; while the UAE recorded 315 fatalities during the first half of last year. The UAE Ministry of Interior has taken a proactive approach by aiming to bring down road fatalities by three persons per 100,000 of residents by 2021.

24 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

So, if you are considering driver training for your organisation but remain unconvinced of the benefits it can bring read on.

Employers have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that employees are trained and informed of the hazards associated with their job and a vehicle is considered a ‘place of work’ for mobile staff.

Why driver training?

Employees are a company’s biggest and most valued asset so it makes sense to retain staff by providing training and ensuring that they are upskilled. Driver training also makes it possible for drivers to gain experience to handle every driving situation. From rollover prevention, awareness sessions and defensive driver training and fewer accidents mean less working time lost.

Whilst driver training is seen as a cost,

As technology changes so do road rules and even touching a mobile phone while driving now could result in penalties”

ultimately, it will save your business money by teaching employees to drive more economically. Driver training helps with lowering fuel consumption across the business and can also reduce fleet management costs associated with vehicle wear and tear.

Having an in-depth knowledge of road and driver safety practises is essential to ensure the safety of your drivers at all times.

Consultants are industry experts and can conduct road hazard assessments, fit for purpose vehicle assessments, training needs analysis and journey management planning to ensure that your organisation is doing everything they can to ensure the safety of their employees. As an employer, you have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of your staff. Consultants can work with your business to develop appropriate policies to support

TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING

the development of a safe driving culture.

In an increasing global environment, overcoming language barriers has become a challenge for many organisations, especially here in the Middle East. E-learning driver training offers a solution that overcomes that barrier along with many other benefits to companies with a fleet. Offering training in 80 different languages, it provides a great platform for drivers to learn in the language they are most comfortable with.

Fleet managers have a duty of care to provide a safe place of work and to provide sufficient training and information to employees to ensure that staff can drive safely on the road.

This is where e-learning has a huge part to play.

Online driver training provides an effective way to evaluate the ability of your drivers and get full visibility of behaviourbased training data on any driver, anywhere at any time through an online management platform. Where high-risk driving behaviour has been identified through e-learning, steps can be taken to address this effectively.

With online driver training, it’s possible to give drivers short bursts of online driver training at regular intervals throughout a specified period of time and do so cost effectively. You can work with an e-learning training provider to design and customise modules that suit specific driver requirements that you have for your fleet and then specify the frequency over which you need the modules to be completed. What makes e-learning driver training so effective is that you can use it to constantly remind your drivers of techniques to drive safely, which ultimately will lead to a growing culture of better driving throughout the business and results in fewer accidents.

And because e-learning driver training is delivered using cloud-based technologies, implementation and delivery works out to be cost effective as fees are charged on a per user basis.

MiX Telematics has been delivering Defensive Driver Training and Transport Safety Training in Australia and overseas for over 15 years. During that time, we have worked with various clients in both good and challenging economic times. In tough times such as now, training is often considered as dispensable, and one of the first things to go within an organisation. In reality, training should be considered essential and as something that needs to continue regardless of economic climate conditions.

Firstly, there is the real cost of vehicle crashes. When you calculate the cost of a crash, what do you include in that calculation?

Usually it’s one of the following: the cost of

repairing the vehicle; medical expenses for injured staff; the cost of a replacement vehicle and/or staff member to make deliveries while the other vehicle is off the road; maybe the cost of late service or goods deliveries; and increased insurance premiums.

Other costs which often get overlooked with vehicle crashes include the cost of conducting an investigation and incident reporting, damage to brand reputation, fines associated with the crash that the company may be liable for or staff replacement costs if the driver is unable to return to work. When these factors are built into the calculation the true cost of a vehicle crash could be as much as eight times more than your insurance payout according to figures from the International Loss Control Institute.

In addition to a reduction in accidents, studies show training can help implement more economic driving in your organisation.

According to the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA) making a few simple changes to driving techniques could produce fuel savings of 5% or more. Furthermore, a Canadian study estimates that fuel savings of over 10% can be achieved through driver training and monitoring, and a study for the European Commission estimates than an annual one-day driver training course can improve truck fuel efficiency by 5%.

It is important to note that most of these studies only measured fuel consumption, and not wear and tear on the vehicle or

Car accidents take an average of 9,000 lives annually in Saudi Arabia; while the uAe recorded 315 fatalities during the first half of last year”

servicing costs. That being said, there is little doubt that improved driver practices can lower fuel consumption and ongoing training can go a long way to help in maintaining long-term fuel economies.

Slipping into bad habits

When some of us completed our driving licence tests 25 years ago there were no such things as mobile phones and GPS navigation systems. But, as technology changes so do road rules and even touching a mobile phone while driving now could result in penalties While companies may not be liable for tickets issued to their employees, the cost of replacing a staff member who has lost their licence is another one of those hidden costs that doesn’t usually get considered. Ongoing driver training can help to ensure that old habits don’t resurface and reinforce key, positive driver behaviour amongst staff members.

Finally, regardless of economic climate conditions, employers still have a duty to ensure that all staff are trained and are safe in their workplace (which includes vehicles). Drivers are still required to comply with fatigue management legislation and Chain of Responsibility legislation still places responsibilities on drivers, loaders, consignors, receivers and managers. Failing to meet these duties (even through not being aware of them), can carry harsh penalties including fines, imprisonment, or both in many countries and markets.

A DUTY OF CARE Employers have a responsility to ensure their drivers are safe on the road through training.

FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 25

TECHNOLOGY

The road To auTomaTion ITF’s landmark report highlights the risk of the digital age on fleets

26 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

TECHNOLOGY

T

he Managing the transition to driverless road freight transport report produced by the International Truck Forum (ITF) explores how a transition to driverless trucks could happen.

Reduced reliance on humans to move road freight offers many benefits. It also threatens to disrupt the careers and lives of millions of professional truck drivers. Based on different scenarios for the large-scale introduction of automated road freight transport, this study makes recommendations to help governments manage potential disruption and ensure a just transition for affected drivers.

Three leading transport-sector organisations joined the ITF for this project to assess benefits, costs and risks of a transition to driverless trucks. The International Road Transport Union, the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association contributed insights on driverless technology in the road freight sector as well as funds for the research.

Driverless trucks could be a regular presence on many roads within the next ten years. Self-driving trucks already operate in controlled environments like ports or mines, and trials on public roads are under way in many regions including the US and the European Union (EU). Manufacturers are investing heavily into truck-automation technology while many governments are actively reviewing their regulations to understand what changes would be required to allow self-driving vehicles on public roads.

Automated trucks would enable cost savings, lower emissions and safer roads. They could also address the emerging shortage of professional drivers faced by the haulage industry, particularly in Europe. Without driverless trucks, around 6.4 million truck drivers are projected to be needed across Europe and the US by 2030, yet fewer than 5.6 million are projected to be available and willing to work under current conditions. The majority of truckers are in the later stages of their careers, while few women and young men are choosing trucking as a profession.

The adoption of driverless trucks is likely to reduce demand for drivers at a faster rate than a supply shortage would emerge. Of the 6.4 million driver jobs in 2030, between 3.4 and 4.4 million would become redundant if driverless trucks are deployed quickly. Even accounting for prospective truck drivers being progressively dissuaded by the advent of driverless technology, over 2 million drivers across the US and Europe could be directly

WHAT IS AUTOMATED TRUCK DRIVING? Automation of driving tasks means that they are undertaken by computer-based systems rather than a human driver.

The AdaptIVe industry and EU research initiative takes the features approach and has developed a full conceptual framework that describes and names all automation building block features, such as parking assistance, an international association of engineers, developed a framework for describing the overall capabilities of vehicles. The widely accepted SAE framework identifies levels of automation from “no automation” (level 0) to “full automation’ (level 5) based on the extent to which the major functions of the driving task are automated.

Intermediate levels of automation (eg. level 3) may require drivers to take control of the vehicle only very occasionally in the event of an emergency. In such a situation, it is possible that drivers would not tire as quickly as a driver that is undertaking most of the driving tasks. While it is possible that the length of driver shifts could be safely extended, project stakeholders were strongly of the view that the rules governing the length of shifts would not change in response to the availability and adoption of such “conditional automation” systems.

SAE levels 4 and 5 describe fully automated driving. Here a vehicle’s on-board systems can collect and respond to sufficient external information to allow the vehicle to safely operate without human input. The key distinction is that level 5 describes a set of systems that is able to automatically operate the vehicle in any situation.

displaced by 2030 in some of the scenarios examined for this study. Preparing now for potential negative social impacts of job losses will mitigate the risks in case such a rapid transition occurs. While truck drivers are typically flexible, self-reliant and able to concentrate for long periods, their relatively low education level and potential automation in other sectors puts them at a high risk of extended periods of unemployment. Support available to displaced workers in developed economies may prove to be inadequate given the potential speed and scale of job losses.

Active management of the transition will likely be needed to smooth the introduction of driverless technology, avoid excessive hardship for truck drivers, and ensure the gains from the technology are fairly shared across society.

Governments, industry and researchers should continue to advance tests on public roads in designated corridors and areas for trialling vehicles, network technology and communications protocols. This way various technologies are able to be tested without committing to an individual company, standard or technology early in the development process, ensuring that expensive network-wide investments are not wasted or over-specified. This will help ensure societal benefits from automated road freight transport will be maximised.

Harmonisation of rules across countries is critical for maximising the gains from driverless truck technology. Common vehicle standards and operational rules would allow smooth cross-border movements of autonomous trucks and should be put in place at least at a continental level, preferably at the global level.

The proactive approach of many governments to test permits and ad hoc exemptions to road rules allows different approaches to be tested in parallel which can speed up the maturing of the technology. However, such competition entails the risk of insufficient attention on the ultimate goal of harmonisation.

Governments should establish a transition advisory board for the trucking industry to advise on labour issues associated with the introduction of driverless trucks. The board should be temporary and include representatives from labour unions, road freight businesses, vehicle manufacturers and government. It would support the government in choosing the right policy mix to ensure that costs, benefits and risks from automated road haulage are fairly distributed. They also should consider a mechanism to shape the transition to driverless trucks. A permit system would offer influence over the speed of uptake as well as revenue to support displaced FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 27

TECHNOLOGY

drivers. Where economy-wide unemployment support is considered inadequate, additional assistance could come in the form of targeted labour market programmes to try to redeploy drivers. It could also take the form of additional income replacement payments where alternative employment opportunities have also been reduced by automation. The sale of permits to operators experiencing operating cost reductions in relevant markets could be complemented by contributions of all road users who will benefit from improved safety. Careful design of the permit system would ensure that permits are used to manage the labour transition fairly and not as a proxy to limit the free movement of goods.

Industry transition

Adoption of driverless trucks would have profound implications for road freight operations and costs. Though this study does not to seek to provide forecasts of cost savings, some indication is useful to understand the business imperative for the development and adoption of such technology. Furthermore, this looks only at the on-going operating cost savings after transition costs (such as capital purchase and redundancy payments to former drivers).

Though some drivers operate for relatively poor remuneration, labour costs still account for 35 to 45% of the costs in the road haulage sector in Europe. Similarly, in the US, driver wages and benefits account for an estimated 35% of marginal (per mile) costs of freight operations.. Of course, not all of these labour costs would be eliminated by the adoption of driverless operations, as some

The adoption of driverless trucks is likely to reduce demand for drivers at a faster rate than a supply shortage would emerge. of the 6.4 million driver jobs in 2030, between 3.4 and 4.4 million would become redundant if driverless trucks are deployed quickly”

jOINING THE pLATOON Estimates of fuel savings are in the order of 6-10% for partly manually driven platooned truck – and 10%-plus for fully automated platooning.

28 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

driving and non-driving tasks would likely remain. However, even if half of these costs could be avoided through the introduction of driverless trucks to some supply chains, operating costs could be nearly 20% lower.

Furthermore, road freight operators are facing a shortage of suitable drivers in the US and Europe, which puts upward pressure on driver wages and operating costs. This issue is particularly acute in the long-distance segment where long periods away from home and the potential for boredom do not offer an attractive employment proposition.

Fuel efficiency is expected to improve as braking and acceleration commands are optimised (e.g. adaptive cruise control) and improved aerodynamic performance is achieved (platooning). Estimates of the fuel savings for automated functions are in the order of 4 to 10% for automated “eco-driving” of non-platooned trucks and 6 to 10% for partly manually driven platooned trucks. The combined effect of full automation and platooning could exceed 10%, though most of these gains are possible without driverless operations per se.

The number of hours in a day that a human driver can operate a truck is limited by both physiological abilities and government safety regulations. Particularly in long-distance trucking, the constraints on shift lengths mean that vehicles can be sitting idle for a significant proportion of the day (unless operating as a driving team).

The introduction of driverless truck technology would remove this major constraint and potentially enable much more intensive use of the vehicle flee. The extended hours of

COULD THE NEED FOR LABOUR ACTUALLY INCREASE? Trucks operating without a driver could undertake long-distance freight much more quickly without working hour limitations, substantially increasing a truck’s daily range. Together, these would have significant effects on demand, not just for road freight, but potentially for freight overall.

Road freight currently accounts for nearly half of the tonne kilometres undertaken in the EU and US. Road freight’s success in specific market segments over alternative modes like shipping and rail can be more to do with reliability, distance and network reach rather than price and speed.

Nevertheless, an improvement of the scale considered here would mean that other parts of the freight market could be more strongly contested by road, unless competing modes are able to exploit the possibilities of automation to find comparable cost savings.

Significant overall reductions in the cost of freight – and an extended daily range – could lead to the adoption of more transport-intensive production models (e.g. decentralisation and increased specialisation). This increased demand could result in an expansion of demand for labour inputs in the sector. Detailed modelling would be required to understand the net impacts on road freight demand and employment.

The increase in road freight demand spurred by automation in the long-distance segment could result in greater demand for human drivers in urban areas and an increase in off-peak road freight.

TECHNOLOGY

OEMS TESTING TECHNOLOGY There are now dozens of on-highway and closed condition tests underway as the technology nears commercial viability.

operation of vehicles would bring substantial cost savings as a given task could be done with a smaller fleet. The extent of the reduction in fleet would depend on the context but for long-distance tasks a reduction in the order of 50% is plausible. The actual cost savings might be relatively small since the fleet would require more frequent maintenance and replacement, and there may be some incremental costs to equip vehicles with driverless technology.

Perhaps more than 90% of road crashes in Europe and the US are due to human factors.

So there is the ambition and expectation that widespread adoption of automated vehicles would reduce the number of crashes, deaths and injuries on the roads, particularly as some specific crash causes should be eliminated altogether (eg. falling asleep). However, it is very difficult to know what the actual crash performance of automated systems will be since new crash types could emerge, and other new insurance risks may involve serious costs.

In any case, if and when an improved crash (and overall insurable cost) performance of driverless vehicles can be demonstrated to insurance companies, premiums can be expected to significantly decrease. Taken together, ITF’s analysis suggests that a reduction in operating cost from adopting driverless trucks is possible in the order of 30% compared with today’s costs. Morgan Stanley estimates a potential savings to the (overall) US road freight industry of $168 billion annually. Beyond the unit cost reduction, the extension in the daily range of a freight vehicle would significantly improve the delivery times offered by long-distance road freight. This

degree of cost-quality improvement explains industry’s strong interest in the technology, in spite of the many challenges that still remain and the R&D costs required to resolve them.

A wide range of technologies has been introduced into cars and trucks in recent decades. For example, anti-lock braking systems, which are now standard in new cars sold in the EU and US, have been shown to improve on-road stopping distances. In-vehicle navigation units have removed the need for drivers to consult paper maps. Together these and other developments have improved the safety and ease of driving and helped improve the labour productivity for the road freight industry.

More recently, technologies that can further support, and even take over some aspects of, the driving task have been made available. Driver assistance systems currently deployed in new vehicles are capable of monitoring blind spots when changing lanes, automatically manoeuvring a vehicle into a parking space, and adapting speed to a safe distance from the vehicle in front. At the same time, driverless truck systems have been deployed on mine sites in Western Australia and at the Port of Rotterdam. Trucks have also been tested on the interstate highways of Nevada in the US, where the driver is only required to take control of the vehicle in an emergency or when changing lanes.

R&D in the automotive industry is currently directed at technology that can take over even more aspects of the driving task.

Although significant progress is still required before fully driverless operation on the open

Perhaps more than 90% of road crashes in europe and the uS are due to human factors. So there is the ambition and expectation that widespread adoption of automated vehicles would reduce the number of crashes, deaths and injuries on the road”

roads could be deployed, such technology is at least a realistic prospect in coming decades and therefore demands attention. Many studies have explored the complex technological and regulatory issues associated with a wide variety of automated vehicle technologies, especially for private cars. However, fully driverless truck technology is a specific challenge with somewhat unique motivations and impacts. In particular, driverless trucks would have a highly disruptive impact on the lives and careers of current (and future) heavy vehicle drivers.

So there is a clear need for an evidence base and a plan to manage disruptions to people’s lives and livelihoods if and when driverless trucks are taken up. As trucking roles evolve, it will also be important that the industry can equip its people with the right skills.

Further, restrictions on the time a driver can drive for over a given day or week limit the speed and reach of long-distance road freight, where individual drivers are allocated to each truck. At the same time, road freight operators can struggle to attract drivers to undertake such long-distance trips. Clearly the possibility of dramatically reducing labour input costs and relaxing the driving-time constraints on vehicle productivity would be of great interest to road freight businesses and their ultimate customers. More broadly, driverless truck technology offers the possibility for improved safety, fuel efficiency, asset utilisation and environmental performance. However, the timing and regulatory acceptance of driverless truck technology is still highly uncertain.

The full report is available for free and can be read at: www.itf-oecd.org FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 29

WORKsHOP

LiqUi MOLY sALE / MAGnA tYREs BRinGs PRODUctiOn BAcK / nEW sALEs DiREctOR FOR BRiDGEstOnE / VALEO OPEns REGiOnAL OFFicE

workshop

Würth Group completes purchase of Liqui Moly ERnst PROst tO stAY On As LiqUi MOLY cEO DEsPitE tAKEOVER LUBRicAnts Ernst Prost says that the sale of his shares in Liqui Moly to the Würth Group means that the future of the lubricants and engine oils manufacturer is now secure.

Effective 1 January, Prost sold all of his shares to Würth but remains as cEO to guide a company he described as fit and healthy. Prior to the announcement of the sale, Prost said in December that Liqui Moly was on track to exceed $600 million in sales with a stronger performance registered in the Russian and chinese markets. “i have hereby secured the future of Liqui Moly for a time when i may no longer be at the helm myself,” said Ernst Prost. “i wanted to make provisions

with a minimum of fuss, when things are going well and we don’t have to decide under difficult circumstances.”

Liqui Moly and the Würth Group have worked closely for 20 years, with the wholesaler acting as a silent partner, added Prost; describing the relationship as a “safeguard against uncertainties even back then.”

With more than 70,000 employees and $15 billion in sales, Würth Group is considerably larger than its acquisition but Prost said he was happy to sell to the family-owned business. He added that Liqui Moly will remain an independent company and does not expect to lose jobs: “those who know me know that my employees are my focus. After all, it would be foolish to change anything about the road to success over the past few years.”

MAGnA tYREs cELEBRAtEs BRinGinG BAcK “MADE in HOLLAnD” tYREs tYREs

Magna Tyres Group is hoping to prove that tyre production based in the Netherlands can be economical with the re-opening of its OBO Tyres factory in Hardenberg.

During a ‘Grand Reopening’ event hosted on 11 January, Michael de Ruijter, CEO Magna Tyres Group, unveiled the first Magna ‘Made in Holland’ production to applause from the gathered audience.

“This is a huge development and an important milestone,” noted de Ruijter.

“People may wonder, is it economically viable to produce new tyres in the Netherlands?” added Peter Schrijver, General Manager of OBO Tyres. “The answer will not surprise you as you witnessed the start of the European production. Our efficiency, lower transport costs and lower import duties make it very cost-effective to produce locally and to invest in more production capacity. From now on Magna MA02, M-Terrain and AG24 are available as a made in Holland product and we are very proud on this achievement.”

insiDE tHis MOntH’s WORKsHOP READ tHE ViEWs OF HYUnDAi’s MiKE sOnG On tHE FUtURE OF tEcHnOLOGY, WHAt DELiVERY BiKERs WAnt, AnD MORE 30 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

WORKsHOP

VALEO OPEns REGiOnAL OFFicE in DUBAi

Bridgestone names new mea sales director tYREs

Bridgestone has appointed Stefano Sanchini as its new sales director for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. A statement from Bridgestone said that hewill help spearhead the organisation’s continued growth across the region and will manage the sales activities for Bridgestone’s MEA branches, Commercial Channel Development, Technical Services and Retail divisions.

“The MEA presents a unique set of opportunities,” said Sanchini. “A combination of tough road conditions and a passion for driving has seen high demand for commercial and high-performance tyres, along with convenient, affordable maintenance. With this at the top of (our) mind, expanding networks of First Stop service centres is currently being rolled out. My goal is to make sure our branches and partners can satisfy the growing demand for quality tyres.”

sYstEMs Automotive technology company and supplier, Valeo, has established its presence in the region with a new regional office which it opened recently in Dubai. The office will serve the entire Middle East as well as the wider region, with more than 14 countries in its scope. Apart from the UAE, these are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Iraq, said the company in a statement.

The Dubai office was opened in a ceremony that saw Eric Schuler, Valeo service president; Burak Akin, regional director; and Erdem Carkci, general manager, Commercial Division, welcome 20 customers and partners and share

their vision of a long-term partnership. The executives felt that this new office is the best way for Valeo Service Middle East to closely support its operations in the region and bring added value on key product lines such as transmission systems, braking, engine cooling, lighting and signalling, air-conditioning, wiping, engine management and electrical systems. Valeo said its wide product portfolio is reinforced with specific services – such as the Valeo Connected Assistance, which is part of the Valeo Tech’Care programme, and the MyValeoParts part finder application – to ease the business of automotive professionals. Valeo generated sales of $19.5bn last year and invested over 11% of its OE sales in R&D, said the statement.

stAR cEMEnt sWitcHEs tO HiGH-stREnGtH stEAL MAtERiALs

Star Cement, a major premium cement manufacturer and ownber of a clinkerisation unit in Ras-al-Khaimah says it has experienced a significant turnaround in its machinery downtime and increased output after switching from mild steel to SSAB’s Hardox Wear Plate steel grades. Hardox Wear Plate is a flagship product of the Swedish steel

giant SSAB, recognized globally for its strength, durability and ease of use.

“Mild steel, that we were using earlier, hardly gives us a life of 2-3 months. At our factory we are targeting 330 days of running each year (which is very high compared to market standards!). And Hardox Wear Plate is helping us achieve that target. If we use a normal steel plate, it will breakdown in

two to three months, and then we have to take an intermediate stoppage, replace it or repair it etc. Since we switched to Hardox Wear Plate, we have been consistently running for 330 – 331 days over the last four to five years, because of its low wear and tear, ” said Velayuthan, general manager, Star Cement.

He further credited Hardox Wear Plate to be partly responsible

for Star Cement’s capacity increase from 6,800t per day to 8,300t per day, without any major modification.

“The fact that we are able to survive this capacity increase means Hardox Wear Plate is also playing a role in it.

With Hardox Wear Plate supporting us in some of the key areas, we are able to push the machine to the extreme and still survive the situation”, he added.

Since maintenance expenses are one of the largest cost centers (around 25%) for cement plants, machinery and equipment play a very central role in cement and clinker production. Breakdowns and stoppages can be costly affairs, not just for the investment involved in replacing or repairing parts, but more-so because of the negative impact on output due to downtime. Hence quality of steel used in manufacturing these machines becomes critical to saving time, and maintaining or increasing output.”

FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 31

ROAD SAFETY

WhAT ridErs rEAlly WAnT

T

Only half of delivery customers worry about their motorcycle riders, says RoadSafetyUAE

owards the end of 2017, RoadSafetyUAE and Al-Futtaim Honda joined forces to conduct a pioneering study to understand the road safety perceptions of motorcycle delivery riders in the UAE. The results from which were presented at the ‘firstever’ UAE Motorcycle Delivery Fleet Event in November 2017, an event jointly organised

by RoadSafetyUAE and Al-Futtaim Honda.

“We want to raise awareness for this topic via this pioneering delivery rider perception survey,” explained Thomas Edelmann, managing director of RoadSafetyUAE. Alongside RoadSafetyUAE and Al Futtiam Honda at the delivery rider fleet event was a collection of major delivery

32 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

fleet operators and other stakeholders who listened to presentations by Dubai Police, RTA, Deliveroo, UPS, Dubai Driving Center, MiX Telematics, Osram as well as RoadSafetyUAE. Four prominent UAE motorcycle fleets participated in the survey and a total of 222 riders populated the questionnaires to date but this is only the start. All UAE fleet operators are being invited to download the questionnaires and get their riders to participate, commented Edelmann. This will help to benchmark their results against the average and to address improvement potentials. (The questionnaires can still be downloaded for free at www. roadsafetyuae.com/motorcycle).

Edelmann explained that the

There is just no steel around them to protect them and we see a growing number of riders on UAE’s roads”

survey looks at five different aspects and dimensions of being a motorcycle delivery driver in the UAE. These include: the behaviour of other motorists; their own behaviour; the perception of customers; bike safety; and Training.

Scanning the results so far makes for compelling and slightly disturbing reading when considering how vulnerable these road users are. For example only 51% of delivery riders believe that their end customers are concerned for their safety but at the same time 98% of them expect the delivery to be on time. The relationship with other road users is even more fraught with almost a fifth of riders revealing they had been in an accident in the last 12 months. 78% of them also stated that other vehicles on the road do not indicate

ROAD SAFETY

IMPORTANT FINDINGS Motorcycle delivery riders’ perception regarding the behaviour of other motorists:

78% 77% 68% Cars and other vehicles

Cars and other vehicles often

Cars and other vehicles are

often don’t INDICATE

CUT in front or behind me

often INCONSIDERATE to me

Motorcycle delivery riders’ perception regarding their own behaviour:

94% 92% 19% I know exactly what MY

I think I am a

I have been in an

COMPANY EXPECTS

SAFE DRIVER

ACCIDENT wIThIN ThE

FROM ME for my safe driving

lAST 12 MONThS

Motorcycle delivery riders’ perception regarding the attitude of customers:

57% 51% 98% I think customers

I think customers are

I think customers

UNDERSTAND if we are

CONCERNED about our

expect to AlwAYS

running a bit lATE

safety

DElIVER ON TIME

Motorcycle delivery riders’ perception regarding their equipment:

87% 71% 69% I am happy with the

I am happy with the

I am happy with the

QUAlITY of my bike

MAINTENANCE of my bike

PROTECTIVE GEAR

Motorcycle delivery riders’ perception regarding their training

91%

86%

I am happy with the amount of initial training

I am happy with the amount of ONGOING

I received when I JOINED my company

training I receive from my company

making it difficult for them to anticipate changes in lane and direction. Likewise, 77% of deliver riders claim that other drivers often cut in front or behind them/ Edelmann said that the findings of the survey helps to get a clearer understanding of the risks that motorcycle delivery riders are being asked to take.

“Motorcycle riders are amongst the most vulnerable road users and hence it is important to understand their perceptions and fears in order to work on improvement potentials. There is just no steel around them to protect them and we see a growing number of motorcycle delivery riders on UAE’s roads,” explained Edelmann.

He continued: “Some of the results provide a clear ‘call to action’! Educational efforts must be directed at motorists in cars and heavy vehicles to show a respectful and caring attitude towards delivery riders. Another pressing issue is to educate customers by raising their awareness and to create a caring attitude for rider safety. Safety must be the number one concern, also for customers awaiting their food or other deliverables.

“We found the riders perceptions quite shocking as they state: ‘Only 51%: I think customers are concerned about our safety’. Last but not least, the riders’ awareness for safe conduct among themselves must be raised, as 56% state ‘Sometimes OTHER MOTORCYCLE delivery riders ride recklessly and endanger me’. These and other findings of our survey are truly insightful.”

Edelmann said that the survey is being left open to fleets as RoadSafetyUAE and Al Futtaim prepare additional initiatives, “taking on board the findings of this survey.

We invite all UAE delivery fleets to take part in the survey, for their own benefit.”

Fardeen Sara, General Manager at AlFuttaim Honda described the progress made - so far - as a first step in providing greater protection for riders. Sara says it is essential that others come and join the initiative.

“We believe it will serve as a platform for industry players to come together and learn from each other to create a safer driving experience,” said Sara. “We want to show corporate responsibility in cooperating with RoadSafetyUAE on the topic of motorcycles. We have strong ties to UAE’s big fleet operators and the governmental segment and we strongly believe in establishing a platform to network and learn from each other. All these efforts aim at increasing rider safety.”

FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 33

TECHNOLOGY

The nexT sTep Hyundai’s Mike Song argues that 2018 will be the year of electrification

T

he use of driverless technology in mainstream models and an accelerating move towards electrified drivetrains will be two top trends for new car showrooms in 2018, says Hyundai’s Africa and Middle East chief.

Mike Song, Hyundai’s Head of Operations says autonomous technology is already a feature of new model launches from the brand, in many cases fitted as standard on the newest models. That technology is being used to assist the driver, rather than to take over completely, such as with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assistance. However, that is about to change, and 2018 will see driverless technology take a significant step forward.

“What we have now is called Level 1 autonomy, where the car and the driver share control,” says Song. “For example, the car uses adaptive cruise control to manage the brakes and accelerator on its own, but the driver steers. It’s called ‘hands on’ autonomy.

“In 2018, we will see this shift to Level 2 autonomy. This is so-called ‘hands off’ autonomy, where automated systems take complete control of the car, including accelerating, braking and steering. Drivers

34 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

will still need to pay attention at all times and be ready to take over, but the car will safely handle a wide range of situations without any driver input.”

Hyundai will introduce Level 2 autonomy during 2018 with its Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA2) system, which aims to minimize intervention by drivers.

HDA2 will control speed and stay in lane in highway driving conditions, as well as well as changing to a crossroad, entering a junction, and merging onto a main road automatically, although drivers will need to signal their intentions by using their indicators. The technology incorporated into HDA2 is very close to Level 3 autonomy, which will allow drivers to safely turn their attention away from driving tasks in a limited range of traffic situations.

Song also predicts a clear move to electrified drivetrains in several markets within the region, with Hyundai firmly committed to the transition to renewable energy.

“In some markets, particularly in Europe, we are already seeing electric vehicles starting to take a noticeable slice of the market, and they are very close to becoming a mainstream choice,” adds Song. “In the Middle East and Africa, we are sitting further back on this wave,

In the Middle East and Africa, we are sitting further back on this wave, but the momentum is building”

but the momentum is building. Very importantly, electric cars are being seen as fashionable and desirable.

That change in perception is almost as important as the improvements in technology, because self-image is such a big part of car purchasing decisions.”

A shift to electric power is now seen as a certainty by most carmakers, with a growing number of countries now setting an end-date for the sale of new fossil-fuel powered cars in their markets.

Hyundai’s current strategy is to expand its line-up of electric vehicles to 38 models by 2025, encompassing a range of battery, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

Internationally, it already offers a hybrid version of the Sonata, and it was the first company to introduce a production fuel cell vehicle with the Tucson FCEV. Versions of the alternative driveline vehicles IONIQ are also available in select markets in the region.

“We are all moving towards the same destination but different markets will take a different path to get there,” concludes Song. “Hyundai is taking a very flexible, very pragmatic approach to the transition, and we intend to be a leader of change in this region.”

Bringing the latest

construction news from across the GCC

www.meconstructionnews.com

EVENT PREVIEW

A ChANgiNg KiNgdom The organisers of Automechanika Riyadh feel positive as driving laws change in KSA

W

omen drivers accelerate demand for Kingdom’s aftermarket as more than 150 exhibitors countdown to the inaugural event this month.

The expected influx of Saudi drivers from 2018 will have a significant impact on the auto parts, maintenance and services industry, with manufacturers and suppliers advised to stake their claim early in a market full of new opportunities, the chief of the Kingdom’s only dedicated aftermarket trade show said.

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, co-organiser of Automechanika Riyadh 2018, said Saudi’s decision to allow women to drive from June 2018, along with other recent economic initiatives, bodes well for many industries, however the Kingdom’s automotive aftermarket is among those that could benefit the most.

“Saudi already has more than seven million passenger vehicles in operation, and

this will increase significantly in the coming years, with potentially nine million new drivers added to the roads,” said Pauwels.

“Automakers will be the first to benefit, along with banks and insurance companies that finance and underwrite new car purchases, however the aftermarket comes next, when these millions of additional cars require regular repair and maintenance, replacement parts, tyres, batteries, accessories, car care and grooming.”

Pauwels comments come ahead of the inaugural edition of Automechanika Riyadh, the largest dedicated trade show for Saudi’s aftermarket in the Kingdom’s Eastern and Central regions.

The biennial three-day event takes place from 5-7 February, 2018 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, and will feature more than 150 exhibitors from 20 countries.

“Revenues for Saudi’s aftermarket, including tyres, batteries, lubricants, and other engine components and accessories,

65% of the Kingdom’s women plan to apply for a driving license as soon as the law allows it, while around 85% of the women set to take the wheel are planning to buy cars”

was worth more than US$6.7 billion in 2016, so it’s already a significant market, and the largest in the Middle East,” added Pauwels.

“Earlier predictions had slated the market to be worth $8.9 billion by 2021, however with this new decree, it will likely be much higher. The key now for aftermarket players is to reinforce their existing presence if they already have one in the Kingdom to capitalise on the latent opportunities. Or for those that don’t have a presence, the time is right to establish new partnerships and networks.”

The strong global and regional presence of exhibitors at Automechanika Riyadh 2018 will be looking to do just that, spearheaded by the show’s Launch Partners O2Proformance, and Samir Odeh Group, which specialises in the distribution of Original Equipment Manufacturer parts from Europe.

O2Proformance, a provider of auto care products and accessories, will launch, among many new offerings, its Italian-made Ceccato automatic car wash machine, as well as a ‘cosmetic line’ of car care products, FEBRUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 37

EVENT PREVIEW

BooST To SAlES Saudi Arabia already has more than seven million passenger vehicles in operation, and this will increase significantly in the coming years with the relaxation in rules.

FRom JEddAh To RIYAdh

also by Italian manufacturer Mafra.

Ahmed Al Hussaini, the Managing Director for the Gulf region at O2Proformance, said: “The Ceccato automatic car wash is a profitable alternative to the old manual system. In a market that is quickly changing such as Saudi, investing in an automatic system will be profitable for the entrepreneur both in terms of costs and profit.

“Another feature to consider is that thanks to the hybrid system from Ceccato in combination with Mafra chemicals we can provide a system that washes properly without causing any damage to the car paint.”

Al Hussaini said the Saudi aftermarket will also change and grow as a result of an entirely new demographic being added to its roads, adding: “It’s an exciting time for the Kingdom, and we’re sure that many women will take care of their cars. Considering our huge product range specific for car care by Mafra and Labocosmetica, which offer a ‘cosmetic line’ of products for cars, we’ll cater to all their needs.”

Other headline exhibitors at Automechanika Riyadh 2018 include Dubaibased Mineral Circles Bearings (MCB), Japan Toyomoto, American headquartered Donaldson, ZF Services from Germany, and Spanish company Blinker. The inaugural event will also feature country pavilions from Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and China.

Hadi Al-Harith, CEO of Automechanika Riyadh’s co-organiser, Ace Group, said: “It gives us great pleasure to continue our association with Messe Frankfurt Middle East and extend the reach of the Automechanika brand into Saudi’s Central and Eastern regions.

“Saudi’s decision to allow women to take to the wheel in the Kingdom is 38 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

Automakers will be the first to benefit, along with banks and insurance companies, however the aftermarket comes next”

certainly good news for aftermarket stakeholders, and will add to the buzz on Automechanika Riyadh’s show floor when its doors finally open in February 2018.

“Women comprise about 45% of the total Saudi population and nearly ten million of them are between the ages of 15 and 64. Additionally, around 65% of the Kingdom’s women plan to apply for a driving license as soon as the law allows it, while around 85% of the women set to take the wheel are planning to buy cars.”

“The resulting growth in vehicle sales is expected to have a ripple effect on the aftermarket, with significant impact on demand for parts and services, procurement, repair and maintenance – the latest of which will be on show at Automechanika Riyadh 2018,” added Al-Harith.

Automechanika Riyadh 2018 is expected to attract more than 4,000 Saudi trade visitors, as they seek solutions across seven product groups of Parts & Components, Electronics & Systems, Accessories & Customizing, Repair & Maintenance, Dealer & Workshop Management, Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning, and Tyres & Batteries.

The Riyadh event is the 17th global instalment of Automechanika, the world’s most successful automotive aftermarket trade fair brand. It will alternate between the Messe Frankfurt-organised Automechanika Jeddah, which will next take place in February 2019.

The inaugural show will also feature the Truck Competence initiative, where more than half of the exhibitors will showcase their products dedicated to the entire value chain in the truck sector, from truck parts and accessories, to workshop equipment, body repair and care.

More information is available at: www.automechanikariyadh.com.

WhEEl mARKET gRoWTh The growth in sales is expected to have a ripple effect on the aftermarket predicts the organisers.

1439 ‫ ﺟﻤﺎدى اﻟﺜﺎﻧﻲ‬20 - 17 5 – 8 March 2018

Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events

SAUDI ARABIA'S PREMIER CONSTRUCTION EVENT

SOURCE

new products from over 400 exhibitors

TEST

latest development in the construction industry

WATCH

live product demonstrations

LEARN

from 54 certified workshops

NETWORK

with peers from the construction industry

REGISTER TO ATTEND FOR FREE register.thebig5saudi.com Gold Sponsor:

Host Venue:

Supported by:

NOTE: Admission is free for trade and industry professionals. Visitors under age 18 will not be permitted.

Organised by:

Find us on

License Number - 17/7687

PARTING SHOT

ROVER RETURNS Land Rover explains why it is restoring one of its first models

L

and Rover is marking its 70th anniversary in 2018, beginning with the restoration of the vehicle that started it all – one of the three pre-production Land Rovers shown at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show launch. This gave the world its first glimpse of the shape that would become instantly recognisable as a Land Rover.

For years the whereabouts of this launch Land Rover was a mystery. The demonstration vehicle from the Amsterdam show was last on the road in the 1960s, after which it spent 20 years in a Welsh field before being bought as a restoration project; it then lay languishing unfinished in a garden.

Following its surprise discovery just a few miles outside of Solihull, UK – where the car was first built

– the experts at Jaguar Land Rover Classic spent months researching in company archives to unravel its ownership history and confirm its provenance.

The team behind the successful Land Rover Series I Reborn programme, which allows customers to own a slice of Land Rover history with meticulously restored Series Is, will now embark on their most challenging project yet: a year-long mission to preserve this historically significant prototype and enable it to be driven again.

“This Land Rover is an irreplaceable piece of world automotive history and is as historically important as ‘Huey’, the first pre-production Land Rover,” explained Tim Hannig, Jaguar Land Rover Classic director. “Beginning its sympathetic restoration here at Classic Works is a fitting way to start Land Rover’s 70th anniversary year.

He continued: “There is something charming about the fact that exactly 70 years ago this vehicle would have been undergoing its final adjustments before being prepared for the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show launch.”

The Jaguar Land Rover Classic team will follow a dedicated process to restore the launch vehicle, which has a lot of special features that are unique to the 48 pre-production Land Rovers that were produced prior to the mass production vehicles, such as thicker aluminium alloy body panels, a galvanised chassis and a removable rear tub.

The patina of its components will be preserved, including the original Light Green paint applied in 1948. Previous owners are being invited to Jaguar Land Rover’s Classic Works facility to share their experiences and to witness its loving restoration.

A LOvING RESTORATION This Land Rover is an irreplaceable piece of world automotive history and is as historically important as ‘Huey’, the first pre-production Land Rover.

NEXT ISSUE: SPEcIAL INTERvIEw wITH THE FIRST FLEET TO OwN THE TESLA SEmI IN THE REGION, A mAjOR LOGISTIcS INTERvIEw, NETwORS AND mUcH mORE!

40 TRUCK&FLEET ME FEBRUARY 2018

MAN GENUINE PARTS. SPECIAL OFFERS.

MAN Trucks and Buses need MAN Genuine Parts – nothing else will do. The quality of MAN Genuine Parts always pays off – after all, reliability and safety are the foundation of efficiency in vehicle use and ensure a sustainable reduction in the total cost of ownership.

Benefit from a substantial price saving for MAN Genuine Parts. Maximum benefits and minimized costs make it worthwhile to shop now. Seize the opportunit. www.parts-me.man

SHOWING PROFITS Dynafleet* is Volvo Trucks online Transport Information System for improved profitability for your entire fleet. You can follow, in real time, via satellite, the current location of your vehicles, service intervals, fuel consumption, driver performance and much more. *Available in selected markets only

DYNAFLEET