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U A 8x8-with a nine-tonne payload.
Page 26
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S An 8x8 with a 15-tonne payload.
Within the S2000 range, there are also further options for fuel tankers and recovery versions. The potential for S2000 is big as DaimlerChrysler :5 bidding to win the current UK Ministry of Defence truck replacement programme order for the British Army. Chris Wright of Mercedes-Benz UK Defence team reckons that "most likely were talking about a maximum of 8,500 vehicles, of all types including 4x4s, which represents .£1.6bn".
Behind schedule
According to Wright, it's the largest single purchase in the UK for a decade. "Each truck contract will have a 20-year 'through-life' support element. Over a 10-year acquisition period, you're looking at about 1,000 trucks per year worth 12700m."
Not surprisingly DaimlerChrysler and Mayflower are not alone in their desire to win the contract—other contenders include MAN, Stewart & Stephenson/Multidrive, and OshKosh. Late last year, somewhat surprisingly, Leyland Trucks withdrew its hat from the ring after previously expressing a strong desire to compete for the contract.
So far, the Army truck contract is running some 19 months behind schedule, not least having been delayed by PFI negotiations before going back into the procurement process. However, a decision is expected by the third quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, DaimlerChrysler UK's chances certainly won't have been hurt by the fact it already looks to have an S2000 buyer lined up. Along with its partner RABA, DaimlerChrysler has been named 'preferred bidder' for a Hungarian MoD order for 8,000 off-road vehicles, of which 2,000 are 4x4s and 6x6s.
Were it to win the British Army contract, the most likely scenario would be that the jointly-developed S2000 cab would be assembled in the UK by Mayflower. It would then be mated to a chassis and driveline supplied from Germany and a body from King Vehicle Engineering. In other words, we're talking about UK final assembly. "That would cement the UK content relationship," confirms Harding. "The cab would come here [to Mayflower's Coventry plant]. It will only be tooled once."
Local production
Such a move would clearly enhance DaimlerChryslers chances in the same way as Oshkosh has promised to set up a 'local' production facility in Wales if it were to win the contract. "For every pound spent by the MoD, DaimlerChrysler is prepared to spend a pound in the UK," adds Wright.
DaimlerChrysler isn't just looking at military business with S2000. "It's going to be part of an off-the-shelf product range." insists Wright. "While the mar ketplace clearly includes a number of defence departments, there's also an opportunity to sell it for civilian use. DaimlerChrysler is reorganising its Special Vehicles Group so the S2000 will ultimately join Unimog and its Econic range."
In particular, there's plenty of potential for a Mayflowerengineered bonneted cab in South America, where Daimler Chrysler has a major production facility in Brazil. A range of light, non-HG Vs is just one of the areas being examined by both DaimlerChrysler and Mayflower at the moment. "We could provide the bespoke cab design and manufacturing up to the end tooling and actively support DaimlerChrysler in Brazil: says Harding, "Our centre of excellence is here in Coventry, but we can locate the actual engineering side anywhere in the world."
By its own admission, the UK market has changed and Mayflower (née Motor Panels) has had to change and adapt with it. In November, Mayflower is planning to open a new press facility at Coventry as part of a two-stage development project.
While the majority of Mayflower's European activity remains car-orientated, it has major truck cab operations in the US supplying complete cabs and components for just about every major Class 8 (heavy) truck manufacturer including Mack, Freightliner and Stirling.
However, with S2000, Mayflower looks poised to put on weight again in Europe. "We want to get back into truck engineering projects," says Harding unequivocally.