Mack eyes Euromarket
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Mack. the American truckmaking giant part-owned by Renault, could soon be turning its attention to the European market.
A spokesman at the company's Allentown, Pennyslvania, headquarters, says that although the idea of a "Europeanised" model is "still at the kicking around stage" the proposal will be put to new president Ralph Reins at the earliest opportunity. According to the spokesman, the company has been exploring the possibility: "In fact, we've been working on it all the time," he says.
The proposals include a "European standard" Wabco brake system and "hybrid" 24volt electrics. These are the only major modifications needed for Europe.
Whether models will continue to be built in the US. or made under licence in Europe, and whether a right-hand-drive version will be included remains unclear.
Macks are built under licence in Venezuela and — as right-hand-drive models in Australia, but the cost of shipping Australian trucks to the UK is prohibitive.
Mack in Europe has a European parts centre (as well as a local distributor) in Belgium, but users are almost exclusively in heavy and ultra longdistance haulage.
Engine torque in the US is greater than in European models, so transmissions have to cope and may last for over a million miles7 Mack, like other US manufacturers, uses very light, very strong — but expensive — high-tensile steel for its chassis. The American three-axle cabovers, far from being "monsters", weigh about the same as many European twoaxle machines.
The price differential between American trucks and similar-specification European models has narrowed dramatically, according to Western Truck of Preston, the now independent UK Mack distributor. Western also runs a parts distribution service for other US makes.
Western is the sole official UK importer for Mack and expects to import between 40 and 45 of the relatively new Ultra-Liner cabover tractive units into this country during the next year. Director Rick Roberton says: "Frankly, there was a horrendous price difference with the old Inter-Stater — but now the European competition has caught up. Where a new Ultra-Liner costs £55,000, comparable European machinery is getting close, at around £50,000."
Two versions of the Mack MH613 Ultra-Liner cabover (CM 11-17 August 1988) are available in the UK, with a choice of 261kW (350hp) and 373kW (500hp) engines.