Standard body plan for MAN
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by Bryan Jarvis
MAN plans to appoint two or possibly three major bodybuilders as its main suppliers of standard curtainsider, boxvan, temperature-controlled and tipper bodywork.
It forecasts vehicle sales of around 3,000 for next year, with 60% in the 7.5-18-tonne class.
More than 80% of MAN rigids are ordered in no more than a dozen chassis lengths, and as most MAN operators specify standard 61m and 7.9m (20ft and 26ft) bodies, this allows the company to exercise greater control over the product.
Sales director Des Evans says the appointees, all wellknown bodybuilders with their own UK R&M networks, will be chosen from a select group of about 20 firms, The nod will also be given to major suppliers of tail-lifts, tip gear and reefer units, also with their own networks of service agents.
Once this system has been set up, MAN will set about branding almost the whole vehicle. Evans explains: "Our chassis will go direct from the factory to the bodybuilder and then become available as a fully equipped truck, in many cases off the shelf in under three weeks, not the present three months."
He also expects this system to reduce whole-life costs, enhance residual values and reduce the number of breakdowns attributed to non-chassis problems. These are currently running at over 50%, but as Evans says: "When truck equipment fails everyone blames the badge on the front. This way we will have greater control over the entire vehicle."