MAN and Sinotruk have unveiled a new joint truck brand for China and other growth markets in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Known internationally as SITRAK, the truck brand will be marketed under the Chinese name Shandeka in the home market of China. With three stylized ginkgo leaves, which symbolize endurance and vitality in Asia and act as the logo, the brand name stands for the good partnership between MAN and Sinotruk.
While sales in China will be exclusively via Sinotruk, export markets will be served by the existing sales networks of MAN and Sinotruk. MAN will also participate in the sales in China as a result of its direct interest in Sinotruk. The companies expect yearly sales to total 200,000 trucks by 2018, of which 160,000 are for the Chinese market.
Sinotruk and MAN showcased the new brand’s first product, the SITRAK T7H, at their joint trade fair stand in Shanghai. The heavy-duty T7H truck combines Sinotruk’s components and MAN technology. The T7H is due to go into production at the Jinan site in China in December next. Chinese customers will already be able to order the new truck in the first six months of 2012, while sale for export is slated for the second half of 2012.
Sinotruk and MAN are co-operating on two levels: provision of capital and transfer of technology and management expertise. MAN invested Euro 560 million in Sinotruk in 2009 and has a direct interest in the Chinese manufacturer with a 25 per cent stake plus one share. The transfer of technology and management expertise is based on a contract signed by both partners regarding the granting of technology licences.
MAN went into partnership with the Heavy Duty Truck Corporation (today Sinotruk) way back in 1983 for the construction and licensing of Steyr trucks. Sinotruk and MAN are thus united by a long history of working together. Trust is the very backbone of this co-operation.
“In just a short period of time, Sinotruk and MAN have developed a new truck brand, which we present to you together today at the Shanghai Auto Show. This day is a milestone for Sinotruk, since SITRAK will now enable us to offer our customers a Chinese truck with state-of-the-art technology,” said Chunji Ma, Supervisory Board Chairman of Sinotruk.
MAN CEO Dr. Georg Pachta-Reyhofen said: “With SITRAK, we are adding a key element to our BRIC strategy. This heavy truck that is ‘made in China’ complements MAN’s product and brand portfolio perfectly. Thanks to the excellent partnership with Sinotruk, we are able to take another important step in MAN’s global expansion today.”
Sinotruk is one of the largest truck manufacturers worldwide and is one of the few producers in China that can look back on a 50-year history. Sinotruk is considered a heavy truck specialist, especially in China, but has significantly expanded its activities in recent years to include light commercial vehicles and construction vehicles. In 2010 the CNHTC Group generated revenue of Euro 8.05 billion. It also sold around 200,000 trucks, 60 per cent more than in the previous year.
MAN Truck & Bus AG, headquartered in Munich, is the largest company of the MAN Group and a leading international supplier of efficient commercial vehicles and innovative transport solutions. In fiscal 2010 the enterprise, with around 31,000 employees, posted sales of more than 55,000 trucks and over 5,400 buses and bus chassis of the MAN and NEOPLAN brands worth 7.4 billion euros.
