https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Croner heavy commercial vehicles to be assembled in Rosslyn

30th June 2017

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

Font size: - +

UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA) has launched its new Croner heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) range, named after Chronos, the god of time in Greek mythology.

Featuring 13 variants, the new product range offers up to 21 configurations.

The range will be assembled from semi-knockdown (SKD) kits at the company’s plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, and will be introduced onto other markets in the region during the next year.

The SKD kits for assembly will be imported from Thailand, similar to the Quester extra-heavy truck range.

This means only the Quon extra-heavy truck is still sourced from Japan, as UD Trucks continues to develop the Thai plant as a supply source for developing markets.

South Africa remains the Japanese truck- maker’s biggest market outside Japan. The company is active in more than 60 countries.

UD Trucks became a part of the Volvo Group in 2007.

“We are excited to see the Croner in our region,” says UDTSA MD Gert Swanepoel.

He says the HCV market in South Africa dropped from 6 719 units in 2015 to 5 556 units in 2016, adding, however, that the general growth trend in the last few years has been positive.

Volvo Group Trucks Asia Sales president Jacques Michel says the Croner is one of UD Trucks’s “most fuel-efficient trucks ever, thanks to the new GHE engine series, automatic transmission, a built-in fuel coach and a more aerodynamic cab”.

Durability testing was conducted over an equivalent of three-million kilometres. In addition, 1.4-million kilometres of field tests within actual customer operations were carried out across six countries and three continents over a period of 18 months, including South Africa.

The Croner range features three gross vehicle mass (GVM) models from 9.5 t to 17 t.

The MKE is a compact-sized HCV truck optimised for urban use, with better manoeuvrability for narrow roads and city deliveries. The GH5E Euro 3 engine produces 136 kW and 157 kW of power, depending on the configuration.

It is available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, and features a 2.1 m day cab.

The 12 t to 14 t GVM LKE is a multipurpose model targeting largely in-city and city-to-city distribution. It features a 2.1 m day cab.

This class of vehicle’s GH5E engine produces 157 kW of power, and is also available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

The 15 t to 17 t GVM PKE is for medium to heavy-duty use, with an engine made for regional, long haul and heavier loads, and features a 2.3 m sleeper cab.

The six-cylinder GH8E engine delivers 186 kW or 209 kW of power, depending on the configuration.

This model is available with a choice of either a nine-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

The entire range of wheelbase variants can be configured to suit operators’ specific needs, with flexibility in everything from GVM and wheelbase choices to cab, driveline, axle and suspension.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

Showroom

Actom image
Actom

Your one-stop global energy-solution partner

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.08 0.135s - 158pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now