Although there have been no “leaked” images of the new Scania, there has been a lot of excitement and interest build up for the launch of the Next Generation Scania. Asian Trucker went to the IAA in Hannover and Scania’s headquarter to learn more about this vehicle and the package around it.

Here is the good news: the new Scania was worth the wait. And the bad: It won’t be available in South East Asia for some time as the Swedish brand is currently busy rolling the truck, and equally important services and applications, out in Europe. Asian Trucker secured an exclusive slot to drive the truck and to get updates from Scania’s management on their strategies and future plans.

Clearly happy about the response and feedback for the new truck, of which there were four parked in the Scania booth, Levin takes the time to talk about other milestones that the company has achieved and in their sights. “For one, we are back in the Top 3 of truck makers here in Europe. This, I would say is a job done although we will not rest on these laurels. However, it is a clear indication that we are on track with our offerings,” he told us.

Briefly touching on the possibilities offered with the new Scania truck, Levin highlights that the truck is highly customisable with some one million variations and an incredible one billion variations with the new truck. A true Lego system, a modular one, there might never be a case where two trucks are absolutely identical.

Positive Outlook
While the orders for Europe are to hold the position among the Top 3, the growth will come from the Middle East, and Latin America. “There we still have a few markets we have to go in and make our presence felt.” However, Levin said that “Of course, Asia is where will see significant growth.” According to him, this will be an interesting scenario as the total number of trucks sold in many markets is shrinking, while Scania is managing to increase sales (As reported in Asian Trucker). “If your market share is less than one percent, then there is technically only one way: up”. While being confident, Levin however cautioned that it also takes service and dedicated people to make this happen. In many markets, such as Thailand, Scania typically enters with their buses, which pave the way for the entry of trucks later on.

Scania’s new truck range delivers more of everything
• A new range of cabs designed in-house by Scania.
• Two cab series being introduced initially; the new S-cab has a flat floor.
• A repositioned front axle provides increased safety.
• The world’s first truck with roll-over side curtain airbags.
• Up to 5% reduction in fuel consumption across all engines.
• Layshaft brake system can halve gearshift time and increase driveability.
• Approved for use with HVO, with more alternative fuels to be introduced later.
Scania recently premiered an entirely new range of trucks which, when complete, will represent a complete renewal of Scania’s range of solutions. The introduction of even more products and services now makes it possible to tailor sustainable and profitable solutions for all types of customers. During the first phase, Scania will be introducing solutions with a focus on the needs of customers who run long-haulage operations. The goal is to offer these customers the best possible total operating economy.

Let’s Ride
The weather was on our side when we flew to Sweden to test drive the Next Generation Scania. Lined up for us were some 16 vehicles to test on a three kilometre long track that offers corners, steep uphill and downhill straights as well as tight turning circles. If one feels confident, one could also reverse one of the trucks into the designated bays.

As the saying goes, first we like, then we act. And liking is what many do when it comes to the look of the truck. Sitting in the sun, the S Cab of the 730 horse power V8 is screaming for attention. And it gets it. Having seen the droves of drivers and fleet managers clambering all over the vehicle, it is now time for us to hop in. Although, in this case, we majestically approach the 25 meter long road train, loaded with 60 tonnes and radiating confidence. In all other meetings, Scania management have highlighted that the development included an improvement of the quality. And what they meant by that were the gaps between panels, the flow of the building groups and how the surfaces feel. This truck was compared to passenger cars in the way it was put together. And if you have ever stumbled into a showroom of a top car brand, you know what they are talking about.

Clicking Immediately
Have you ever stood next to a truck, opening and closing the door because the sound of the door closing is so… exciting? While you may think this won’t happen to you, we assure you, it is exactly what you will do. And this is just the first testament to the quality that the Swedes have packed into this vehicle. Climbing up into the cab, we have a leather seat that just welcomes you, encases you and makes you feel comfortable in your workplace. The instrument cluster features the stylish V of the V8 sign in a swosh. The steering wheel is no longer round at the bottom to allow you to sit comfortable. When gripping the steering wheel, touching the leather, you immediately feel in control. This leather clad instrument has all the crucial dials in reach. After feasting on the interior, it is time to wake up the 730 HP giant right underneath.

Heading out onto the track, an 8% incline is what lies ahead. Richard Ramberg, Press Test Officer, asks to stop right there. Once fully stopped, he explains that the hill-hold function will allow for four seconds to move the foot from the brake to the accelerator. Doing that, the acceleration is smooth, gear shifts only slightly noticeable and the fact that there is freight worth 60 tonnes in the back is barely noticeable. Steering is easy as the truck cruises around the track. “We also have a 500 HP engine version now, reacting to the feedback we have gotten to from the market. While we are yet to fully test it, we are confident that it will be even more fuel efficient than the 430 HP engine version,” says Ramberg. While we are missing the real V8 sound that fell victim to the Euro 6 Emission norms, the truck is stunningly quiet. Naturally, professional drivers will appreciate this as long trips may otherwise add stress.

Developed Inside Out
In order to develop the truck, Scania has worked with a panel of professional truckers. Scania allowed them to move things, adjust items and to comment on what they would want to change. For instance, the driver’s seat was fully moveable. What transpired was that the seat should be some 2.5 centimetres more to the left and a bit further forward, while the “windowsill” was lowered by three centimetres. As a result, together with a very lean A-Column, there are hardly any blind spots in front of the truck when the driver has adjusted his seat properly. The electric windows now lift or go down with just one touch, allowing the driver to keep his hands on the steering wheel as much as possible. Further, the mirrors where adjusted in order to give better views around the truck.

Being a complete package, there will be a lot of connectivity to help the driver and fleet manager operate the truck. In addition, there will be new services (Finance, flexible maintenance to name just two) that come as a combo with this truck. A cornerstone of the new offering will be connectivity and the centralised data collection. This will allow Scania to harvest data and to utilize this to further improve the product. For example, the backend will determine when it would be the best time to come in for a service, avoiding appointments that are too close together. For instance, an oil change may be slightly delayed if the system detects that another item may need servicing in the very near future, thus combining these two tasks. However, one will have to display some patience first as the truck will not be available in South East Asia for the time being. However, we are sure that when it will be, it will see a similarly enthusiastic reception as it had at the IAA.