MAN Malaysia has called on local transport operators to focus on vehicle quality and lifecycle value when making fleet investment decisions, warning that short-term cost savings often lead to higher total cost of ownership (TCO) and operational inefficiencies over time. The message was delivered during a two-day visit to Malaysia by senior management from MAN
MAN Malaysia has called on local transport operators to focus on vehicle quality and lifecycle value when making fleet investment decisions, warning that short-term cost savings often lead to higher total cost of ownership (TCO) and operational inefficiencies over time.
The message was delivered during a two-day visit to Malaysia by senior management from MAN Truck & Bus SE headquarters in Munich. The visit coincided with two customer events, including the official handover of 30 MAN trucks to new customers and the signing of orders for a total of 137 MAN buses.
According to MAN, the commonly adopted “buy cheap, use and dispose” approach can result in higher maintenance costs, unpredictable downtime and reduced vehicle availability, while also increasing environmental impact due to shorter vehicle lifespans and premature replacement.
Friedrich Baumann, Member of the Executive Board and Head of Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus SE, said that long-term sustainability is achieved through durable engineering and professional maintenance support rather than upfront cost savings.
MAN highlighted that its commercial vehicles and engines are engineered for service lives exceeding one million kilometres without overhaul. To support predictable fleet operations, the company offers repair and maintenance contracts with fixed monthly costs, servicing by trained technicians and the use of genuine MAN parts, aimed at improving uptime and cost certainty.
The company also stressed that effective fleet operations require more than just vehicle procurement, noting the importance of selecting the right vehicle for specific applications and having a long-term service partner with the expertise to support customers throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
Thomas Hemmerich, Head of Sales Area International at MAN Truck & Bus SE, said that MAN provides technology solutions across a wide range of transport applications, supported by trained local teams. He added that this support will be increasingly important as the brand prepares to introduce battery-electric truck and bus (BEV) technology to Malaysia.
While MAN’s BEV solutions have already proven their performance and reliability in Europe, the company said wider adoption in Malaysia would require stronger government support, including investment in charging infrastructure as well as incentives or subsidies to encourage fleet electrification.
Despite a challenging market in 2025, MAN Malaysia reported a solid performance. The prime mover segment contracted by more than 45% year-on-year to 1,207 units, yet MAN increased its market share amid competition from Chinese brands, sharing market leadership among European manufacturers.
In the express bus segment, MAN ranked second with a 32% market share among European brands. Demand for MAN bus chassis has carried into 2026, with the current order book reported to be at its highest level in the past 10 years.
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