The sales results for the Polish truck market in 2006, published at the beginning of this year, clearly indicate that the MAN Group (offering the MAN and Star brands) has maintained its leading position since 2004. The German concern also achieved good results in bus sales (MAN and NEOPLAN brands), although it is difficult to speak of achieving top rankings in almost all categories here, as was the case with trucks. Will it be possible to achieve equally good or better market results in Poland this year? The new head of MAN in Poland, Jörg Mommertz, is optimistic.
– After arriving in Poland, I gained respect for what has happened in your country in recent years, and the first meetings convinced me that the MAN strategy implemented here is simply good, which means exporting to the whole world. Outside of Germany and Austria, Poland is our third most important production site, although, of course, one of the most important points of interest is distribution. We want to start production at our new plant in Niepołomice near Krakow this year, which will certainly help us achieve our goal of reaching an 18% share of the European market. To be honest, I do not like the term “Eastern Europe” in relation to Poland, which is becoming the core of our distribution and its bridge to other countries –
said Jörg Mommertz to me.
Commenting on the marriage between MAN and the Swedish SCANIA described in the trade press, he only mentioned that he believes in the sense of this cooperation, which should strengthen the structures of both companies, which offer such strong brands. In total, last year’s turnover of the Polish branch of MAN reached 1,228,497,000 PLN (it was planned at the level of 1,083,844,000 PLN), of which: 947,250,000 PLN (new trucks) and 122,678,000 PLN (new buses), 99,976,000 PLN (used trucks) and 14,180,000 PLN (used buses), 92,480,000 PLN (spare parts), 21,247,000 PLN (service) and 2,472,000 PLN (service contracts). Whether the launch of production at the MAN concern’s factory being built in Niepołomice, which –
as its representatives announce –
is to produce 15,000 trucks annually in a single-shift system, will significantly affect the change of existing indicators –
time will tell.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 2/2007.