SODERTALJE, Sweden, July 27, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- After the first half of 2005, Scania has assumed an unthreatened position as the largest make in the Nordic heavy truck market, with more than 3 percentage points more truck registrations than its closest competitor.
"Our success is due in part to our new trucks having been very well received, and in part to our array of service-related products that give customers good transport economy," says Per-Erik Lindquist, Scania's Senior Vice President and Head of Sales and Services Europe.
Scania tops the registration statistics in every single Nordic market. During the first half of 2005, its overall market share was 36.4 percent, equivalent to 3,100 of a total of 8,500 heavy trucks registered in the Nordic region (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). Scania's largest market share was in Sweden, where it accounted for 46.5 percent or 1,100 of 2,400 such vehicles registered.
Compared to the first half of 2004, Scania's Nordic market share has risen by nearly 5 percentage points, and in a growing total market. Overall heavy truck registrations rose by 16 percent, while Scania registrations climbed 34 percent.
"We have not enjoyed such a strong market position in the Nordic region since 1991, and you have to go even further back to find a year when we topped the statistics in all Nordic countries," Lindquist says.
"There are several reasons behind Scania's success," Lindquist maintains.
"The new P- and R-series trucks, which have been available in the market for just over a year, offer added value such as lower fuel consumption, higher payload and improved driver comfort. We have also benefited from being the first manufacturer able to deliver trucks with engines that meet the Euro 4 exhaust standard in advance, thereby giving tax and highway toll breaks to hauliers whose trucks pass through such countries as Germany and Switzerland."
"In addition, we have an extensive and professional marketing organisation. In the Nordic region alone, Scania customers have access to more than 200 service workshops, part of a network that guarantees round-the-clock roadside assistance in case of unplanned stoppages. Beyond this, we offer financing via our own finance companies as well as other services that contribute to good transport economy,"says Per-Erik Lindquist.
Scania is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. A growing proportion of the company's operations consist of products and services in the financial and service sectors, assuring Scania customers cost-effective transport solutions and maximum uptime. Employing 30,000 people, Scania operates in about 100 countries. Research and development activities are concentrated in Sweden, while production plants are located in Europe and South America, with facilities for the global exchange of both components and finished vehicles. In 2004, invoiced sales totalled SEK 56.7 billion and net income amounted to SEK 4.1 billion.
Scania's press releases are available on the Internet at www.scania.com
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