(^56) ABC July 2019 busnews.com.au
WORDS & IMAGES PAUL ALDRIDGE
THE AUSSIE
OPTION
The Scania Touring has hit Australia providing a versatile choice
for operators and a range of Australian-designed options that
make it ideally suited to this country’s varied needs.
ABC magazine takes an exclusive first local test.
W
e all know that Australia has some
of the most varied and harsh driving
conditions worldwide, and it’s a
common theme
that’s always brought up when
we talk to importers. When the global market meets our
market it’s always reassuring to know that our conditions
have been considered. It’s a good sign the vehicle’s
longevity, safety and comfort will meet our needs and they
will be well received.
The Scania Touring is advertised as an affordable, quality
vehicle suitable for different applications from daily school
runs to charter operations, but also suitable for longer
trips as well due to its impressive nine cubic metres of
underfloor luggage space, so it seems like the Touring is a
versatile, all ’round choice.
So how has Australia reacted to this new model since
its release?
Scania national sales manager Jamie Atkinson said:
“Very, very well. At the moment we are working day and
night trying to get them out there. So, we’ve got the orders,
we are actually just trying to increase production to keep
up with demand.
“This Scania Touring is a Euro 6, K 360, SCR [selective
catalytic reduction] only. We are still the only manufacturer
that can achieve Euro 6 just by using AdBlue, so there is no
EGR [exhaust gas recirculation],” continued Atkinson.
AUSSIE ADAPTATIONS
Its brochure states that the Scania Touring is designed
for the global market and refined for Australia. So what
modifications have been made specifically for the
Australian market?
“We are bringing the vehicles in with no seats, so we use
Australian suppliers. The vehicles are then equipped with
local destination signs, obviously school bus signs, with
school bus lights, which is compliant to the different state
regulations,” he replied.
“When it comes to specific design changes for Australia,
this is a global product and the Scania-Higer production
line is overseen by the engineers from Sweden, but we
have had feedback about the A30 product that has
resulted in some specification changes specifically to suit
the longevity of vehicle requirements in Australia.
“An example of this would be the addition of aluminium
floors in the luggage bins. Overseas, timber floors are often
used and this is suitable for their vehicles’ lives as they are
only kept for 12 years, but it is common in Australia for
government contracts to run from 18 up to 25 years,”
he continued.
Designed for global markets, refined for Australian
conditions – Scania market demand also drives the
‘Australian options’ available. The drive vehicle today has
a windscreen stone protector and that is another option
designed in Australia purely to meet Australian needs.
It’s good to know there are options available to suit our
varied conditions.
AFTERSALES SIMPLIFIED
Time off the road means costly dollars for operators, so
how does Scania meet the all-important aftersales service,
as it claims to have a rapid order-to-delivery parts system
in place?
Atkinson replied, “Well, everybody is looking to reduce
their cents per kilometre and we have focused on a
day-to-day basis. Before we brought the vehicles into the
country, we had to get the parts right and we’ve had to get
the trading right with our aftersales team.
“Essentially, with all of our vehicles, the bodies are the
same and that’s going to help because it’s a complete
Scania product, so every part on that vehicle has got a part
number – the air conditioner, the bin doors, the mirrors....
“We are moving away from a ‘that’s a body issue’, ‘that’s
an air conditioner issue’, or there is ‘an OEM issue’. This is
a very different offering to the customers; it’s a one-stop
shop, which means we offer a one-point contact for all
customer needs and makes every vehicle a completely
supported Scania vehicle,” Atkinson explained.
HOW LONG?
With its apparent great response from the Australian
market, what is the ordering time?
Alexander Corne, manager public relations for Scania
Australia said: “The popularity of the product in Australia is
TEST DRIVE SCANIA TOURING
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