Fuel efficiency, battle for talent, productivity and connectivity are top priorities for fleets and transport companies and these challenges will be addressed with new features such as ESCOT and UD Telematics

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach - 30 January 2019 - UD Trucks today unveiledNew Quester with enhancements to the well-established heavy-duty truck. New Questerwill enable logistics companies to tackle critical industry challenges andboost their bottom line through Smart Logistics.

To beintroduced in fast-growing regions around the world, the launch of New Questerhighlights UD Trucks' unwavering commitment of "Going the Extra Mile" forcustomers' businesses.

Buildingon proven robustness and reliability, New Quester introduces key features suchas ESCOT automated manual transmission, engines with higher horsepower anduser-friendly telematics to deliver greater fuel efficiency, productivity,driver efficiency, safety, and uptime.

HåkanKarlsson, President, Volvo Group Trucks Asia & JVs, said "Quester comesfrom the best of three worlds: UD Trucks' strong Japanese heritage andcraftsmanship, Volvo Group's innovative technology and strong localmanufacturing and customer support. UD Trucks is recognized for pioneering newinnovations within the Japanese trucks segment, and New Quester is testament toour global industry leadership.

Since1995, UD Trucks has delivered more than 80,000 trucks with ESCOT automatedmanual transmission. We are humbled by the tremendous confidence andrecognition that the Quester line has earned. With New Quester, we are positiveto carry on this legacy of being the truck brand that our customers want topartner with."

Ensuring increased fuel efficiency forbusinesses to better manage fuel costs and mitigate oil price volatility

Fuel costs typically constitute 40 percent* of operatingcosts for fleet operators[1]. Toboost productivity and profitability for business owners and logisticscompanies, New Quester achieves further enhanced fuel efficiency of up to 10percent from the current Quester with the ESCOT automated manual transmission,lighter tare weight and optimized driveline, depending on the operatingcondition, driving behaviour and vehicle maintenance.

ESCOTincludes a software which optimizes gear shifting according to engine rev,vehicle speed, loading weight and even road gradient. The smart system alsoincludes a sensor that will select optimum gear automatically instead ofassuming a first gear selection.

NewQuester's enhanced fuel performance also aligns with the increasing focus onenvironmentally friendly regulations to curb fuel consumption in targetmarkets. New Quester achieves fuel economy and quality standards for heavy-duty vehiclesof Euro 3 to Euro 4 in all target markets, effectively reducingoverall carbon footprint globally.

Introducing a more attractive and comfortableworking environment, to support transport companies win the war on talent andexpand the pool of talent

To combatthe global driver shortage challenge, New Quester introduces moredriver-friendly features to make the driving experience more seamless andcomfortable.

This is a major obstacle for transport companies around the world. For example,it is estimated that South Africa needs an additional 15,000 new truck driverseach year but this target continues to be woefully unmet.[1]

A game changer in the transportation business, New Questerwith ESCOT automatically selects the optimal gear at the right timing based onthe operating condition. This takes away the need for manual gear shifting,which depending on the transportation operations, happens 1,000 to 1,500 timesa day. Automatic gear selection also ensures that every driver on New Questeris equivalent to a highly skilled driver. This enables drivers to easily learnthe operations of New Quester and better focus on driving with ease.

Inaddition to making driving simple, New Quester also aims to help businessesexpand the pool of talent with easy-to-operate gear lever that uses a straightshifting pattern. In target markets such as Thailand, for example, the numberof female Quester drivers is increasing due to its drivability. New Questeropens the doors for companies to attract even more prospects to pursue truckdriving as a career and diversify the pool of talent for this role.

Driverfatigue continues to be a serious industry challenge, contributing up to 20percent of road accidents in the world[2].To address this, New Quester is developed with an air suspended cab and ridecomfort package with reduced cab vibrations up to 18 percent. Driver's comfortis also enhanced with ergonomic seats and lumbar support for long-distanceassignments.

NewQuester increases overall drivability and safety for drivers with features thatfocus on increasing drivers' comfort levels and reducing driver fatigue.

Boosting profitability and business growth bydoing more with less to overcome productivity constraints and complicated fleetmanagement processes

With middle-classspending power in emerging markets estimated to rise to $20 trillion in thenext decade, this presents immense growth opportunities for customers toachieve significant business growth in these regions.

In linewith elevating business success through Smart Logistics, New Quester supportseffective fleet management and driver performance with innovative customertelematics such as real-time vehicle tracking and geofencing for better fleetvisibility and optimization. Such smartconnectivity features support the increasing trend of new logistics deliverysolutions that are offered by technology and local start-up companies in SouthAfrica, Middle East, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

New Quester trucks are equipped with UD Telematics, which has the capability toconnect directly to UD Trucks workshops to monitor and detect each vehicle's conditionand service needs before a potential emergency occurs. Preventive maintenanceanalysis guides customers with monthly driving behavior and fuel consumptionreports, ensuring higher uptime and more optimal fuel economy over time.

Owners of New Quester also enjoy increased uptime with a2.5 to 3 times longer clutch life span under ESCOT automated manualtransmission as compared to manual clutch replacement depending on the operatingcondition, driving behaviour and vehicle maintenance.

At UDTrucks, its Gemba spirit means being close to the ground and listening to theneeds of local customers to be their most valuable partner in respectivemarkets and segments.

Built to deliverUD Trucks' ethos of "Ultimate Dependability", New Quester increases uptime throughUD Extra Mile Support. Offering an extensive network of well-trained servicetechnicians, it provides quality aftersales service with genuine parts, serviceplanning and vehicle handover training that optimizes fleet performance.

JacquesMichel, President, Volvo Group Trucks Asia & JVs Sales, said, "We recognizeimmense potential in fast-growing markets such as Southeast Asia, Middle East,Africa and Latin America where business success is a key contributor toeconomic progress. Combined with our Ultimate Dependability standard and Gembaspirit, New Quester marks our commitment to continue championing SmartLogistics and providing unmatched value to our customers in these regions."

NewQuester will be available in key markets around the world in phases frommid-February 2019 onwards. Thailand, which also serves as UD Trucks' export hubto growth markets in Southeast Asia, will be the first to launch New Quester. 

Following the respective market launches, New Quester's driving adventure filmseries filmed around the world will showcase how the truck supports businessesin tackling actual, market-specific challenges faced by truck companies infast-growing regions around the world.

For more information on New Quester, visit https://www.udtrucks.com/newquesterand watch the digitalreveal film at https://youtu.be/qRhK1wtSYPk.

Join the conversation on social media at https://www.facebook.com/UDTrucksJP and https://www.linkedin.com/company/ud-trucks-corporation.

UD Trucks is a leadingJapanese commercial vehicle solutions provider, active in more than 60countries on all continents. Since its inception in 1935, the company has beenan innovation leader with a clear vision to provide the trucks and services theworld needs today.

The company is committed to go the extra mile for smart logistics with the mostdependable solutions for demanding customers. To best support acrossapplications and geographies, UD Trucks offers a full range of heavy-dutytrucks - Quon and Quester, medium duty trucks - Condor and Croner, and lightduty trucks - Kazet and Kuzer, as well as associated operational and financialservices.

UD Trucks is a proud member of the Volvo Group, which in 2017 had netsales of 335 BSEK and 100,000 employees globally.

For more information fromthe UD Trucks, please visit https://www.udtrucks.com/en-int/home