MAN Automotive Imports - Company Profile

MAN is one of the oldest and leading industrial enterprises in the German engineering industry. Its origins date back to the beginning of the industrial revolution on the European continent, the time of the first railways, the time when the continent was opened up by new roads, more bridges, and canals.

In 1893, the pioneering engineer Rudolph Diesel began developing the principles of the compression ignition combustion engine that would later be named after him. Construction and testing of the first Diesel engine was carried out at the MAN Augsburg works. In 1898, four engines were built for exhibition and demonstration purposes, two of which were made in the MAN plants at Nuremberg and Augsburg. Over one hundred years later the diesel engine powers the majority of heavy vehicles globally. And MAN continues to produce vehicles that are amongst the most technologically advanced in the world.

In 1971 MAN acquired the old and respected name of Bussing, and the Bussing trade-mark lion now forms part of the MAN truck and bus division trademark.

With a workforce of over 36,000 worldwide and total sales exceeding Euro 8.7 billion in 2006, the MAN Automotive division is just part of a group of German and overseas companies. Munich is the German production centre responsible for MAN truck production, and Salzgitter is the north German production centre responsible for all bus production activities. Gas and diesel engines are manufactured at the company's Nuremberg plant.

Western Star trucks were first introduced into Australia 25 years ago, subsequently becoming an Australian owned company, with its main assembly line located at Wacol, Brisbane. Today the trucks are manufactured in North America and imported to Australia and New Zealand.

In 2000 Western Star Trucks Australia acquired distribution exclusivity for all MAN products within Australia/NZ and created MAN Automotive Imports. Western Star Trucks Australia and MAN Automotive Imports merged as a result of this acquisition, with sales and after sales support services conducted out of the WSTA/MAI Asia Pacific Headquarters located in Brisbane, Queensland. WSTA/MAI employs 150 people with a varied and diverse range of skills all gathered for one purpose, the sale and after sale support of MAN truck/bus and Western Star truck products. Sales and after sales service is provided throughout the country via 65 separate dealer outlets, each dedicated to the products longevity in the Australian marketplace. MAN Automotive Imports also has dealer representation in New Zealand.