NEWS

<p class="intro upper-first" style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:1.2em;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">In one of its largest fleet deals concluded to date, Daimler Trucks &amp; Buses Southern Africa (DTBSA) has handed over 77 Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks to Bakers South Africa (SA), an independently owned transport and logistics services company, based in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.</span> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">“This is one of the biggest orders that we have concluded with Mercedes-Benz Trucks and, as in the past, we are sure that we will reap the benefits, especially with the latest Actros Euro V,” says Bakers SA chairperson&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-size:16px;">Abdul Tayob</span></strong><span style="font-size:16px;">.</span> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">In an unprecedented move for the local market, all 77 trucks are Euro V emission standard.</span> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">The new Actros Euro V reduces harmful nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions by up to 90% in comparison with Euro II engines, which are the norm on South African trucks.</span> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <br /> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">As the amount of carbon dioxide (C02) emitted is directly related to the amount of diesel burnt, the global average fuel saving of up to 7% on the Euro V Actros also means that CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 7%.</span> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">The only requirement is that 50 ppm low sulphur diesel is used. This is needed both technically for the vehicles and to meet the promised emission target.</span> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">This clean fuel is not yet available all across South Africa, but is starting to roll out progressively, even if the legal standard remains Euro II.</span> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">“More attention to the environmental and safety standards is becoming the norm. These aspects are, therefore, becoming increasingly important to us. As well as having a bearing on a company's image, they have tangible economic benefits,” notes Tayob.</span> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">“There are a number of advantages that persuaded us to purchase only Euro V Actros. From a technical side, the trucks’ reliability, improved safety and low fuel consumption meant this was the best choice we could make.”</span> </p> <p style="padding:0px 0px 1.5em;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:#111111;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:20.8px;letter-spacing:-0.2px;white-space:normal;word-spacing:-0.5px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <span style="font-size:16px;">Bakers SA’s fleet has comprised 99% Mercedes-Benz trucks since its inception in the seventies.&nbsp;</span> </p> <span style="font-size:16px;"></span> </p>