Press Release October 6, 2015 International Commercial Vehicle Trade Fair defies Russian market decline Debut fireworks at COMTRANS 2015 Munich/Moscow, October 2015. More than 220 exhibitors presented their Alice Röhler PR-Manager innovations and latest products at the international commercial vehicle trade +49 (0)89 55 29 12-202 [email protected] fair COMTRANS 2015 in Moscow from September 8 to 12, 2015. The organizers www.imag.de counted more than 16,000 visitors. As a result, COMTRANS remains the leading PR- & Press Agency commercial vehicle trade fair for Eastern Europe. Andreas Lubitz +49 (0) 7433 9985945 COMTRANS 2015 has once again demonstrated its position as the leading trade fair [email protected] www.lubitz-pr.de for decision makers in the commercial vehicle and transport industry in Eastern Europe. From September 8 to 12, 2015, more than 220 exhibitors from around the world presented innovations and current products at the Crocus Expo Center in Moscow. In addition to all the Russian and Western European truck manufacturers, the world's leading transporter, bus and trailer manufacturers as well as many renowned suppliers and component manufacturers were also represented. More than 16,000 visitors came to the exhibition halls on the outskirts of Moscow. This is less than in the record year of 2013. The Trade Fair Director Sergey Rybchak of the exhibition organizer ITEMF Expo was still pleased with the results, though: "Despite the current significant depreciation of the commercial vehicle market in Russia, there was a lot of interest on the part of the trade fair visitors. This, together with the numerous premieres and newcomers, proves that COMTRANS continues to be the second most important international commercial vehicle fair, after IAA Commercial Vehicles." COMTRANS takes place every two years, alternating with IAA Commercial Vehicles. Despite the currently difficult market situation in Russia, the international exhibitors showed a particularly strong presence. "In the medium term, the Western European as well as the Asian commercial vehicle manufacturers and suppliers are continuing to see a great potential for their products in Eastern Europe, and they emphasize this with their participation in COMTRANS", said Peter Bergleiter, Managing Director of IMAG – Internationaler Messe- und Ausstellungsdienst GmbH, the international partner of the trade fair organizer ITEMF Expo. The subsidiary of Messe München has nearly 70 years of experience in organizing international trade fairs, and it already participated for the fourth time in organizing COMTRANS. Press Release Future projects and new series Many exhibitors used COMTRANS 2015 as a platform for their world premieres or initial presentations of their products at a Russian exhibition. World premieres were celebrated in particular by the Russian manufacturers of trucks, buses and vans. For example, Kamaz gathered attention with its spectacular cab study "Transformer". The cabin has been developed in cooperation with Torino Design from Italy. Based on the existing cab series, the study intends to identify new concepts for truck drivers' work environments. The cockpit has a futuristic design and the latest technologies, with touchscreens and digital instruments. Cameras instead of mirrors provide a panoramic view without blind spots and the driver's seat is equipped with a novel electromagnetic suspension system, which is designed to reduce vibration by 90 percent. There are also completely new ideas for the living area: A fold-out kitchen with a stove, sink and microwave oven is also on board, along with a shower that folds together to save space and that can be stowed in the rear wall. There is even a treadmill integrated into the floor, for exercising. Kamaz will begin series production of the cabin in 2020. Starting as soon as November 2015, on the other hand, the new electric minibus from Kamaz is expected to hit the market. The Kamaz-2257E is only 5.90 meters long and can accommodate up to 22 people. The low-floor bus is equipped with an all-electric drive system, the batteries of which have a range of 65 kilometers, according to the manufacturer. Specially developed quick-charging stations at the final stops of the respective lines, however, should allow for continuous use in urban traffic. The Russian truck, bus and van manufacturer GAZ presented as many as seven new models of the so-called Generation Next at COMTRANS 2015. The greatest attention was paid to the new large-capacity van design of the transporter Gazelle Next since the manufacturer is making its way in a segment which had previously been reserved exclusively for foreign manufacturers. With up to 13.5 cubic meters of cargo space, the new model offers approximately 30 percent more space than its predecessor did. Versions with a second row of seats and as a minibus are also available. GAZ has provided the medium-duty truck Gazon Next with the same cab as in the transporter Gazelle, using the modular system for a number of new vehicle models. At COMTRANS 2015, the manufacturer unveiled a tractor version of the Gazon Next, which is now also available with a new 6-cylinder engine. Just as new is the Ural Next, an all-terrain truck which has a cab and cockpit controls that also come from the Next modular system. The Western European producers earned as much interest at COMTRANS 2015 as did the two Russian top dogs. For the first time in Russia, for example, MAN Press Release presented the TGX 18,560 with the new D38 engine – the flagship of the long-distance range. Likewise, Mercedes-Benz managed to lure numerous visitors to its stand with the new Actros 1848LS Gigaspace in the Euro 6 design. It is expected to be available in Russia starting in 2016. Scania, Volvo, Renault Trucks and Iveco also had presentations of their current truck series, partly also with Euro 6 engines. "More market share in the Russian market" – This was the goal that the Chinese truck maker Dongfeng announced at the trade fair in Moscow. At COMTRANS 2015, the company announced its cooperation with the Belgian Turbo Hoet Group, the world's largest DAF dealers, which is also active in Russia and is going to promote the sales of Dongfeng trucks. In addition to the new long-haul flagship KX, five more truck models as well as the current vans C31 and C35 could be seen at the Dongfeng booth. News from the world of buses In addition to the truck and van manufacturers, numerous bus manufacturers also took advantage of COMTRANS 2015 for the presentation of their new models and their current model ranges. Primarily, the domestic brands scored points with innovations. For example, VOLGABUS presented its new model 528 512 CNG Serpentine, a gas- powered bus which was primarily designed for regional intercity traffic. The CNG drive with gas tanks on the front roof are intended to allow for a range of up to 500 kilometers, thereby reducing fuel costs annually by the equivalent of more than 10,000 euros. GAZ presented as many as three new bus models. Besides the minibus Vector Next based on the current transporter Gazelle Next, a new city traffic midibus on an ISUZU chassis called Vector-3 was presented, along with the new, 9.50-meter-long low-floor bus Liaz-4292 with a Euro 5 engine. Scania celebrated its Russian premiere of the Scania Touring. The three-axle coach manufactured in China by Higer has a 440-horsepower Euro 5 engine and is equipped with a kitchen, toilet and reclining seats by the seat manufacturer Kiel. Many other manufacturers, including Setra and MAN from Germany, MAZ from Belarus, Golden Dragon from China and the Turkish midibus specialist Aios enriched the range of exhibited buses at COMTRANS 2015. The manufacturers of trailers and bodies were also strongly represented at COMTRANS 2015. In addition to Russian vehicle manufacturers, like Grunwald, Chaika and Istok, numerous international trailer manufacturers, such as Schmitz Cargobull, Krone, Wielton, Kässbohrer, CIMC and Koluman also presented their current vehicles for the Eastern European market. As a novelty that was developed for Press Release the Russian market Krone showed a curtainsider with 2.73 meters (six europallets) more load length at their stand. After the positive experience in recent years, the trade fair organizer ITEMF Expo is expecting continued cooperation with the Russian association OAR and the international association of the automotive industry OICA. The next COMTRANS is expected to take place at the Crocus Expo Center in Moscow in September 2017. Further information and pictures in printable resolution are available at: http://comtrans.auto-fairs.com. IMAG – Internationaler Messe- und Ausstellungsdienst GmbH IMAG, a subsidiary of the Messe München Group, organizes trade fairs around the world and supports participants in international events outside Germany on behalf of public and private clients. Since its foundation in 1946 in Munich, IMAG has been involved in over 5,000 international exhibitions abroad. IMAG’s annual portfolio encompasses approximately 30 trade fairs, spanning around 20 countries. The events focus in particular on the automotive, commercial vehicles and auto parts sector; construction materials and equipment; tools; environmental technology and analytics. Press Release Captions: More than 16,000 visitors More than 220 exhibitors from Despite the currently difficult came to the international all over the world used market situation in Russia, commercial vehicle trade fair COMTRANS to showcase the international exhibitors COMTRANS in Moscow from their products and showed a particularly strong September 8 to 12. innovations. presence. The trade fair organizers and Even before reaching the Many current commercial special guests from the fields exhibition halls, the visitors vehicles were also exhibited of politics and industry were already welcomed by in the outdoor area. opened COMTRANS 2015 numerous vehicle exhibits.