Beiruting News

A 1956-built truck in Damascus is officially crowned the oldest MAN truck plying on Middle Eastern roads

Marking 100 years of existence as a globally recognised commercial vehicle manufacturer, MAN Truck & Bus celebrated the historic milestone in style by running a region-wide campaign to identify the oldest serving MAN truck in the Middle East in a move that attempts to reflect the heritage and roots of the company in the Middle East.

Covering in scope the entire geographic area of its operational activities in the Middle East, the campaign brought into focus a number of decades-old MAN trucks from all over the region, before zeroing in on a in Damascus as the winner of the competition.

"For 100 years now, MAN has been building efficient and reliable commercial vehicles that have progressively redefined the truck and bus market by delivering superior technology, performance and unmatched safety," Franz von Redwitz, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus Middle East said. "The idea to launch a campaign to identify the oldest MAN truck still in service in the Middle East highlights our long-standing history in the region and is an interesting story of our customers and our products as we celebrate this important milestone. It's our way of acknowledging our glorious heritage and history of innovation, even as we continue our growth and prepare to step into a bright new future."

According to Peter F. Mayr, Managing Director of Terramar GmbH, MAN distributor for Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, "MAN has a wonderful legacy in the region and its trucks and buses are renowned for their outstanding quality and durability along with excellent customer service. The interesting story of this 1956 truck and its exemplary operational record is a great endorsement of MAN products and highlights our commitment to supporting our customers in every way possible."

The owner of the winning truck, Damascus resident Mr. Walid Seif, had much to share on his family's long-standing relationship with the MAN truck, which even now operates every week between Damascus and Lebanon transporting all kinds of general cargo.

"This truck has been with our family for five decades and three generations. It has been a stalwart, reliable performer all through the years, never letting us down; it has become a member of the family," Seif said. "The truck was bought by my grandfather, and then taken over by my father, before it got passed down to me. Although my sons are in the teaching profession and will not be continuing as truck drivers, I intend to keep the truck and preserve it as a cherished piece of history even after I'm done using it."

"The truck has plied all over the region - from Jordan and Iraq to Syria and Lebanon - logging untold miles, and its sheer longevity should tell you something about its reliability, toughness, and performance. We'd changed the engine some 25 years ago to MAN 8 cylinder, and the vehicle has been running smoothly ever since without having undergone an overhaul," he added.