EMC inaugurates dedicated testing facility for Mercedes-Benz trucks
Abu Dhabi centre provides most severe test conditions among 11 similar facilities worldwide
Emirates Motor Company (EMC), the authorised general distributor for Mercedes Benz trucks in Abu Dhabi, has officially inaugurated an engine endurance testing facility in the UAE capital.
According to a statement by EMC, the world-class facility is the only one of its kind in the region and tests the heavy-duty vehicles that EMC deals in against all conditions, including the extreme high temperature and sandy environments prevalent in the region.
The purpose-built facility at EMC’s Commercial Vehicles division in Abu Dhabi’s Mussafah area is one of 11 Daimler specialist test centres spread throughout the globe. It has been operational in various ways for around three years now but was officially inaugurated this week.
According to EMC, the Abu Dhabi facility is unique in that it is capable of testing the trucks at heavier loads and hotter ambient conditions than any other global facility. Reaching highs beyond 45 degrees Celsius with 100% humidity, the climate in the UAE is a stress test for the engines and vehicles.
This facility enables Mercedes-Benz trucks to be tested against the most challenging desert conditions to ensure that they are safe and durable when travelling long distances, the statement added.
Dr. Wolfgang Sladek, head of the testing programme for Mercedes-Benz AG from Germany, said: “We really appreciate the testing cooperation with EMC here in Abu Dhabi, since this location provides extreme ambient conditions and allows for high gross vehicle weights. That combination puts a lot of load on both our powertrain and the entire vehicle which helps us find any possible weak spots fast to provide our customers with premium quality. In addition to the location, it is also the people that make this a success. We get really great support from EMC in everything we need.”
Bilal AlRibi, EMC’s general manager for Commercial Vehicles, added: “This (testing centre) is important to our customers as it gives them the reassurance that our trucks have faced the highest standards of testing possible. This allows us to make sure that only high-quality products reach our customers.
“The total travel distance travelled by the test fleet has recently reached a 6,000,000km mark, which demonstrates the level of testing it has gone through and the positive effect it had on the vehicles.”
As the authorised Mercedes-Benz distributor in Abu Dhabi, EMC is the flagship company of the AlFahim Group, a family firm with a long and proud heritage in the UAE capital.
