Four regions covered simultaneously over two months
Customers apply online, then arrange schedule and location with sales team
Star Truck Korea, the official importer of Mercedes-Benz Trucks in South Korea, announced Wednesday it will hold a mobile test-drive event for the New Arocs 4153K dump truck, bringing the vehicle directly to customers at locations of their choosing. The campaign runs for two months, from October through November.
The event was organized to mark the 130th anniversary of the truck's invention and to give more customers a chance to experience a Mercedes-Benz truck firsthand. Rather than requiring customers to travel to a designated venue, the company's regional sales offices will drive the test vehicle to a location agreed upon with each customer. The company said this arrangement allows customers whose schedules are tied to vehicle operations and work commitments to evaluate the new dump truck's driving performance and comfort close to home.
According to Star Truck Korea, this is the first time in the domestic heavy commercial vehicle industry that test-drive vehicles have been deployed simultaneously across major sales bases nationwide with on-site visits offered. The program covers four regions — Seoul and the central area, Incheon and northern Gyeonggi Province, Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces, and Busan and South Gyeongsang Province — with each region's sales office communicating directly with customers to conduct the test drives.
Customers who wish to participate can submit their information through the quote inquiry page on the Star Truck Korea website. A sales representative will then follow up to arrange the date and location before visiting the agreed-upon site. Scheduling may vary by sales office, so customers are advised to contact their local office for exact dates.
The test-drive vehicle, the New Arocs 4153K single-reduction dump truck, is a 25.5-ton model designed for South Korea's heavy-load operating conditions. It is equipped with a third-generation OM471 engine producing 530 horsepower and 2,600 Nm of peak torque, paired with a PowerShift 3 transmission, single-reduction axle and reinforced frame. Customers can assess acceleration response, gear shifts, steering feel, ride comfort and driving convenience during the test drive.
The vehicle is marketed on its improved fuel efficiency and overall economy, which the company says helps lower customers' total cost of ownership. A dump-truck-specific service contract, StarCare 5+ Tipper, covers regular inspections and key consumable replacements, while major drivetrain components carry an unlimited-mileage warranty for five years to reduce long-term maintenance costs. The digital fleet management service Fleetboard analyzes fuel consumption, idle time and driving patterns to support efficient vehicle operation, lower fuel costs and improve uptime.
Star Truck Korea is also running a "120+10 Promotion" to mark the 130th anniversary. The campaign offers financing of up to 120 monthly installments across the full Mercedes-Benz Trucks lineup, and customers who purchase a tractor receive a 10-year engine oil change coupon. This year marks 130 years since Mercedes-Benz invented the world's first truck in 1896.
"A truck is an asset that works alongside a customer's business, so it is important to get behind the wheel and assess the vehicle's characteristics before making a purchase decision," said Dong Geun-tae, chief executive of Star Truck Korea. "By deploying test-drive vehicles across major sales bases nationwide and going directly to customers, we aim to give as many people as possible the chance to experience the performance and driving convenience of the New Arocs 4153K dump truck."
eyre@heraldcorp.com
