Final 'Pre-Buy' Demand Surge Boosts Mercedes Engine Sales

January 9, 2004 5:00 AM, EST

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ruck buyers late in 2003 bought up every available production slot of the Mercedes-Benz 4000 heavy-duty diesel engine, in what amounted to a “pre-buy” of the last major Class 8 engine that did not have to comply with the Oct. 1, 2002, tougher federal emissions rules.

That engine maker did not have to comply until this Jan. 1 under the original timetable for the new standards, as it was exempt from a consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency that moved up the schedule for competitors.

So from what had been a little-used engine in the North American market before the 2002 rules kicked in, sales of the MBE 4000 here soared to 18,000 units during 2003 from 1,644 in 2002.

This article appears in the Jan. 5 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.