10-4 Magazine / April 2026 51 was to manufacture Sisu trucks for niche markets. These would be in the sectors of logging, construction, public works and chassis dedicated to loader cranes. In 2007, the company decided to change its strategy on after sales service. This responsibility was given to a Finnish automotive company called Veho, who were a large dealer in Mercedes Benz cars and trucks. Later, Sisu went on to use Veho to actually sell their trucks. The connection with Mercedes Benz (MB) would be the beginning of the next chapter when Sisu signed a co-operation deal to use the German manufacturer’s components starting in 2011. The product line consisted of the “Polar” which came in two model options and were built for the previously mentioned niche markets. The trucks have the MB Actros cab, in different specifications, from day cab to high roof or the Mega Space. The two variants are the DK12M, which has the Euro VI MB OM 471 motor, and the DK16M, fitted with the Euro VI 473 engine. The Polar truck has three gearbox options – MB Powershift G280 16-speed automatic, MB Telligent G240 16-speed manual, and the Eaton Fuller RTLO 20918 manual transmission. To the naked eye, anyone might think that the Polar is a Mercedes with a Sisu badge fitted to the cosmetically altered grille. Not so, as the chassis, front axle and brakes are pure Sisu, and the truck is fitted with those legendary Sisu lifting rear axles. The axles are still manufactured by Sisu and are fitted to a host of various makes of trucks, worldwide, however the US Marmon Group now owns this part of the company. More recently, in 2015, Sisu Auto bought out Fabrika Autombilia Priboj (FAP), a Serbian bus, truck, trailer, special body types, and truck components maker. The commonality between these two business were split up. Without going too deep into it, the truck division would be known as Oy Sisu AB. Interestingly, this division would also be fragmented into different businesses, which later included Sisu Logging, Sisu Trucks, Sisu Defense and Sisu Components. A new company was established called Patria and Sisu Defense was absorbed into this newly created organization. Then, in 1997, Renault (a French commercial vehicle manufacturer) came to Sisu with a proposal, and then later signed a co-operation deal with them. Renault would be represented by Sisu in Finland and Renault cabs would be used on the new C500 and C600 COEs. These were both powered by Caterpillar engines. The similar E series was launched later, which had the Renault Premium cab, and the option of either Renault, Cummins or Mack engines, as Renault, at that time, owned Mack Trucks. In the decade that followed, as Renault improved the cab, Sisu added these cabs to their trucks. The relationship with Renault and Sisu lasted until 2010. Before that relationship ended, a group of Finnish investors purchased the company and renamed it Sisu Auto in 2004. The consensus in the boardroom 02
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA1MjUy