The interest shown by traditional Western Star buyers into the new technology on the X Series is a bit of a surprise, but is probably an indication of a step change in sentiment about automatic and automated systems in general in the Australian truck buying population.

“Our customers today look at costs of business and profitability and where you can really get bang for your buck,” says Head of Western Star Trucks at Penske Australia Kurt Dein.

“Really embracing things like getting the best torque curve and how to get the right ratio. Driver shortages are affecting everybody, and they’re definitely coming across and absolutely buying into the new X Series.”

Penske have had supply restraints as the market has seen, but now the numbers are getting back up to a normal flow enabling them to get demo trucks out into fleets, so the operators can compare and contrast. Experience elsewhere with this driveline tells us that the fuel consumption figures and maintenance cost will be attractive to truck owners.

Many drivers think their fuel economy is a lot better than it actually is. However, once they do the same task with an AMT, and it actually saves a lot of fuel, then there can be an acceptance of the new technology. Those who have only experienced the clunky early AMTs on the market are always surprised by the effectiveness of the latest technology.

Image: Penske Australia

“Customers are now starting to click, and can see some serious value in this subscription to Detroit Connect,” says Kurt.

“They can now see the truck, see where it is and what it’s doing. It identifies faults and helps you troubleshoot. That whole piece has given a huge insight to customers, where before they said they don’t need this and that, were not interested. When we show them what it does. They reckon they need it.”

Releasing anything which is new and a major step change like the introduction of the X Series is always going to be a risk. The risk was amplified by the dated nature of the design of the Western Star offered before the brand’s semi-hiatus.

Anything which was going to be brought in would need to hit the spot, and judging from the reaction to the new X Series models around the country, the risk was worth taking and enabled the range to win the Truck of the Year Australasia 2024 award.