Volvo vs Scania vs Mercedes-Benz Prime Mover: Which Offers Best Financing?

The Big Three: Choosing Your Prime Mover Brand

You're starting a haulage business serving Port Klang. You need prime movers. Three brands dominate the Malaysian market: Volvo, Scania, Mercedes-Benz.

Each has advantages. Each has loyalists. But which offers the best value for your financing ringgit?

This isn't about brand loyalty—it's about business logic. Purchase price, resale value, maintenance costs, financing approval rates, and total cost of ownership determine profitability.

Purchase Price Comparison

New Prime Mover Prices (2025 Models)

Volvo FH16: RM480,000 - RM550,000
Scania R450: RM470,000 - RM540,000
Mercedes-Benz Actros: RM460,000 - RM530,000

Used Prime Mover Prices (5-Year-Old Models)

Volvo FH16 (2019): RM250,000 - RM300,000
Scania R450 (2019): RM240,000 - RM290,000
Mercedes-Benz Actros (2019): RM230,000 - RM280,000

Initial Cost Winner: Mercedes-Benz (lowest purchase price)
Premium Price: Volvo (highest purchase price)

Resale Value Analysis

5-Year Resale Value (Percentage of Original Price)

Volvo FH16: 45-55% retention
Scania R450: 50-60% retention
Mercedes-Benz Actros: 40-50% retention

10-Year Resale Value (End of Financing Life)

Volvo FH16: RM80,000 - RM120,000
Scania R450: RM100,000 - RM150,000
Mercedes-Benz Actros: RM70,000 - RM110,000

Resale Value Winner: Scania (highest retained value)
Lowest Resale: Mercedes-Benz (fastest depreciation)

Maintenance Cost Comparison

Annual Maintenance Costs (First 5 Years)

Volvo FH16: RM15,000 - RM25,000/year
Scania R450: RM18,000 - RM30,000/year
Mercedes-Benz Actros: RM12,000 - RM20,000/year

Major Component Replacement (Years 6-10)

All Brands (Estimated):
• Engine overhaul: RM30,000 - RM50,000
• Transmission rebuild: RM15,000 - RM25,000
• Suspension replacement: RM10,000 - RM20,000

Maintenance Cost Winner: Mercedes-Benz (lowest maintenance costs)
Highest Maintenance: Scania (most expensive to maintain)

Fuel Efficiency Comparison

Fuel Consumption (Typical Haulage Operations)

Volvo FH16: 0.55 - 0.65 liters/km
Scania R450: 0.50 - 0.60 liters/km
Mercedes-Benz Actros: 0.58 - 0.68 liters/km

Annual Fuel Cost (120,000 km/year at RM3.35/liter)

Volvo FH16: RM220,800 - RM260,800/year
Scania R450: RM201,000 - RM241,200/year
Mercedes-Benz Actros: RM232,200 - RM272,640/year

Fuel Efficiency Winner: Scania (lowest fuel consumption)
Highest Fuel Consumption: Mercedes-Benz

Total Cost of Ownership: 5-Year Comparison

Scenario: 120,000 km/Year Operations

Volvo FH16 (New at RM500,000):
• Purchase: RM500,000
• Fuel (5 years): RM1,155,000
• Maintenance: RM100,000
• Resale after 5 years: -RM250,000
Net 5-Year Cost: RM1,505,000

Scania R450 (New at RM490,000):
• Purchase: RM490,000
• Fuel (5 years): RM1,090,500
• Maintenance: RM120,000
• Resale after 5 years: -RM270,000
Net 5-Year Cost: RM1,430,500

Mercedes-Benz Actros (New at RM480,000):
• Purchase: RM480,000
• Fuel (5 years): RM1,215,000
• Maintenance: RM80,000
• Resale after 5 years: -RM215,000
Net 5-Year Cost: RM1,560,000

5-Year TCO Winner: Scania (RM74,500 savings vs Volvo, RM129,500 vs Mercedes)

Financing Approval Rates

Bank Approval Rates by Brand

Banks prefer certain brands based on resale value and reliability:

Scania: 85-90% approval rate (highest resale value)
Volvo: 80-85% approval rate (strong brand reputation)
Mercedes-Benz: 75-80% approval rate (lower resale value)

Ing Heng Credit Approval Rates

We approve all three brands at similar rates because we focus on:

• Your cash flow (not just brand)
• Maintenance history (well-maintained = reliable asset)
• Contract quality (revenue source matters more than brand)
• Your business track record (proven operators = preferred)

Our Approval Rates: 90-95% across all three brands (when business fundamentals are strong)

Application-Specific Recommendations

Port Klang Container Haulage

Recommended: Scania R450
Why:
• Best fuel efficiency (frequent starts/stops at port)
• Highest resale value (port haulage maintains value)
• Strong torque (heavy container loads)

Long-Distance Haulage (KL-Penang, KL-Kelantan)

Recommended: Volvo FH16
Why:
• Driver comfort (long-haul driver retention)
• Reliability (less breakdown on highways)
• Safety features (accident prevention)

Regional Distribution (Klang Valley, Short Haul)

Recommended: Mercedes-Benz Actros
Why:
• Lower purchase price (shorter routes justify lower capital)
• Lowest maintenance (frequent stops = more wear)
• Good maneuverability (urban delivery)

Used vs New: Brand-Specific Considerations

Used Volvo: Best Value?

Advantages:
• Premium brand at discounted price
• Reliable engineering (even with high mileage)
• Good parts availability

Considerations:
• Maintenance costs rise sharply after 5 years
• Electronic systems may need updates

Used Scania: High Resale Value Retention

Advantages:
• Best resale value (holds price even used)
• Fuel-efficient (newer models)
• Strong demand for used Scanias

Considerations:
• Highest used prices (premium for brand)
• Maintenance most expensive of all three

Used Mercedes-Benz: Budget Entry

Advantages:
• Lowest used prices
• Lowest maintenance costs
• Widely available

Considerations:
• Fastest depreciation
• Lower resale value at end of life

Ing Heng Credit: Brand-Agnostic Financing

1. We Finance All Three Brands

We don't play favorites:

• Volvo FH16 series
• Scania R, G, P series
• Mercedes-Benz Actros, Arocs, Atego

New and Used: We finance prime movers up to 10 years old.

2. 0% Down Payment on Any Brand

Brand choice shouldn't be dictated by down payment availability:

0% Down Payment Applies Equally:
• Volvo at RM500,000: RM0 down
• Scania at RM490,000: RM0 down
• Mercedes at RM480,000: RM0 down

Choose based on TCO, not capital availability.

3. Fast Approval for All Brands

When port contracts require immediate prime mover deployment:

We Approve in 48 Hours:
• Volvo, Scania, Mercedes-Benz equally
• New and used
• Single units or fleet acquisitions

4. Mixed Brand Fleet Financing

Many haulage companies mix brands:

Example Fleet:
• 3 Scania (long-haul, heavy containers)
• 2 Volvo (regional distribution)
• 2 Mercedes (port drayage, shorter routes)

We finance mixed fleets. Single financing agreement covering multiple brands.

Real-World Brand Choice Stories

Port Klang Specialist

\"Started with Mercedes—lowest price. Good for startup. 3 years later, expanded to 5 prime movers. Calculated TCO: Scania had better resale value and fuel efficiency. Replaced Mercedes with Scanias over 2 years. Higher purchase price but lower operating costs. Net profit increased 15%. Ing Heng financed transition—0% down on new Scanias, traded in Mercedes. Brand choice matters for long-term profitability, not just initial price.\"

— Zainal Abidin, Operations Director

Long-Distance Haulage

\"KL-Kelantan route. Mountain terrain, heavy loads. Started with Volvo—driver comfort critical for long-haul retention. Drivers stayed loyal, turnover low. Competitors used cheaper brands but had 50% driver turnover. Our Volvo drivers stayed 3+ years. Consistent service quality won premium contracts. Volvo premium paid for itself in driver retention and client satisfaction. Ing Heng financed Volvos at 0% down—preserved capital for driver training and competitive salaries.\"

— Ahmad Zaki, Fleet Manager

Decision Framework: Which Brand for You?

Step 1: Define Your Application

Consider:
• Route type (port, long-haul, regional)
• Typical load weight
• Annual distance
• Driver availability/turnover

Step 2: Calculate 5-Year TCO

For each brand:
• Purchase price
• Fuel cost (based on consumption)
• Maintenance cost
• Resale value
Choose lowest total cost, not lowest purchase price.

Step 3: Consider Financing Impact

Calculate:
• Down payment required (0% with Ing Heng)
• Monthly installment
• Total interest paid
• Impact on cash flow

Step 4: Factor Non-Financial Considerations

Evaluate:
• Driver preference (comfort affects retention)
• Service center availability
• Parts availability
• Brand reputation with your clients

The Bottom Line: Right Brand for Right Application

There's no single "best" prime mover brand. The right choice depends on:

• Scania: Best for port haulage, heavy containers, resale value focus
• Volvo: Best for long-haul, driver retention, safety focus
• Mercedes-Benz: Best for regional distribution, budget-sensitive operations

0% down payment financing allows you to choose based on TCO, not capital constraints. Fast approval deploys your chosen brand immediately.

Choose the brand that maximizes your profitability. We'll finance it.

Join 4,000+ businesses who have trusted Ing Heng Credit since 1985.