OREANDA-NEWS. In September, the company will launch mass production of the new long-haul tractor KAMAZ-5490. According to all people participating in this event, it will become that starting point which will open a new era of commercial vehicles production in Naberezhnye Chelny.

It was known long ago that KAMAZ will cardinally change the existing model range in the years immediately ahead. Sergey Kogogin, Director General of OJSC KAMAZ, repeated many times that there was no point in continuously upgrading vehicles built as far back as the 70/80-ies. Customers need a truck made with the use of state-of-the-art technologies which will enable to develop a new line of vehicles for the future. It means the only thing for the company’s employees – trucks equal to European analogues in technical characteristics will start coming off the assembly line of the automobile plant.

The distinguishing feature of the new long-haul tractor is a cab based on the Mercedes-Benz Axor cab. A modern design and a streamlined shape enabled to considerably improve not only aerodynamic characteristics of the KAMAZ truck, but also its usability. The height of the new cabin is almost two meters! A person can easily move at full height in it. Two berths are located behind a driver’s and a passenger’s seats. The seats are equipped with a pneumatic system. Besides, the version has many electronic systems which were never used in long-haul tractors of the previous line. In particular, the vehicle is equipped with a conditioner, cruise control, electric window lifts and an adjustable steering column. A high roof gave an opportunity to place several roomy shelves on a panel above a windshield. These innovations should greatly enhance comfort in the cab of the new KAMAZ truck.

The heart of the tractor is German for the present: a Mercedes-Benz OM457LA straight-six engine generating 428 hp and complying with Euro 5 emission standards is used as a power unit. Later it can be replaced by a power unit produced by KAMAZ. The transmission of the vehicle uses a ZF 16S 2221 16-speed gearbox. Disk brakes, EBS, ESP and ECAS systems made the prime mover a safe vehicle.

The KAMAZ-5490 bolster-type tractor is a significant technological breakthrough of KAMAZ in production of vehicles for commercial cargo transportation. Sergey Kogogin said in his recent interview to RBC Daily, “We have been thinly represented in the segment of long-haul tractors until recently. The 5490 vehicle is one of steps to gain ground on the market. This product is one of measures which will help KAMAZ maintain its positions under conditions of a coming crisis.”

One cannot but agree with KAMAZ’s top manager: thanks to its usability, the new KAMAZ long-haul tractor can honorably represent the Russian auto industry both on the domestic scene, and abroad.