Merc's new super pick-up

WITH the launch of the Unimog 529 in Winterton on Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz South Africa has returned this popular all-terrain tourer to its agricultural roots.

Mario Alvelos, business development manager at Mercedes-Benz, told Wheels the new Unimog is all about achieving more efficiencies on the farm. “Farmers are the biggest contributor to the economy right now, but we as consumers want to pay cheaper for food. The Unimog is a multi-purpose labour-saving tool that has since 1946 been engineered to save labour in all four seasons,” he said at a media briefing.

Winterton farmer and tractor dealer Leon Rohrs demonstrated the Unimog’s ability to pull heavy loads, including large rippers and heavy planters.

Rohrs, who is also a Massey Ferguson dealer, told Wheels he was blown away by the abilities of the new ’mog 529.

Alvelos said the 529 was designed as an implement carrier, with the added speed of a truck, and Mercedes-Benz safety.

Because it uses Daimler truck parts, 33 Mercedes-Benz commercial dealers are also available nationwide to service the ’mog, which uses the same diagnostics as the group’s trucks to determine oil changes based on actual use, as opposed to mileage. Maintenance intervals are 1 200 hours or one year between oil changes.

Alvelos said the new ’mog can do the work of three tractors at once, with the added bonus of being able to travel to site on its own power, while meeting all safety requirements at mines and commercial farms.