Capital Equipment News October 2021

USED TRUCKS

Daimler Trucks & Buses Southern Africa has seen an increase in sales to larger fleet and corporate customers.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the used truck market In tough economic times, fleet owners often turn to used trucks to service their contracts. This feature explores new trends in the used truck market and takes a look at the disruption caused to this industry by the COVID-19 pandemic. By Mark Botha.

W hen asked about the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the used truck industry, UD Trucks Southern Africa manager: Used Trucks Ruben Dempers notes a low- ering in stockholding for new trucks. “This directly affects the supply of trade-ins to the used truck market,” he says. Annelie van Rooyen, head of TruckStore, a division within Daimler Trucks & Buses Southern Africa, adds that the decreased stockholding has also driven demand for used vehicles: “With most manufacturers experiencing stock

shortages due to various external factors caused by the pandemic, the demand for used vehicles has increased over the last year and a half.” On the negative side, however, few customers are currently in a position to trade vehicles in or return their contract lease vehicles, placing even more pressure on used vehicle stock levels in the market. The positive impact, says Van Rooyen, is an increase in the value of used vehicles in the market, making it a very competitive environment at the moment. “Export sales have declined since the pandemic started due to border closures and other travel restrictions implemented by South Africa’s neighbouring countries. This resulted in lost opportunity for many used vehicle traders.”

“The industry driver at the moment is predominantly stock availability, as good used trucks are in very high demand.”

Ruben Dempers, manager: Used Trucks at UD Trucks Southern Africa

Used truck trends Dempers notes that, in terms of new

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