Capital Equipment News September 2021

TRANSPORT NEWS

UD Trucks opens new service dealer in Vaal Triangle UD Trucks Southern Africa has announced the opening of a new service dealer in Sasolburg. Strategically located, UD Trucks Vaal will serve fleet owners in the indus- trial heartland of the country with certified UD Trucks service, parts and roadside

Trucks Vaal Service dealership. We be- lieve in the team and know that they are truly committed to provide our customers with the kind of support and service that they expect and deserve.” The service dealer facility is owned by Highpoint Group, a local company with more than 20 years’ experience in mining, manufacturing, engineering, and vacuum technology. As a UD Trucks customer themselves, they have the unique expertise to antici- pate and deliver on fleet owners’ unique business and transport requirements. “Throughout our dealings with UD Trucks, we have come to know and trust the products and services built on the prin- ciples of drivability, fuel efficiency, safety, productivity and uptime – all essentials in any transport business,” says David Gade, MD of UD Trucks Vaal. “But most impor- tantly, we believe in the UD Trucks people.” He says the company is passionate about customer service and therefore the UD Trucks brand promise of ‘Going the Extra Mile’ resonates with what they are already doing in their daily operations. “I also believe that the technical expertise in this dealership is exceptional and customers in the Vaal Triangle will

assistance. This brings the total number of independently owned UD Trucks dealers in South Africa to 38. “As UD Trucks, we believe in offering our customers more than just a vehicle. It is about providing a complete transport solution,” says Filip Van den Heede, MD of UD Trucks Southern Africa. “The UD Trucks dealer network has been developed according to a carefully planned strategy. All dealers adhere to stringent quality requirements, and as a result, we can deliver the same level of quality service to our customers, no matter where they are.” One of the main reasons for UD Trucks Southern Africa’s continued success is the emphasis the company places on building relationships with fleet owners. “In the highly competitive transport business, we know that every cent and every minute counts. We live this vision from the inside out,” explains Van den Heede. “That is why we are very pleased and excited with the opening of the UD For the past 27 years FAW Trucks has shown its commitment to local customers by steadily growing its product offering and establishing its own assembly plant in Gqeberha in 2014, while also strengthening its presence across southern Africa. With 24 dealerships and service centres located around South Africa, and another seven situated in other southern African countries, the brand is well positioned to capitalise on the increased sales momentum it is experiencing. The strategic location of FAW dealerships and service centres has played a major part in the impressive sales success the brand has enjoyed, particularly since January this year, when it took the top spot in the heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) segment of the local market for the first time. By concentrat- ing on larger metropolitan areas and indus- trial hubs, as well as key cities and towns along major routes, FAW Trucks has placed itself in an ideal position to cater to various markets. These include transport and logis- tics, agriculture, mining and construction. There are currently three sales and service centres in Johannesburg, two in Pre- toria and one in Midvaal, covering Gauteng.

Filip Van den Heede, MD of UD Trucks Southern Africa.

benefit from this knowledge and skills,” says Gade. The UD Trucks Vaal team is led by Dealer Principal, Sonnika Oosthuizen. “Everything we do is focused on giving our customers superior levels of service and support. It is all about saving our customers time, by getting their vehicles back on the road faster. Ultimately, our customers’ success is our top priority,” states Oosthuizen. b

Dedicated support footprint the backbone of FAW Trucks in southern Africa Facilities in Cape Town, Gqeberha and George handle sales and services in the Western and Eastern Cape. In Mpum- alanga there are also

three centres, located in Ermelo, Middelburg and Nelspruit. Centres situated in Mahikeng and Klerksdorp

look after clients in the North-West Province, while the Free State is covered by centres in Bloemfontein, Bethlehem and Harrismith. KwaZulu-Natal customers can turn to centres in either Pinetown, Port Shepstone or Richards Bay with their sales or servicing needs. The Northern Cape and Limpopo province have one sales and service centre each, located in Upington and Polokwane respectively. FAW Trucks is literally represented in all four corners of the country and each facility is committed to providing products and service of the highest quality. “With FAW Trucks’ reputation for strength,

FAW Trucks has 24 dealerships and service centres in South Africa.

reliability, ease of operation and value for money, the units virtually sell themselves. Our other focus is to ensure that we provide customers with dedicated service and sup- port of the highest quality. Buyers need to know that we are here to stay and that we will honour all warranties, service plans and aftersales requirements. They also need to know that they can rely on a reliable and steady supply of parts. FAW Trucks are built to last and our dealerships and service centres need to instil that same confidence, no matter where they are located,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks SA. b

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021 38