Construction World July 2017

BUILDING TRUST with Scania used vehicles The uncertainty associated with the purchase of a used-vehicle in especially the construction

seems to be getting higher every year as customers restructure rather than grow their fleets. “There has been a steady growth in Used Vehicle uptake with the purpose of use in the construction sector,” Melville states. Achieving Scania Approved status Melville explains that all Scania Approved vehicles need to have had a full repair and maintenance contract. “When a vehicle is traded in, it must be in a roadworthy condition, be in decent mechanical order and cosmetically clean before our workshops start the check and repair process,” Melville elaborates. The same specific requirements such as maximum uptime and optimal fuel consumption that a customer would expect when a new Scania is purchased, are qualitative points when a customer is in the market for a used vehicle – both play an important role in any business and Scania is renowned for this globally. “Construction vehicles need maximum uptime, this is obtained by our thoroughly pre-inspected and maintained vehicles – when down-time does occur, we have our 24/7 Scania Assist on hand for any unforeseen inconveniences,” he explains. “In brief, Scania Approved status means that the customer gets peace of mind with the knowledge that no aftermarket parts were fitted to the vehicle. A Scania Approved vehicle has been thoroughly assessed and rated by our technicians – just as new ones are. Knowing that the trucks have been thoroughly checked by our experienced technicians, builds trust in what can be a very uncertain decision,” he adds. Melville says there is no major difference in warranty terms for a new or used vehicle. It is, however, dependant on the age of the

Construction Customers that are in the market to buy a used vehicle often ask themselves how to avoid the pitfalls of buying second hand. The keyword is trust. Scania Used Vehicles alleviates any obstruction and hesitancy and offers trusted used vehicle solutions to customers. Construction World spoke to Ronald Melville, National Used Vehicle Sales Manager at Scania South Africa about Scania’s offering of a trusted partnership when purchasing a used vehicle for the construction sector. When asked who would rather opt for a used vehicle, Melville explains that a used vehicle can be more economical for small and start-up construction operations and can be far more cost effective on the initial purchase. In addition, he says, warranties and service plans can be provided, giving longevity and peace of mind. “You buy a Scania used vehicle for the same reasons you will buy a new one – built-in toughness, durability, reliability and low operating costs which all contribute to maximum uptime,” maintains Melville. In terms of the number of used vehicles sold, Mellville says that in 2016 Scania sold approximately 65% and this number is climbing. “Before year-end I believe it will be around 75% to 80% as the trade-in ratio industry where it would have operated in harsh conditions before it was sold, is an inhibiting factor for potential buyers.

Ronald Melville, National Used Vehicle Sales Manager at Scania South Africa.

vehicle. Scania offers a Drive Line Warranty that is honoured provided the vehicle is serviced at a Scania approved centre. Repair and maintenance (R&M) contracts are available on a used vehicle provided it has been on a R&M package before – or has a low mileage with a full service history. In addition, R&M contracts are determined by the mileage that the vehicle accumulates in a month, and the application that the vehicle will be used for. “The Scania repair and maintenance programme provides a comprehensive support package that’s inclusive in our total solutions offering that is available to all construction customers wanting to buy a used vehicle.” Melville concludes: “Our solutions offering for used vehicles ensure that the construction customer can expect to minimise the costs of their operation and get the highest levels of uptime.” 

Finance option Melville explains that the finance option available for used vehicles is a Financial Lease which can be anything from 24 to 36 months depending on how hard the vehicle works in a month. “We do however prefer the vehicle to do no more than 12 0000 km within a single month.”

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2017