New southern truck powerhouse “a force to be reckoned with”
Fuso Trucks distributor, Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand, has partnered with Daimler Trucks to create the South Island’s largest truck sales and servicing network.
The move aligns the Fuso, Mercedes and Freightliner brands for retail sales and servicing and the new network starts next month with the opening of newly appointed dealer, Southern Commercial Vehicles who will trade as Prestige Commercial Vehicles.
“Prestige Commercial Vehicles will provide the strongest truck sales and service network operation in the South Island offering customers an extensive network of strong, integrated dealerships - a true southern powerhouse”, said Roger White, Fuso national sales manager.
“Information and billing will be centralised and customers will deal with the same business and enjoy the same high standards from one end of the island to the other”.
The head office and large new showroom will be located in Hornby, Christchurch. Current Fuso dealer Russell Marr of Trucks South will become the general sales manager for the group. Its principal will be South Star Freightliner’s Brian Mills.
The Prestige Commercial Vehicles dealership group, with six branches in Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, Cromwell and Greymouth, will open its doors on October 5. Star Trucks International and Truck Specialists in Nelson and Transmar Services in Blenheim will continue their sales and servicing contracts for the upper South Island.
“The strength of our current South Island network is the vastly experienced and respected people, many of whom will stay within the Prestige Commercial
Vehicles group. Customers will also benefit from the addition of some of the country’s best Fuso, Mercedes and Freightliner people. These synergies will provide the very best level of service to our customers throughout the south” said Mr White.
“The days when New Zealand can sustain a number of individual dealers with individual overheads are over. This alignment of brands represents around 35% of the total market and will be a force to be reckoned with. This is the future of truck sales and servicing and we are excited to be leading the way”.