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EDITION 18
OcTObEr 2022
31
36
Mercedes-Benz Trucks
unveils eActros LongHaul.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 Editorial
Business
4 Understanding various financing options
Transport and Freight Index
6 The South African logistics sector continues
to improve
News
8 International News
10 Industry News
16 Technological advancements
18 Technology
In the headlights: HCV Fleet Vehicles
20 Mercedes-Benz Trucks unveils eActros
LongHaul
22 Mapping out a global zero emissions truck
rollout
24 Development of Mercedes-Benz GenH2 in
full swing
25 SVI launches B6 armouring for Hino 500
26 Iveco showcases variety of innovative
solutions
27 Volvo Vista winners crowned
28 Hino receives platinum award
Fleet Owner Success Story
30 Volkswagen showcases range of ID.Buzz
possibilities
31 Enviro Automotive showcases EC35 electric
panel van
Supply Chain and Logistics
33 Standardisation in management systems
34 Rhenus expands their capabilities
Energy
35 The shifting automotive energy mix
Fleet Management
36 Crane operators able to lift their game with
assistance from Ctrack
In the headlights: LCV Fleet Vehicles
38 Volkswagen launches all-new Polo Sedan
39 Ford launches completely re-engineered
Everest
40 Mitsubishi launches special edition Triton
41 Nissan’s Crossover icon returns
42 Mitsubishi’s Xpander upgraded
44 Honda BR-V takes on an SUV form
46 Reinventing a French icon
Industry Sales
47 Commercial vehicle sales contract
year-on-year
48 Buyers Guide
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Editor
Reuben van Niekerk
reubenvn@vodamail.co.za
082 837 8801
Editor-at-large
Suzanne Walker
suzanne.walker3@gmail.com
083 3789 664
Contributors
Roger Houghton
houghtonr@mwebbiz.co.za
082 371 9097
Publisher
Jacques Wilken
jwilken@mweb.co.za
083 299 7312
Road Impression Editor
Charl Wilken
cwwilken@mweb.co.za
083 297 1837
Advertising and Marketing
Charlene Kruger
charlene@businessfleetafrica.co.za
076 807 4613
© 1997 WCM Media CC
Disclaimer
While all reasonable precautions
have been taken to ensure the
accuracy of information supplied,
neither the editor, the proprietors,
nor the publishers can accept
responsibility for any inaccuracies,
damages, or injury which may arise
there from.
Trade shows are back
I was fortunate enough to attend two trade shows in Germany
recently, Automechanika in Frankfurt and the IAA in Hannover.
It was the first time that both these shows were presented
following the global COVID-19 pandemic. What was impressive to see was how quickly
things have progressed in the last few years despite COVID-19, global supply chain
shortages and hard lockdowns around the globe. A virtual world filled with zoom
meetings seems to have been good for productivity, especially when it comes to the
development of new technology.
While the products showcased at these international trade shows might not always
be relevant to the South African automotive market, these events are always a good
barometer of where the industry is headed.
The global automotive industry is well and truly ready for emissions free mobility,
with all the major OEMs and aftermarket suppliers presenting solutions to make this
possible. Companies like Bosch have developed the tools necessary to look after
these vehicles and charging solutions were showcased in abundance. Big players like
Continental and Schaeffler have seen this new era as an opportunity and presented a
variety of innovative solutions aimed at working with OEMs or supporting consumers
in the aftermarket.
Electric commercial vehicles not ready for South Africa, yet
Unfortunately the latest electric commercial vehicles still fall short in terms of the
range and load carrying capabilities that South African users require, especially when
it comes to long haul operations. However, things are progressing at such a rapid rate,
with on going research into battery technology and fuel sources such as hydrogen,
that I believe the range conundrum will be sorted sooner than later.
South Africa is getting left behind
Both these trade shows and the products exhibited placed a big emphasis on zero
emissions vehicles and the eco systems surrounding them.
Unfortunately back home, the introduction of a 10ppm sulphur content cap and
1 percent benzene limit in petrol, which was planned for September 2023, has been
delayed until July 2027, according to the Government Gazette.
The knock on effects of this is that in future many manufacturers who are already
producing vehicles according to Euro 6 standards might no longer be able to supply us
with a full range of products that can work in our market, with our dirty fuel.
If government can’t even get this right, especially now that we are importing most
of our fuel, how long will it take them to approve the legislation necessary to make
alternatively powered vehicles with electric or hydrogen drivetrains feasible for local
introduction. I fear that the industry could be severely constricted by copious amounts
of red tape.
We would love to hear from you
As we continually refine the offering that is Business Fleet Africa, we would love to
hear what you would like to see more, or less of. Please feel free to drop me an email
with any comments or suggestions, the details are alongside.
Reuben van Niekerk
Editor
Editorial
EDITORIAL
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | October 2022
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The running of a transport business in
South Africa very often sees operators
working with extremely fine margins
and in order for these businesses to
remain profitable management needs to
constantly evaluate the vehicle financing
options that are available to fleets and
operators.
“External and internal factors are
always changing, so the best way for a
particular business to pay for their mov-
able assets, including trucks and trailers
might not be the same way that they did
it a few years ago,” says Derick de Vries,
Executive Head of Standard Bank Fleet
Management.
New vehicles and trailers are expen-
sive purchases and with interest rate
increases now a common occurrence
it is vitally important for transport
operators, purchasers and business
owners to have a thorough understand-
ing of the various ways of financing
these assets.
A lack of expertise regarding the
various financing options will often see
operators delay the acquisition of new
vehicles, simply out of fear of making
the wrong decision, which more often
than not leads to operators being left to
utilise outdated and unreliable equip-
ment, which could have a detrimental
effect on safety, employee wellbeing and
even your bottom line.
Outright purchase
An outright purchase is the most basic
way of financing an asset. It comprises
utilising cash reserves or funding raised
by other means to buy a vehicle. This
offers numerous advantages including
freedom to choose suppliers or to
negotiate better discounts as well as a
lower overall purchase price, with no
monthly fees or interest rates payable.
Buying equipment outright means
that you are not tied into any specific
ownership period and can buy and sell
vehicles as operational requirements
change. In addition these vehicles can
be added to the balance sheet as an
employed asset.
The disadvantages of this method
will most probably include a reduction
in working capital as well as possible lost
opportunities to invest cash elsewhere
and it will be your responsibility to
dispose of the vehicle via sale or auction
when the time comes to upgrade.
Instalment sale
Historically, especially in South Africa,
instalment sales have been one of
the most popular ways of paying for
vehicles.
The advantages include that a rela-
tively small upfront payment in the form
of a deposit is required and then the
revenue generated by the vehicle can
very often cover the monthly payments.
The interest rates can in many cases be
fixed for the full period of the agreement
or floated against factors such as the
prime lending rate.
Choosing an instalment sale allows
immediate use of the vehicle and
ownership is transferred once the final
instalment has been paid.
Understanding various
financing options
BUSINESS
The financing period and monthly
instalment are fixed which can be a big
advantage in an uncertain economy
and also allow for easier budgeting and
control.
While an instalment sale has always
been very popular it does also come
with some disadvantages. As owner-
ship is only transferred once the final
payment is made, vehicles cannot be
disposed of at the owner’s discretion
until the loan amount is settled, however
the risk of the residual value still resides
with the user.
Leasing
In recent years leasing has grown in
popularity as it affords operators the
use of vehicles without the need to own
them. Without having to invest large
amounts in vehicles companies can gain
access to the equipment needed to
meet increased demand, with agree-
ments tailored to their exact needs and
usage requirements.
Full maintenance leasing
Extended leasing agreements, which
very often include maintenance and
insurance are now a popular way of add-
ing vehicles to fleets as it consolidates a
number of expenses relating to vehicles
into one payment. However very often
these agreements, especially when
maintenance is included, will stipulate
maximum usage and it is therefore
imperative to do your homework in
order to determine if this suits the needs
of your business. In many cases there is
a sweet spot, so if your usage is below
that you will be paying for something
that you don’t need or alternatively you
could be penalised for excessive use.
It is important to keep in mind that
no matter which method you choose
it will have an effect on your operating
costs, tax payments and ultimately your
profits, so it is vital to educate yourself,
if necessary with the help of expert
consultants, on the various options
available and do the due diligence in
determining which is the best solution
for your business.
“The various options all have their
advantages and disadvantages but it
is clear that there is no such thing as a
once size fits all solution and in many
cases larger operators will finance their
vehicles using a combination of these
options depending on their current
needs or financial situation,” concludes
de Vries. BFA
October 2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
“The various options all
have their advantages
and disadvantages but
it is clear that there is
no such thing as a once
size fits all solution and
in many cases larger
operators will finance
their vehicles using a
combination of these
options depending on
their current needs or
financial situation.”
– Derick de Vries,
Executive Head of
Standard Bank Fleet
Management
BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | October 2022
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
TRANSPORT AND FREIGHT INDEX
The South African logistics sector con-
tinued to improve during the month of
August, building on its strong Q3 perfor-
mance. The Ctrack Transport and Freight
Index (Ctrack TFI) grew by 2.0% in August
compared to July, which represented
a 12.9% improvement compared to a
year ago, and an improvement on July’s
revised 9.0% year-on-year growth rate.
The annual comparison is, however,
still influenced by a low base of compar-
ison, as the August 2021 Index was still
under pressure due to the aftermath
of the riots in KZN and Gauteng during
July 2021. During August the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index was able to
surpass March’s pre-flooding level.
Despite many challenges that remain
a reality for the sector including high fuel
prices, rising interest rates and the nega-
tive impact of regular load shedding, the
logistics sector proved to be largely resil-
ient. Four of the six segments measured
by the Ctrack Transport and Freight
Index increased on an annual basis
during August, with the star performer
once again being Road Freight, followed
by Pipeline Transport, Air Freight and
Sea Freight. The remaining segments
including Storage and Handling and Rail
Freight returned declines. The latter
has been on a downward spiral for five
consecutive months, reflecting ongoing
challenges in the rail sector.
“We have had a couple of months
without any major disasters and the
majority of the segments measured by
the Ctrack Transport and Freight Index
have benefitted from this stability in
the general transport environment.
However, further policy restraints,
inflationary impact on tyres, parts and
servicing items do remain a concern for
the Road Transport Industry and can
restrict further growth and recovery,”
says Hein Jordt, Chief Executive Officer
of Ctrack Africa.
While the broader economic en-
vironment has a real effect on all the
sectors measured by the Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index, there are still vastly
different trends evident in each of these
sub-sectors. These trends are partly a
reflection of specific infrastructural chal-
lenges (notably in rail freight), while other
factors such as government policies,
management, efficiency and adaptability
also play an important role in the perfor-
mance of the various sub-sectors.
Road Freight was the best performing
sub-sector during August, with a notable
increase of 28.6% compared to a year
ago, a continuation of a positive growth
streak that emanated in January 2021.
While the number of heavy trucks on the
N3 and N4 toll routes declined by 2.7%
during August, StatsSA reported that
Road Freight payload for the country as
a whole has shown continuous growth,
with a 34% improvement on an annual
basis. The sector has been a beneficiary
of the on going underperformance of
the rail industry but has also been able
to capitalise on the evolving trend of
parcel delivery, driven by increases
in the popularity of online shopping.
According to the StatsSA land transport
survey, income generated from parcel
delivery has increased by 108.7% since
January 2018.
The Rail Freight component declined
by 8.9% year-on-year during August, the
fifth consecutive month of decline, which
can be attributed to large-scale theft of
copper cables, insufficient maintenance,
The South African logistics
sector continues to improve
Graph 1 Ctrack Transport and Freight Index % change on year ago
cTrack & EcONOmIsTs.cO.za
Aug-14
Aug-15
Aug-16
Aug-17
Aug-18
Aug-19
Aug-20
Aug-21
Aug-22
Feb-15
Feb-16
Feb-17
Feb-18
Feb-19
Feb-20
Feb-21
Feb-22
Nov-14
Nov-15
Nov-16
Nov-17
Nov-18
Nov-19
Nov-20
Nov-21
May-15
May-16
May-17
May-18
May-19
May-20
May-21
May-22
30%
20%
10%
0%
-10%
-20%
-30%
4,4%
12,9%
Graph 2 Ctrack Transport and Freight Index components (% change on year ago)
cTrack & EcONOmIsTs.cO.za
Road freight
Pipeline
Air freight
Sea freight
Rail freight
Storage
–13.9
–8.9
5.4
13.0
18.1
28.6
30
–20
–10
10
20
October 2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
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Table 1 Change in Ctrack Transport and Freight Index in August 2022
August 2022 Tables
Percentage change between
Rail
Road
Pipeline
Sea
Air
Storage and
handling
Ctrack Freight
Transport Index
August 2022 vs August 2021 (y/y)
–8.9%
28.6%
18.1%
5.4%
13.0%
–13.9%
12.9%
August 2022 vs July 2022 (m/m)
–0.4%
2.7%
–2.2%
2.1%
–4.9%
5.1%
2.0%
Quarter to August 2022 vs. Quarter to May 2022 (q/q)
–4.9%
7.0%
19.4%
13.2%
–10.1%
2.1%
4.3%
Note: The row highlighted in blue is the main Ctrack Transport and Freight Index values used.
Source: Ctrack and economistscoza, TNPA, StatsSA, SARS, N3 and N4 toll concessions, ACSA, ACOC, IATA.
lack of locomotives and corruption.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula recently
commented that the Department of
Transport is working with the Department
of Public Enterprises to get trucks off the
road, by moving at least 10% from road
onto rail within the next five years. The
White Paper on National Rail Policy was
approved by cabinet in March 2022, and
tabled in parliament, seeking to enable
the government to implement the ambi-
tious policy choices it has made, including
radical structural reforms that not only
seek to restore the competitiveness of
the railway system but also enable private
sector participation through concessions.
The transport of liquid fuels via
Transnet Pipelines (TPL) increased in the
past three months, with the pipeline
component of the Ctrack Transport and
Freight Index growing by 18.1% during
August compared to the same period
last year. South Africa’s own production
of fuel has been on a downward trend
recently with four oil refineries closing
their doors. South Africa once relied on
imports for hardly a third of its refined
fuel, but the situation has changed
notably and bigger volumes of final
products are now being imported and
transported via pipeline to the Gauteng
market on a regular basis.
The Air Freight sector showed signs
of strain during August and declined by
4.9% on a monthly basis, the second
month of decline; however, it is still
tracking 13.0% higher than a year ago.
This is in line with global trends as de-
mand comes under increasing pressure
due to higher inflation and interest rates
globally, which is impacting trade flows
and demand for imports and exports.
Sea Freight grew by 5.4% in August
compared to a year ago, driven by a
strong recovery in container handling at
various ports in recent months. Storage
and handling remained under pressure
in August, declining by 13.9% on an
annual basis, reflecting generally lower
inventory levels in the economy.
The Ctrack Transport and Freight
Index and GDP growth.
While the first quarter’s real GDP growth
was stronger than expected, the econo-
my lost momentum in the second quarter
due to the impact of the KZN flooding
during April, regular load shedding, higher
inflation and rising interest rates.
Encouragingly, the transport sector
outperformed the broader economy
during the second quarter, increasing
by 2.4% compared to the previous
quarter seasonally adjusted vs. a 0.7%
contraction in overall real GDP growth.
Despite many headwinds currently being
experienced by the broader economy,
early indications are that the transport
sector might outperform South Africa’s
GDP once again during the third quarter.
The August 2022 Ctrack TFI (119.2)
increased notably compared to the June
index level (114.8), signalling a further
recovery in the transport sector in Q3.
However, September has been a partic-
ularly challenging month for the South
African economy, due to load shedding,
which will have an overall dampening
effect on the broader economy.
“There is no doubt that South
Africans and the South African economy
is currently under pressure due to a
variety of factors, so it is heartening
that the transport industry as a whole
continues to rise above these challenges
and outperform the countries GDP,”
concludes Jordt. BFA
Rail vs Road Freight indices (2016=100)
140
160
120
100
80
60
40
20
Rail Freight
Road Freight
Jan18=100
Jan-18
Jan-19
Jan-20
Jan-21
Jan-22
Jul-18
Jul-19
Jul-20
Jul-21
Jul-22
Apr-18
Apr-19
Apr-20
Apr-21
Apr-22
Oct-18
Oct-19
Oct-20
Oct-21
sTaTssa LaND TraNsPOrT survEy
Graph 2 Comparison between payload for rail and road freight transportation
Encouragingly, the transport
sector outperformed the broader
economy during the second quarter,
increasing by 2.4% compared to
the previous quarter seasonally
adjusted vs. a 0.7% contraction
in overall real GDP growth.
BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | October 2022
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Mercedes-Benz Vans and electric vehicle
manufacturer Rivian has announced
the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding to initiate a strategic
partnerships, which will see the two
companies cooperate on the production
of electric vans.
The companies intend to establish a
new joint venture with the purpose of
investing in, and operating, a factory in
Europe to produce large electric vans for
both Mercedes-Benz Vans and Rivian.
The goal is to build an all-new electric
only production facility leveraging an
existing Mercedes-Benz site in Europe.
The companies envisage production
optimised vehicle designs for efficient
manufacturing on common assembly
lines. The aim is to produce to large
vans, one based on the Mercedes-Benz
electric-only platform and the other
based on the second-generation elec-
tric-van, Rivian Light van platform.
The joint venture mirrors the common
objectives of Mercedes-Benz vans and
Rivian, with both companies planning to
rapidly scale the production of electric
vans to help the world transition to clean-
er transportation. By working together,
they will be able to leverage operations
synergies and substantially improve cost
efficiency to help make the vans more
affordable for commercial customers
driven by total cost of ownership. BFA
Mercedes-Benz Vans and Rivian move to
partner on electric van production
Volvo Trucks will deliver fully electric heavy-duty trucks to
Amazon in Germany by year-end. The 20 Volvo FH Electric
trucks are expected to drive more than one million road
kilometres annually, fuelled with electricity instead of diesel.
Heavy goods vehicles and other commercial vehicles make
up around 36% of Germany’s domestic transport emissions,
which makes road transport decarbonisation an important
issue to address.
“Big actors in the transport business play a key role in
leading the industry’s efforts to lower its carbon footprint.
Therefore I´m glad that Amazon is working with us to help
reduce their emissions in longer and heavier transport as-
signments,” says Jessica Sandström, Senior Vice President of
Product Management at Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Trucks started the series production of heavy-duty
electric trucks in September this year and the availability of
electric trucks for inter-city and regional haulage marks an
important milestone for decarbonizing road transport.
“Globally we now have six electric truck models ready to
order and in series production to meet the increasing demand
for decarbonizing goods transports. This is an encouraging step
forward for reducing climate change impacts,” added Sandström.
The electric versions of its most important product range –
the heavy-duty Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX trucks – will
play a vital role in reaching Volvo Trucks’ global target that
in 2030 50% of all-new trucks sold will be battery or fuel cell
electric. These electric heavy-duty trucks can operate at a total
weight of 44 tonnes and the three models mentioned represent
around two thirds of the company’s sales.
For Amazon, the trucks will replace their diesel counterparts
and play a key role in electrification initiatives through its
transportation chain.
“Amazon is committed to decarbonizing its fleet, and the
middle mile has been a notoriously hard-to-abate sector,”
explains Andreas Marschner, Vice President Transportation
Services Europe at Amazon. “That’s why welcoming these
electric heavy goods vehicles from Volvo into our fleet is such a
critical milestone. We’re operating one of the fastest-growing
commercial transportation electrification programs, and we’ll
continue to invest and innovate to decarbonize and deliver
packages to customers with zero emissions.” BFA
Volvo to supply Amazon with 20 heavy-duty electric trucks
DAF’s New Generation XD series has
been elected International Truck of the
Year 2023. Harald Seidel, President of
DAF Trucks, received the prestigious
award during an award ceremony at
the IAA Transportation in Hanover,
Germany. The XD series, including a
full array of fully electric variants with
ranges of over 500 kilometres on a
single charge. Was officially unveiled at
the IAA.
Based on the International Truck of
the Year (IToY) rules, the annual award
goes to the truck introduced into the
market in the previous 12 months,
making the most significant contribution
to road transport efficiency. This judg-
ment relies on several critical criteria,
including technological innovation,
comfort, safety, drivability, fuel econo-
my, environmental ‘footprint’ and Total
Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Summing up the jury vote,
International Truck of the Year Chairman
Gianenrico Griffini commented: “With
the introduction of the new XD series,
DAF has delivered a state-of-the-art
distribution truck that sets a new bench-
mark in its class. The truck range signifi-
cantly improves direct and indirect vision
thus safety, a key factor for distribution
vehicles. Also, the vehicle’s efficiency
and driver comfort are introducing a
new standard in this segment.”
In addition, the 24 jury members
praised the performance of the new,
highly efficient powertrains of the
XD, featuring the powerful PACCAR
MX-11 engines with ZF TraXon auto-
mated gearbox with advanced pre-
dictive features. The announcement
of a series of brand-new, fully electric
powertrains also impressed the jury
committee. BFA
Volta Trucks, the leading and disruptive
full-electric commercial vehicle man-
ufacturer and services provider, has
completed a rigorous programme of
hot weather testing of its full-electric
16-tonne Volta Zero.
Taking place over six weeks at the
purpose-built Nardo Technical Centre in
Southern Italy, the hot weather testing
programme was designed to ensure that
the Volta Zero will deliver outstanding
levels of reliability and durability when
series production of customer specifica-
tion vehicles starts early next year.
The vehicle development team at
Volta Trucks completed more than
2 500km of customer-focused driving cy-
cles at motorway, town and city speeds.
Undertaken in temperatures of up to
39 degrees Celsius during the day and
28 degrees Celsius at night, the air condi-
tioning system and thermal manage-
ment of the battery and powertrain of
the Volta Zero have been fully evaluated
and pushed to the extremes to ensure
optimum operational reliability.
Although unlikely to be experienced
in its natural urban surroundings, testing
has also been undertaken on coarse
dustier surfaces, which provided an even
tougher challenge for the Volta Zero’s
chassis, pushing the vehicle’s suspension,
steering, traction control and braking
system beyond the expected limit of
normal customer usage. In addition, dust
accumulation was studied for cabin and
load box ingress, as well as how it sits on
components such as lights, wipers and
panels.
The Volta Zero is the world’s first pur-
pose-built full-electric 16-tonne vehicle
designed for urban logistics, reducing the
environmental impact of freight deliveries
in city centres. Designed from the ground
up with an operating pure-electric range
of 150 – 200 kilometres.
In November 2021, Volta Trucks
announced Europe’s largest purchase of
full-electric trucks with DB Schenker’s
order of 1 470 vehicles. This followed
Petit Forestier’s order of 1 000 Volta
Zeros. Volta Trucks now has a total order
bank of around 6 500 vehicles, with an
order bank value of circa €1.4 billion. BFA
Volta Zero undergoes hot weather testing
DAF XD awarded International Truck of the Year 2023
October 2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
INDUSTRY NEWS
BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | October 2022
10
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Suzuki continues sales success
Truck and trailer body building company Serco has intro-
duced a smart trailer system developed in partnership with
South African technology specialists Ikhaya Automation.
Features include real time on board weighing, making
it possible for operators to identify axle overloads and
thus prevent possible fines and delays. The smart system
sends an alarm when axle limits have been exceeded,
enabling adjustments to be made.
Integrating with the trailer’s EBS system, it records
mileage and sends alerts when the vehicle is due to be
serviced. By monitoring supply air pressure to the braking
system, leaks and damaged airbags can be detected,
contributing to a safe and efficient running trailer.
Door opening sensors and temperature probes can be
added and these integrate with auxiliary systems such as
tyre pressure monitoring and GPS tracking to enhance the
performance of a transporter’s fleet management system.
Ensuring a trailer is running optimally using smart
technology helps reduce running costs and minimise
breakdowns while improving vehicle safety. BFA
Suzuki Auto South Africa this week sent a special note of thanks
to its dealer network for its stellar performance in September,
when the brand sold 4 364 new vehicles. This number is close
to its overall best sales and firmly entrenches Suzuki as one of
South Africa’s top three best-selling vehicle brands.
Of the overall sales, the Suzuki dealer network sold 3 135
units or more than two- thirds of all the vehicles. “When a
brand is growing as quickly as Suzuki is growing now, it can
easily lose its connection with its customers. And while a brand
can invest in its marketing and communications, the ultimate
connection is between the dealer and the customer. “That is
why we are so immensely proud of our dealer network, who
have managed to maintain a very high level of customer satis-
faction and repeat business,” says Henno Havenga, Manager of
Auto Dealer Sales at Suzuki Auto South Africa.
Suzuki grew in recent months to 84 dealers, with our newer
dealers in both the large metros and in smaller towns and
cities. “At our Dealer of the Year Awards earlier this year, Suzuki
dealers in rural towns and regions like Queenstown, Vredenburg,
on the West Coast and Mokopane won awards alongside large
dealers in areas such as Bryanston, Johannesburg and in Durban,
Durban South and Cape Town. “This means that our customers
are guaranteed a great experience, regardless of where they buy
their new Suzuki,” says Havenga.
Swift the top-seller
In September, the Suzuki Swift was the top-selling new
Suzuki through the dealer channel. Dealers sold 829 new Swift
models, and the government, rental and fleet division added a
further 503 units for total sales of 1 332 Swift models.
Other models that performed well include the Vitara Brezza
(736 units), the S- Presso (340 units) and the Suzuki Dzire
(417 units).
The same vehicles proved popular to fleet, government
and vehicle rental buyers. In total, Suzuki sold 1 227 vehicles
through these channels in September. BFA
Smart trailers contribute to transport efficiency