Automotive Business Review — February 2018

42 WORDS IN ACTION http://www.abrbuzz.co.za

SHAKEN AND STIRRED –

BUT SET TO SIZZLE

UD Trucks is certainly not alone with having had a rough 2016, but the

fact they’ve rebounded in 2017 in such style proves they’re made of a

mettle most magnifi cent. 2016 was an annus horribilis for UD Trucks –

and they’re in good company with many others who were left shaken and

stirred. How to get out of that conundrum?

W

ell, get out of it UD Trucks did, and in grand fashion too.

While no-one would have expected last year to be an

annus mirabilis, it certainly was better. At the annual press

conference last month, Gert Swanepoel, manager of UD

Trucks Southern Africa, said that although there was a lot of negativity

politically and economically in 2016, the team realised when the going gets

tough, the tough fl ex their muscles.

“It was a huge challenge to stand fi rm and fi ght back, but that’s exactly

what we did,” says Swanepoel. “We needed to fi x certain things and get our

satisfaction index with clients right. That was a priority last year, and doing

that has certainly paid dividends.”

While the truck market was generally depressed, the Extra Heavy Commercial

Vehicle sector recorded a modest year-on-year growth of 0.96% which saw a

year end sales fi gure of 11 967 units. Sales in the Heavy Commercial Vehicle

sector was down 4.76% to 5 290 units and a 6.37% decline in sales was

logged in the Medium Commercial Vehicle segment, recording sales of 7 785

units at the end of 2017. He says it was imperative to focus on brand, and

“to bring the brand back in 2017.”

“Market share is up and that proves what we’re doing is correct. Not to get

rattled was the big one to overcome, but keeping your eye on what was

needed to be corrected – and even to admit that there were things that

needed to be corrected – took guts and determination and we certainly

have that in abundance.

“Now there is a huge success story to tell, and our customer focus is the

key to that success. At the beginning of 2017 we were #7 in the customer

satisfaction stats. We ended last year in #3 position, which is testament to

our drive. Good product and parts supply that meets expectation are the

two boxes to tick, and the market has responded very positively.” He says

that growth for 2018 has been forecast at only 1.5%.

“We believe that we can do better. Our product line-up is truly fantastic and

fi nancially we are in really good shape. We are expecting sales in the export

countries to increase during 2018, forecasting growth across all segments

for a total sales estimate of some 990 units. Locally, we are predicting a

slight 1.5% growth in sales and a total truck market of an estimated 25 418

new units.”

UD Trucks has secured a new partner in Kenya to establish a CKD

(Completely Knocked Down) assembly facility, which includes the production

of UD Truck units.

During 2017, UD Trucks also invested in R30-million in the modernisation

of its Rosslyn assembly plant to mirror that of the company’s Ageo plant

in Japan.

Last year the company also trained 1 247 dealer and customer staff at its

Competence Development Centre in Rosslyn, including 92 diesel mechanic

apprentices – a much sought-after skill in the transport industry.

During 2017, UD Trucks gained traction with the launch of the new Croner

range, claiming the #2 position in the Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment.

UD TRUCKS

by Terry Owen

Gert

Swanepoel...

we are going

to try and

outgrow the

market

Rory

Schulz...

Instability,

downgrading

and a

recession

played havoc

with the

industry

Paul Uys...

Looking at

variants in

the model

product

line-up

Sanjay

Nepal ...

Soft focus in

Aftermarket

will focus on

adding value

to customer

business

Aubrey

Rambau ...

Magnificent

make-over of

Rosslyn plant