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The new Midrand Iveco Centre projects a powerful image of this facility being a world class player in our local market. |
Not long after the roof-wetting of the upgraded Truck Centre Wadeville came the opening of another Iveco dealer, this time in Midrand where over 100 guests gathered to celebrate the birth of the new R25-million Midrand Iveco Centre.
Patrick O'Leary was one of the guests.
Situated alongside the N1 on the highest point between Pretoria and Johannesburg, one could not help walking away from a truly impressive bash thinking that Iveco is finally on the right track in terms of projecting its market presence. For many years,
FleetWatch has felt that Iveco has focused more internally than externally and in doing so, has not really done its market image - or presence - true justice.
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It was smiles all round when Iveco SA's MD Ed Chvatal (centre) presented a commemorative plaque to executive director Zandisile Pase (left) and dealer principle Manfred Hintermair. |
One could argue that some of the internal focus over the past years was on jacking up its after-sales and back-up service offerings and in this way improve its market image by providing its customers with more than just a good up-front product. However,
FleetWatch's point remains that much of what was done was not really projected dynamically to the market. There was no sign of a really strong presence - one that would say: "Hey - we're powerful, we're here and we mean business".
Well, that statement has now been made via the Midrand Iveco Centre and proof that such a statement does talk loud is given via the fact that since opening its doors for business, the dealer has welcomed a number of 'walk-in' clients who saw the dealership from the N1 and popped in to see what it was all about. Some of these 'walk-ins' have walked out as new clients. In other words, the 'presence' has sold trucks.
That Iveco is an extremely powerful and influential player in the world truck market there is no doubt and it is heartening to see this now being reflected in South Africa. In fact, during the various speeches at the launch, the words 'world-class' were repeated in many different contexts and it was these two words that hit home to me that this is the status Iveco needs in SA - especially given that the company's flagship model, the Stralis, which has done so well in Europe, has been added locally to the rest of the proven model range.
Space prohibits a full look into this dealership but suffice to say its management team - headed by dealer principal Manfred Hintermair and executive director Zandisile Pase - walks the talk in every way. Just one example is the attention paid to the environmental aspects of the facility.
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The new dealership will be trading with the entire Iveco range as well as offering full back-up service in state-of-the-art workshops. Note those floors. We're assured such cleanliness was not just to impress the guests but will remain as such to reflect a world class facility. |
In a world which is increasingly - and thankfully - paying attention to adverse environmental impacts, Midrand Iveco Centre has kicked off with a sound policy of environmental responsibility complying with all the latest water treatment standards and noise reduction facilities. Plans are also in place to back up its power supply with solar energy - a move that would gain high approval in Europe as being environmentally sound but which in South Africa takes on extra significance as a wise business move given Eskom's pathetic performance of late.
The dealership - which, by the way, is claimed by its management to be the first majority black-owned enterprise (51%) in the commercial sector in an industry with a normal BEE component of only 30% - has also complied with all new environmental standards by installing underground water tanks to gather oil and grease and has gone to great lengths to guarantee the protection of the local environment. All this is in line with 'world class' practices.
Iveco SA's managing director Ed Chvatal was there looking, I must say, very chuffed with it all - and he had every right to be. It's all the right stuff.
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