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March 2005 |
Africa is hungry for trucks! But not
just any old 'lorry', it seems. Transporters in the SADC region want
fancy new HCVs that can handle the harsh operating environments Africa
throws at them. They also want efficient back-up services. The opening
of a brand new Botswana Head Office suggests that Scania SA is on a
steady roll to capitalise on this need.
As
you cross the border from South Africa into Botswana on the road to
Gaborone, a giant billboard announces that you are now entering 'Scania
country'. With a host of truck manufacturers doing business in the
southern African region, this statement could be read as mere
advertising hype. In reality though, more Scania trucks and buses are
exported from South Africa into sub-Saharan Africa than any other HCV
brand (119 heavy trucks and 150 buses in 2004), testimony to the ability
of these vehicles to handle the arduous driving conditions in this
desert country.
Behind the company's leading position in the region is a business model
Scania SA MD, Ulf Grievesmühl has dubbed 'the hub'- a sales and support
network spreading out from the Johannesburg central warehouse and
assembly plant to outlying areas both within South Africa and stretching
into other sub-Saharan states.
"Conceptually, these outlying regions are situated at the
extremities of the spokes of a wheel, the hub of which is located in
Johannesburg," he says. Scania SA officially opened its Gaborone
Head Office in February, hot on the heels of new branch openings in
Bloemfontein, the East Rand and Richards Bay.
"The motivation for Scania SA's involvement in Botswana is the
growing cross-border traffic being experienced throughout sub-Saharan
Africa," says Ivan Stafanovic, Scania Botswana MD. "By taking
over the commercial responsibility for the country, Scania SA has
demonstrated its commitment to Botswana's transport operators."
The inaugural party held on the premises of the new head office
highlighted the partnership between Scania and the Botswana government,
specifically their mutual commitment to the economic and social
development of that country. The guest list underscored this. In
attendance were the Swedish ambassador to Botswana, several Botswana
cabinet ministers and top Scania executives, high rollers with high
hopes for a country with many challenges (HIV/Aids, drought, vast
uninhabited areas) and huge potential (political stability, strong
currency, eco-tourism).
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PRISTINE
HORSES
The launch dinner took place in the new workshop alongside
Scania 6x4’s. |
It certainly is
encouraging to see positive engagement between Northern Hemisphere
big business and Southern Hemisphere government, especially in an
era where anti-globalisation sentiment abounds. The furthering of
these healthy relations will ultimately depend on what Scania
delivers in terms of job (and wealth) creation and its support of
the local transport industry.
Stefanovic adds: "We are geared to give our customers the
highest levels of ongoing service and support. We operate a 24-hour,
7-days a week breakdown service from our three branches, Gaborone,
Lobatse and Francistown, with full parts backup. Taking this concept
one step further, we believe in being business partners with our
customers, gaining an insight into what is required to assist them
in maintaining uptime. This is one of the most critical business
principles in the transport industry and Scania Botswana is
committed to supporting it."
Grievesmühl concludes: "We have strengthened our wholly-owned
sales and service infrastructure in southern Africa in order to meet
the requirements of our customers for world-class backup and
support. We have also increased the capacity of our local assembly
plant to meet the demands for our trucks in sub-Saharan
Africa."
Business and politics aside, the Scania Botswana inauguration party
delivered one resounding message: Trucking is about people working
together to improve everyone's quality of life.
On our return trip, with the sun lashing down at 42 degrees Celsius
on the border-post forecourt, that message was cemented. Both the
Scania bus we were travelling in and the Botswana customs office
were properly air-conditioned, cool and super friendly. The South
African customs office was not.
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