Author:focus-on-transport
Tata Motors celebrated its 21st anniversary in South Africa this year and, in that time, the brand has grown and evolved to offer a vehicle solution for every customer’s needs. GAVIN MYERS finds out what ’s next for the brand. When Tata Motors started operations in South Africa with Tata Automobile Corporation South Africa during 1997, it offered customers just a couple of models. However, the brand carefully established its operations and steadily increased its rate of business. “It was a […]
When will the delays, corruption and looting at African borders be dealt with? Not in our lifetime, probably… Not a month goes by without some report of delays, inefficiency or corruption at one or more borders in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The latest culprit is Kasumbalesa, the border between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I was alerted to the situation on October 17 by Mike Fitzmaurice, CEO of the Federation of East and Southern […]
The extra-heavy commercial vehicle (EHCV) segment is the backbone of the South African trucking industry. Gareth Greathead explores the dynamics of the segment According to the latest results released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), Associated Motor Holdings (AMH) and Amalgamated Automobile Distributors (AAD), by the end of September this year a total of 19 939 new trucks and buses had been retailed. Despite tough economic conditions, the overall sales in the South African commercial […]
Tough economic conditions, combined with the potential to save as much as 50 percent on the sale price of a new vehicle, means that sales of used trucks are booming. FOCUS investigates whether it’s worth buying out of warranty, and what to expect and inspect. Just as in the automobile sector, trucks are sometimes sold privately, or through smaller independent dealerships. One reason for this is that a seller is sometimes able to get a better price from a smaller […]
Is expensive better, or cheap cheerful? When it comes to tyres, you have to be wary of your upfront costs to save down the road As is often the case when revenue is down and budgets are cut, more weight is given to the here and now, instead of thinking about the long term. Save a little now, worry about the rest later… In transport, the three little letters of cost per kilometre (CPK) can be so easy to ignore […]
While the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz Actros and a concept van attracted the attention of international visitors at the IAA, it was the display of a South African Actros and the presence of the South African Mercedes-Benz management team that caught CHARLEEN CLARKE´s eye. As is always the case at the IAA, Mercedes-Benz stunned visitors with a huge display of world-class vehicles. This year, the new Mercedes-Benz Actros (with its fancy cameras instead of mirrors) and an incredible concept […]
Independently measured against a list of criteria under the two key factors of “Visionary Innovation and Performance” and “Customer Impact”, ZF Aftermarket beat off stiff competition to take the Frost & Sullivan European Automotive Aftermarket Company of the Year 2018 title. “Within a competitive and challenging market, ZF Aftermarket’s industry leading position and partnership skills in the field of advancing mobility make it a true and worthy winner of the title,” explains Benson Augustine, senior research analyst, Frost & Sullivan. […]
What is customer centricity? “It is so much more than just great customer service,” says Bruce Thoresson, international logistics director for Bidvest Panalpina Logistics (BPL). “It’s about creating an experience from the moment we first engage with a client until after our services have been rendered. We put the customer at the heart of our decision-making and service delivery throughout that process, providing a service uniquely customised to their needs.” Customer-centric businesses typically start with assessing a customer’s needs, rather […]
As it did in 2017, MAN Automotive is once again offering free vehicle health checks for bus and coach operators. With just over 400 vehicles checked and attended to prior to the December 2017 festive season, the MAN Automotive after-sales team is targeting more than 500 vehicle checks during October and November. Checks on safety-critical components, and checks to ensure uptime, are undertaken by trained, senior MAN technicians against a predetermined scope of mandatory checks, which are over and above […]
Build It Pinetown mixes paint, cuts glass and boards, reads business plans and, most importantly, provides home deliveries for its customers. These deliveries are currently being performed by two FAW trucks, each bought from the FAW Pinetown branch. Paul Nothnagel, sales executive at this full sales, service and parts dealership, has been the driving force behind the deals. Nothnagel proactively marketed the FAW brand by personally visiting Build It Pinetown, and leaving marketing brochures for the store’s management to mull […]
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