Eicher expands in South Africa

Having unveiled its Eicher Pro 6000 series in October last year, Eicher Trucks, the product of a Volvo Group and Eicher Motors joint venture, is now on an expansion drive to have a countrywide network for sales and solid aftermarket support.

Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VEVC), a Volvo Group and Eicher Motors joint venture, entered South Africa with a well-defined strategy of keeping aftermarket support at the nucleus of its entry into the market. This is something not to be underestimated when it comes to South African customers and dealers.

Surender Singh, CEO of VECV South Africa, says that the Eicher management team is a firm believer of an aftermarket-driven strategy.

“This is very important in South Africa, which is a strategic market for Eicher. Huge investments have been made in the country to have an ample supply of spares parts, very efficient parts delivery and response time across the country and, most importantly, well-trained technicians across 20 key locations.”

Eicher has joined hands with well-established dealership groups, such as: AAD Group, BB Motor Group, Billson Trucks, CMH Group, Croco Motors Group, Ermelo Truck & Tractor, Hoffeldt Motor Group, Imperial Group-Magnis Trucks, Morgan Group, NTT Group, Premier Truck & Bus, Shorts Commercial, and Thompson Motors. 

“To further boost response time in the event of unforeseen breakdowns, we are geared up to assist customers with the support of a 24-hour call centre managed by Volvo Group Uptime Centre services,” Singh adds, noting that the company is continually expanding into neighbouring counties, too.

Available at each of the 20 strategically located dealers, the Eicher Pro 6000 Series range of next-generation, heavy-duty trucks offers “class-leading fuel efficiency, superior uptime, enhanced driver comfort, safety and efficiency through various cabin features and intelligent systems”.

“VECV brings together the Volvo Group’s global expertise and world-class technology, and the innovative engineering and proven DNA of fuel efficiency from Eicher. The Eicher Pro series range of next-generation trucks is a result of the synergy between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors,” Singh comments.

The Eicher Pro 6000 range currently consists of the Pro 6016 16-t, heavy-duty freight carrier (eight-tonne payload) and the Pro 6025T 6×4 25-t, heavy-duty 10 m³ construction tipper. The trucks are powered with VEDX engines, which were designed and developed in collaboration with Volvo Group.

The cab is adapted from Japanese design and meets AIS 029 safety standards. It is equipped with the Intelligent Driver Information System that provides live information to the driver on the truck’s operational parameters as well as on-board diagnostics.

When the Eicher Pro 6000 Series was developed, customers’ needs were central to the development, together with what had been learned from customers in real-world conditions. Singh notes that it is designed to meet the needs of most market segments across haulage, distribution, construction, industrial loads, courier and perishables.

The trucks have undergone rigorous endurance and performance testing over more than 100 000 km in South Africa. “Together with strong support solutions, the new series promises to deliver maximum lifetime profitability, which will fast track customers’ business growth,” says Singh.

“This new range of trucks is geared to revolutionise the levels of productivity in the heavy-duty trucking industry, with the infusion of global engine technology, cabin design and intelligent systems from the Volvo Group, and South African aftersales support,” he concludes.