Why Citilec Swears by the Kia K2700

October 18, 2024

Citilec’s logistics operations rely heavily on the durable and dependable Kia K2700, a vehicle that has proven its worth over the years. Rudi Vermaak, Citilec’s logistics manager, praises its performance, fuel efficiency, and Kia’s exceptional customer service. COLIN WINDELL pays a visit to the company and its Kia fleet.

There is a distinct sense of pride in the voice of Rudi Vermaak, logistics manager for electrical wholesaler Citilec, as he asserts that the company will only change vehicle brands and types after he is no longer in charge.

The vehicle in question is the Kia K2700, which Vermaak describes as a “workhorse through and through”. He should know, as Citilec runs a fleet of 25 to 30 of these vehicles, which accumulate around 230,000km each year, transporting electrical equipment to various sites across the Gauteng region.

Each vehicle in the fleet typically covers about 70,000km annually. Vermaak explains that they are usually sold and replaced after covering between 230,000 and 250,000km, which typically occurs around the three-year mark. However, if a vehicle is still running well, it can last for five or six years. Replacements are generally due to wear and tear on non-mechanical parts such as rubber seals, seats, and hoses, rather than engine issues.

“These vehicles work extremely hard and are always fully loaded on each trip,” he says. “I wouldn’t even consider another brand, not just because of the K2700’s capabilities, but also because of Kia’s exceptional support.”

Vermaak praises Kia for their excellent after-sales service. “I have never encountered a company more dedicated to honouring warranties. When we had an issue, they sent a senior management team to our offices to help resolve it, demonstrating a level of commitment you don’t often see from other companies.”

Vermaak’s admiration for the Kia brand began when he joined Citilec in 2010, when the company had one of the older-generation Kia models with dual rear wheels. “That vehicle delivered 600,000km of solid performance for us,” he recalls. “That convinced me to stick with Kia, but I still did my research and explored other brands. What I liked most about the K2700 was that it didn’t use a pushrod engine, which can be problematic for heavily loaded delivery vehicles over time.”

Vermaak acknowledges that the K2700 might be slightly heavier on fuel, but says, “I’d rather pay a little more for fuel than deal with massive repair bills.”

He laughs as he recounts the story of a K2700 that was mistakenly loaded with a 4.5-tonne cable drum and sent off to Midrand. “We’re usually very careful about load limits, but this one slipped through. When the driver returned, I asked how the vehicle performed, and he said it was fine – except when braking, when the drum pushed back!”

With vehicles being replaced in rotation almost every year, Citilec’s fleet now includes the latest generation of the K2700. Vermaak is pleased with the improvements, such as increased driver comfort, reduced engine noise on startup, and overall better road comfort.

“My vehicles work extremely hard, but I make sure to service them every 10,000km. They all go to the same dealer I’ve been using for years, who knows the history of each one. It’s a great arrangement that helps us maximise our uptime,” he concludes.