UD TRUCKS

UD TRUCKS

Going the extra mile to exceed customer expectation

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The Smart Choice for

Ultimate Dependability

UD Trucks is optimising its vehicle range for the African market to solidify its long-term commitment to the brand promise of ‘going the extra mile’ Writer: Emily Jarvis | Project Manager: Kane Weller

riven by a long-term commitment to continuous improvement and brand leadership, UD Trucks has set its sights on securing the number-one slot in the medium duty market in South Africa, in a bid to get closer to its customers.

This target is by no means far away, with the Company currently sitting among the top three contenders. Led by the wider Volvo Group’s brand focused strategy – having previously been a part of Nissan Diesel – UD Trucks’ strong market presence is a product of its evolution over time.

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“Despite the name change to UD Trucks in 2010 as a means to unify our identity as a global brand, we have been present in South Africa since 1962,” recalls Rory Schulz, Marketing Director of UD Trucks. “We were one of the first manufacturers who brought back the OE engine from Nissan Diesel in the 1990s and in the early 2000s, we became the first Japanese Company to seriously enter the truck-tractor market in South Africa; in total we now have more than 35,000 units on the roads.”

Epitomised in the brand promise of ‘going the extra mile’, UD Trucks South Africa offers products with a

high level of fuel efficiency, uptime, reliability, durability and drivability; while meeting today’s demanding safety and environmental standards with modern technology. The Company has around 40,000 medium and heavy duty vehicles in operation across sub-Saharan Africa, accompanied by a full aftersales service; including servicing and maintenance contracts which have been developed over the years to address the needs of the local market.

Going the extra distance

Split into two parts, UD Trucks’ brand promise embraces the

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“At my workshop, when a customer wants to discuss lubricants, I ask them one simple question: would you prefer to have your vehicles in the workshop or on the road? We both know that Mobil Delvac is the right answer to that one every time!�

Mobil Delvac synthetic lubricants for the most demanding applications

Pushing the boundaries Low Temperature Peformance

Thermal and Oxidation Stability

Fuel Economy Potential1

Enhanced Engine Protection

Works Hard for the Environment 2

Emissions System Protection

Long Engine Life

Extended Drain Capability

Relative to conventional 15W-40 engine oil - Actual fuel economy improvement is dependent on vehicle/equipment type, outside temperature, driving conditions and current fluid viscosity.

Environmental benefits can be achieved by a combination of advanced engine and after-treatment devices, low S fuel and advanced engine oil.

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ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Europe, Hermeslaan 2, 1831 Machelen, Belgium ©2013 Exxon Mobil Corporation The Mobil Delvac and ExxonMobil logotypes are registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.

The term “ExxonMobil” is used for convenience only and could refer to Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its affiliates as the case may be. Other logotypes and trademarks are the property of the respective owners.

Authorized Distributor

For further information T: +27 11 824 0560 www.centlube.co.za

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current and future industry trends that will ultimately shape the future of logistics on Africa’s roads.

“In South Africa, there is a dichotomy in terms of whether the country are seen as an emerging or developed market, and we reflect this trend in the kind of products we bring to the market, making sure each vehicle demonstrates our commitment to ‘going the extra distance’ and ‘making the extra effort’; the two strings of our brand promise,” Schulz offers. “For example, we have a highend, heavy duty range that deals with the more sophisticated customer, the Quon range, which was introduced in South Africa in 2012; then in the mid-price range we introduced the heavy-duty Quester last year. The latter was the first product made by UD Trucks that was specifically tailored for the developing market and will be one of many lined-up to be released under this guise.”

Our promise is more than just enabling exceptional fuel efficiency; it is about delivering products with worldclass durability and reliability...

Rory Schulz, Marketing Director of UD Trucks

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One of the big driving factors globally that all vehicle manufacturers have to consider is of course fuel economy and reducing their carbon footprint. Thanks to the wider Group’s firmly-rooted sustainability goals, UD Trucks is proud to be one-step ahead of the curve in South Africa and is already in a position to meet the Euro 5 emissions standards that could be imposed on the market soon.

“Our promise is more than just enabling exceptional fuel efficiency; it is about delivering products with world-class durability and reliability that meet the high safety and environmental demands of today.

This has been achieved through our relentless focus on dependability through the global state-of-the-art driveline solutions utilised by the wider Volvo Group,” Schulz adds.

A further element of this efficiency strategy is making sure that each vehicle is adapted for use in the local South African environment where

Centlube and ExxonMobil seen as brand of choice ExxonMobil, the world’s largest petroleum and chemical company, and Centlube, their authorised distributor for South Africa, have been identified as preferred partners as UD Trucks Corporation focuses on growth and customer centricity in the region.

According to Gert Swanepoel, acting Vice President for UD Trucks Southern Africa, the deal was preordained as ExxonMobil and the vehicle manufacturer have built a relationship spanning more than 150 years.

The developers of UD Engines and Parts have worked closely with ExxonMobil to ensure that optimal performance is achieved from these engines. ExxonMobil offers a comprehensive range of light and heavy-duty synthetic oils for commercial machinery, vehicles for any automotive driving condition, and industrial lubricants which allow for greater energy efficiencies and reduced operational costs.

“Although the commercial vehicle industry in South Africa has faced some tough challenges over the first half of 2016, the Company felt optimistic as partnerships such as this will improve efficiencies and provide quality servicing to our clients,” says Swanepoel.

ExxonMobil appointed Centlube as their authorised distributor of Mobil Lubricants as well as Volvo and UD Genuine Oils in Southern Africa. This ultimately led to Centlube providing UD Trucks with a complete lubrication solution ensuring each dealer across the network is sufficiently supplied.

“Centlube understands that fleet maintenance is almost certainly the largest expense for

any logistics company or fleet owner. We therefore hope to not only bring our technical experience to this important partnership, but also our expertise of dealing within the South African landscape,” says Jake Govender, Chief Commercial Officer at Centlube.

The strengths of ExxonMobil who are international market leaders in lubricants and Centlube, who are distributors of a diverse range of oil and lubricating products, will see both organisations’ combined efforts give the partnership a strategic advantage.

“Buying a truck is a huge investment and commitment with the fleet owner inevitably buying into a partnership with the brand.

We see this as an opportunity to prove our worthiness as a supplier that can have a substantial impact on their business operations,” continues Govender.

To help their customers achieve their goals and grow their business, Centlube facilitates onsite technical and product training between the UD Maintenance Teams and ExxonMobil Technical and Industry Experts. The Company also provides value added technical services such as oil analysis with precision oil sampling using MobilServ lubricant analysis.

“With a strategic partnership like Centlube, our organisation benefits from having a dedicated business partner with as much focus on business growth as ourselves,” says Swanepoel.

T +27 11 824 0560 www.centlube.co.za

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Each vehicle’s mechanics is tailored to the local conditions

possible, which is exemplified in UD Trucks’ aggressive approach in the mining industry. Schulz highlights: “As part of our continuous improvement, we have invested in the adaptation of our vehicles for this market, where conditions are known to be a lot harsher in South Africa. We deliberately did not take a more domestic product directly from Japan. Instead, we adapted it to local conditions with improved suspension, chassis strength, better air filtration systems to cope with the dust and other attributes to improve the dependability of our vehicles.

“Elsewhere, we are looking at updating our aging medium duty range and replacing this with 13 new iterations under the Quester name, due for release in the second quarter of 2017. The vehicle will blend together the qualities required in both developed and emerging markets.

Some of these exciting concepts will

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be unique to the UD Truck’s offering in Africa; further solidifying our marketleading position.”

Making the extra effort

...we are looking at updating our aging medium-duty range and replacing this with 13 new iterations under the Quester name, due for release in the second quarter of 2017

Epitomised in the second part of its brand promise is the commitment to go the extra mile for customers.

Building relationships in this industry is crucial given the considerable cost of each vehicle and the competitive nature of the industry.

“In terms of sales, particularly in South Africa, we find that a lot of customers want some direct contact with the OEM, so we have bolstered our fleet sales department to cater for this,” says Schulz. “From these sales reps right down to our workshop mechanics, all of our employees on the frontline stay in close contact with customers so they can identify and solve any potential challenges. It is imperative that we facilitate a direct relationship between ourselves –as

Strategic Transport

Strategic Transport Tel: +27 11 421 2645 Fax: +27 11 420 2474 Cell: +27 72 2744764 6th Eleventh Avenue Benoni Gauteng 1501 South Africa

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SYSPRO

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YSPRO has been providing specialist ERP software to simplify the core business processes of manufacturing and distribution companies for well over 30 years. The company has become well known for delivering innovative yet simple solutions designed to meet the real needs of customers.

UD Trucks has been utilising SYSPRO for its manufacturing ERP solution for over a decade. SYSPRO is the software of choice because it is both robust and works seamlessly with very little intervention or support required. In addition, SYSPRO integrates effectively with third party and parastatals such as the electronic national administration traffic information system (eNaTIS), which is an essential tool for UD Trucks to optimise their logistics and remain ahead of the competition.

www.syspro.com UD Trucks’ SA HQ

the OEM – and the customer to ensure they have the right tools to take their business to the next level.”

Accompanied by a direct marketing approach – comprising face-to-face interactions at annual events and also through its dealer network – UD Trucks is also making sure to keep-up with the latest digital marketing interactivity methodologies; including opening communication channels on social media for certain products.

“With our professional and passionate approach, we are able to leverage the wider Group’s rich resources to provide products for customers, big and small. In South Africa, there are a lot of smaller organisations that we have identified who require quality vehicles. Therefore, we make sure to assess and provide for their needs in addition to bolstering our existing ties with the bigger purchasers; both are equally important customers for UD Trucks,” Schulz emphasises.

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INCON HEALTH UD Trucks and Incon Health – a relationship build on trust

With our professional and passionate approach, we are able to leverage the wider Group’s rich resources to provide product for customers, big and small

It takes a dedicated amount of time and energy to build strong, lasting business relationships today. These relationships don’t just happen and develop without the dedicated, consistent work between a service provider and the client.

Incon Health’s relationship with UD Trucks spans over a period of eight years and we pride ourselves on being part of the journey that will see UD Trucks take Africa forward.

Incon Health looks forward to sharing the road ahead with a visionary company such as UD Trucks.

T +27 21 975 2694 | +27 12 667 5745

www.inconhealth.co.za

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Vehicles are brought in, in a semi-knockdown state in accordance with the regulations set out by the Department of Trade and Industry

We see competence and local skills development as a social responsibility, not just a requirement...

programmes. We train in excess of 600 people a year on an ongoing basis.”

Elsewhere, UD Trucks is also committed to working closely with the South African Government to improve total manufacturing in the country, so that the Company – and others in the medium/heavy duty truck market – can source more parts locally.

Long-term strategy

Local assembly

Optimising the world-famous Japanese assembly standards and operating methodologies to suit the South African market, UD Trucks’ facility in Rosslyn is fully equipped for local assembly of around 6,000 units a year at full capacity. With a team that is proudly 100 percent South African, the Company is keen to boost the local manufacturing and skills development in the country; with vehicles brought in, in a semi-knockdown state in

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accordance with the regulations set out by the Department of Trade and Industry.

“This means our vehicles can be brought in duty-free, which of course assists with the affordability of the vehicles locally,” Schulz says.

“We see competence and local skills development as a social responsibility, not just a requirement; whether we retain our employees for the longterm or not, we support them through apprenticeships and other educational

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Over the next 12 months, UD Trucks will take stock of its current market positioning and bolster its customercentric processes to ultimately get even closer to the customer on a continuous basis; from considering a purchase, through to after-sales.

“This will help us to grow orders for the new Quester range coming next year and will also put us in a strong position to take the numberone slot in the medium duty market,” Schulz says. “Beyond this, we will be focusing on improving our support structures across Southeast Africa with

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Straight Forward CHASSIS DIAGNOSTICS CC

Contact details: Info@straight-forward.co.za www.straight-forward.co.za

Rudy: +27 79 247 3529 Gerald: +27 83 645 9355 Jacques: +27 83 415 0259

BEFORE

AFTER

Send it.... We’ll bend it • Chassis Straightening on Trucks & Trailers • Trailer Repairs • Wheel Alignment • Axle Bending • Truck & Trailer Services • All Truck Electrical • All Modifications • Trucks to Tanker spec ADR • Bakkie Chassis • Landcruiser Axle bending • Forklift Fork Bending • Induction Heating

Merging the best qualities of a vehicle more suited to emerging markets, with the qualities more familiar in developed markets

the launch of the Quester range in these markets as well. This range really merges the best qualities of a vehicle more suited to emerging markets, with the qualities more familiar in developed markets.”

He concludes: “To better capitalise on the emerging opportunities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, we are in the process of appointing a new partner so that we can re-energise our efforts in Southeast Africa. To summarise, we strive to emulate what we are doing in South Africa in the neighbouring regions as part of a long-term strategy.

“As we have held a presence in South Africa for more than half a decade, we are driven by this longterm evolution strategy. By adapting a world-leading product for the local markets on the continent, we hope this will take us forward into some exciting times to help Africa’s economies develop.”

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UD Trucks Southern Africa 5 Piet Rautenbach Street Rosslyn, Pretoria PO Box 911 362 Rosslyn, 0200 T: +27 12 564 9500 E: info.support@udtrucks.co.za www.udtrucks.com

www.outlookpublishing.com