Capital Equipment News March 2018

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Gaining traction in taxing terrain

In a market that experienced an overall decline of 2,65% year-on-year in 2017, a customer-centric approach – validated by a top customer satisfaction rating in the Scott Byers Survey – steered Volvo Trucks South Africa to a record year in its 18-year presence in the country. By Munesu Shoko

F ollowing two years of decline in 2015 and 2016, the South African commercial vehicle market endured yet another tough spell in 2017. Official market figures from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa, Associate Motor Holdings and Amalgamated Automobile Distributors, show that the market went down 2,65% to 25 042 total units sold in 2017 compared with the previous year. Despite the tough trading conditions, Volvo Trucks South Africa defied the odds to record its strongest sales performance to date. “2017 was the best year for Volvo Trucks in South Africa in the 18 years we have done business in the country,” states Torbjörn Christensson, president of the Volvo Group Southern Africa. Record year Volvo Trucks achieved good growth in tough market conditions, securing a 16,25% market share in the extra heavy commercial vehicle (EHCV) segment with a total of 2 074 units, representing a 0,64% increase compared with 2016. According to Christensson, this is the first time that Volvo Trucks sold in excess of 2 000 units in a year in the EHCV market. Volvo Penta, the supplier of engines and complete power solutions for marine and industrial application, recorded strong growth in new segments, such as mining, construction, dewatering and agriculture, according to Rudi Jones, GM of Volvo Penta at Volvo Group Southern Africa. “Volvo Penta had strong growth in South Africa in 2017, and securing 50% market share in the power generation segment was a major highlight of the year. We also had record uptime hours in the underground mining segment during the year, confirming our dominance in this market segment,” says Jones.

QUICK TAKE

2017 was a record year for Volvo Trucks South Africa in its 18-year presence in the country

Volvo Trucks SA secured a 16,25% market share in the extra heavy com- mercial vehicle segment with a total of 2 074 units

Volvo Bus saw deliveries increase by 1% to 61 units in the local market

Volvo Penta had strong growth in South Africa in 2017, securing 50% market share in power generation segment

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS MARCH 2018 22