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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
JULY
2017
Construction Customers that are in
the market to buy a used vehicle often
ask themselves how to avoid the pitfalls
of buying second hand. The keyword is
trust. Scania Used Vehicles alleviates any
obstruction and hesitancy and offers trusted
used vehicle solutions to customers.
Construction World
spoke to Ronald
Melville, National Used Vehicle Sales
Manager at Scania South Africa about
Scania’s offering of a trusted partnership
when purchasing a used vehicle for the
construction sector.
When asked who would rather opt for
a used vehicle, Melville explains that a
used vehicle can be more economical for
small and start-up construction operations
and can be far more cost effective on the
initial purchase.
In addition, he says, warranties and
service plans can be provided, giving
longevity and peace of mind. “You buy a
Scania used vehicle for the same reasons
you will buy a new one – built-in toughness,
durability, reliability and low operating costs
which all contribute to maximum uptime,”
maintains Melville.
In terms of the number of used vehicles
sold, Mellville says that in 2016 Scania
sold approximately 65% and this number is
climbing. “Before year-end I believe it will
be around 75% to 80% as the trade-in ratio
seems to be getting higher every year as
customers restructure rather than grow
their fleets.
“There has been a steady growth in Used
Vehicle uptake with the purpose of use in
the construction sector,” Melville states.
Achieving Scania Approved status
Melville explains that all Scania Approved
vehicles need to have had a full repair and
maintenance contract. “When a vehicle
is traded in, it must be in a roadworthy
condition, be in decent mechanical order
and cosmetically clean before our
workshops start the check and repair
process,” Melville elaborates.
The same specific requirements such
as maximum uptime and optimal fuel
consumption that a customer would expect
when a new Scania is purchased, are
qualitative points when a customer is in the
market for a used vehicle – both play an
important role in any business and Scania is
renowned for this globally.
“Construction vehicles need maximum
uptime, this is obtained by our thoroughly
pre-inspected and maintained vehicles
– when down-time does occur, we have
our 24/7 Scania Assist on hand for any
unforeseen inconveniences,” he explains.
“In brief, Scania Approved status means
that the customer gets peace of mind with
the knowledge that no aftermarket parts
were fitted to the vehicle. A Scania Approved
vehicle has been thoroughly assessed and
rated by our technicians – just as new ones
are. Knowing that the trucks have been
thoroughly checked by our experienced
technicians, builds trust in what can be a
very uncertain decision,” he adds.
Melville says there is no major difference
in warranty terms for a new or used vehicle.
It is, however, dependant on the age of the
BUILDING TRUST
with Scania used vehicles
The uncertainty associated with
the purchase of a used-vehicle
in especially the construction
industry where it would have
operated in harsh conditions
before it was sold, is an inhibiting
factor for potential buyers.
Ronald Melville, National Used Vehicle
Sales Manager at Scania South Africa.
vehicle. Scania offers a Drive Line Warranty
that is honoured provided the vehicle is
serviced at a Scania approved centre.
Repair and maintenance (R&M) contracts
are available on a used vehicle provided it
has been on a R&M package before – or has
a low mileage with a full service history. In
addition, R&M contracts are determined by
the mileage that the vehicle accumulates
in a month, and the application that the
vehicle will be used for. “The Scania repair
and maintenance programme provides a
comprehensive support package that’s
inclusive in our total solutions offering that
is available to all construction customers
wanting to buy a used vehicle.”
Melville concludes: “Our solutions
offering for used vehicles ensure that
the construction customer can expect to
minimise the costs of their operation and
get the highest levels of uptime.”
Finance option
Melville explains that the finance option available
for used vehicles is a Financial Lease which can be
anything from 24 to 36 months depending on how
hard the vehicle works in a month. “We do however
prefer the vehicle to do no more than 12 0000 km
within a single month.”