A series of changes in the truck and van dealership sector in recent months have seen takeovers of existing organisations, new sites unveiled as well as management and ownership changes.
Among them is Chassis Cab which, following significant investment, has moved from its site in Isleham, Cambridgeshire to a new facility in nearby Newmarket.
Chassis Cab Newmarket is now open to customers and joins the group’s other three locations in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Fenstanton to support fleets across East Anglia.
Unlike the company’s previous site, Universal Garage in Isleham, the new premises bring together every area of the business in one building.
Workshop floor space has increased by 152%, room for parts is up by 128% and the new site benefits from a fully refurbished MoT bay.
The building exterior has been given a facelift and new signage. Inside, a complete refurbishment includes new workshop flooring, upgraded service lanes, full-length truck pits and new parts racking installed on ground and mezzanine floors.
By enabling all staff to work in the same building rather than separate buildings like at Isleham, the team hopes to improve internal communication and streamline workflows.
Established in 1982 by David Ruffles, Chassis Cab remains a family owned and operated business.
Robert Baxter, managing director at Chassis Cab, said: “Opening our new site in Newmarket is a proud moment and the result of significant investment and dedication from a highly motivated workforce.
“The expanded and modernised premises not only benefit our staff through improved capacity and a more cohesive working space, but it also further enhances the service we deliver to our customers.”
Also, following its acquisition of the former Go Plant site on Stafford Park, Shropshire, in 2024, Greenhous DAF has refurbished the facility to create a new repair and maintenance centre.
The site also features DAF and all makes parts support for trucks and trailers.
Greenhous DAF has invested more than £3m into transforming the site, and as a result of the opening, has closed its former premises at nearby Halesfield.
John Turley, dealer principal, said: “The opening of our new site in Telford marks a major milestone in our commitment to supporting local HGV operators with everything they need, all in one place – from servicing and parts to expert advice and support.”
In the Daimler Truck world, Euro Commercials has acquired the City West Commercials sites at Avonmouth, Exeter and Highbridge as it looks to strengthen its dealer network in the South West of England.
Euro Commercials, with facilities in Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea, and more than 40 years of experience in the industry, is currently rebranding the former City West Commercial sites.
As part of the new structure, the former City West Commercials site at Roche in Cornwall has closed and network partner ETS Truck & Van, based in Redruth, has stepped in to provide additional workshop support for the Cornwall area.
Access to technical support, warranty services and Mercedes-Benz genuine parts and oils, plus 24/7 breakdown coverage in Devon and Cornwall is supported by Daimler Truck UK’s mobile technician service from existing dealers in both counties.
In addition, the existing Service24h breakdown support covering all of Devon and Cornwall is being provided by the Mercedes-Benz Trucks facility in Exeter.
Jeff Carne, Managing Director of Euro Commercials,said the dealer group sees this strategic acquisition as a fantastic opportunity to grow the business, strengthen customer relationships and expand its presence in the market.
He added: “We are extremely proud to have acquired our neighbouring dealer, City West Commercials, marking an exciting new chapter for our business and the community we will now serve in the South West.
“By combining the strengths of both dealerships we will be better positioned to offer the exceptional service levels that our customers have come to expect, across a wider geographic territory.”
In addition, Maxus UK has appointed Aquila Group as an official dealer, aimed at strengthening its network and enhancing service accessibility
Under the agreement, Aquila will offer the full Maxus vehicle range from its sites in the West Midlands, and provide aftersales care, tailored fleet solutions and a dedicated customer support team.
Aquila operates facilities in Birmingham, Gloucester, Tamworth, Telford, West Bromwich, Worcester and Tipton, while Maxus has more than 80 established dealer points.
Bill Laidlaw, UK Sales Director at Harris Maxus, said that with demand continuing to grow for both its electric and diesel vehicles, having a trusted partner like Aquila will ensure customers receive expert guidance, reliable aftersales support and a seamless experience from first enquiry to long-term ownership.
He added: “Aquila has a long-standing reputation for excellence in the commercial vehicle sector, and their locations align perfectly with our goal of providing nationwide access to Maxus products and services.”
Meanwhile, Scania (Great Britain) has acquired independent East of England dealer TruckEast, in a deal that is designed to sustain the Swedish OEM’s dealer and service network in the UK for the future.
The deal sees TruckEast’s 17 workshops and teams – including those in Peterborough, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Bury St Edmunds and Norwich – join forces with Scania GB’s.
Also, TruckEast owner John Biggin, has handed over the reins to the business he has led and grown for the past 18 years.
For TruckEast, it is business as usual, with the only changes seeing Chris Newitt, Managing Director for Scania UK, succeeding Biggin as chairman, and Scania GB’s chief financial officer Andreas Ödebrink, and business operations director Emma Wilkins joining the board.
Newitt said over the coming months, Scania GB and TruckEast will work closely together to establish best ways of working.
He added: “I’m very pleased to be welcoming our TruckEast colleagues, and they will be great additions to our Scania GB family.
“We hope to learn, grow and develop our businesses together, not only for our own benefit, but also for every Scania owner in the UK.”
What the recent changes demonstrate is a dealer industry that is constantly evolving as groups look to offer ever greater levels of customer service in a highly competitive environment.
