There have been several changes in the commercial vehicle dealer world in the past few months with takeovers of existing businesses revealed, new sites opened as well as management and ownership changes.
What the developments reveal is a sector that is constantly evolving as businesses strive to offer ever higher levels of customer service in a competitive market.
For example, Scania (Great Britain) has taken a step to securing its UK dealer and service network, through the acquisition of Haydock Commercial Vehicles.
The deal will see Haydock’s six branches located in the North West – Warrington, Preston, Ellesmere Port, Widnes and Deeside – and its team join forces with Scania GB’s.
It also sees owner of Haydock Commercial Vehicles, Simon Dykes, leave the business he built and grew for the last 22 years.
For Haydock Commercial Vehicles, the only changes see Chris Newitt, Managing Director for Scania UK, succeed Dykes as Chairman, and Scania GB’s Chief Financial Officer Andreas Ödebrink, and Business Operations Director Emma Wilkins join the board.
Over the coming months, the two businesses will work closely together to establish the best ways of working, with the North West dealer becoming a welcome addition to the Swedish OEM’s wholly owned UK network.
Newitt said: “I’m very pleased to be welcoming our Haydock colleagues to join our Scania GB family, and hope we will continue to learn, grow and get stronger together.”
Meanwhile, Aquila Truck Centre’s Gloucester facility has been appointed a full sales, parts, and service dealer by Isuzu Truck UK, adding to the company’s Tipton and Worcester sites to complete its support network along the M5 corridor to the Midlands.
Aquila’s modern site employs six skilled technicians and features five service bays, now complemented by a parts department fully stocked with genuine Isuzu parts.
Isuzu Truck UK began working with Aquila Truck Centres in 2012 to provide support in the West Midlands and Shropshire areas.
With more than 150 employees, the dealer group operates seven sites in total, with three now representing the Isuzu Truck brand.
Jack Mullaney, Group Sales Director of Aquila Truck Centres, said: “The process of bringing the Gloucester site into the Isuzu Truck UK network began almost a year ago, because we realised there was a need for more localised representation in the area, and we were keen to provide that.
“We’re a family firm, and though we have a fairly big geographical footprint, we like to think we’re still small enough to deliver a personal service, where every customer knows we truly care about their business needs, no matter the size of their fleet.”
Also, DAF Dealer group, HTC has declared its new £2.7 million dealership in Greenford, West London fully operational, with a new workshop and offices to support its sales, service and parts offering.
Extending across 47,000sq.ft, HTC Greenford in Ockham Drive, is three times larger than the site it has replaced in nearby Park Royal.
Its modern workshop includes 18 full-length truck bays – including ATF bays – two lift-bed brake testers and a tachograph centre.
There are also large rest/kitchen areas and substantial open-plan office spaces at the site which is half-a-mile from the A40 trunk road and close to the M40 and M25 motorways.
A total of nine IMI Level-3 trained DAF technicians are also employed at HTC Greenford and ready to support operators of electric trucks.
The HTC Group has nine further dealerships around London and the home counties.
David Codd, Aftersales Manager at HTC Greenford said: “With a fantastic new workshop, approved tachograph centre, ATF specification inspection bays, a dedicated vehicle wash pit/steam clean area and a fully optimised parts department, we have designed this site to maximise vehicle uptime and efficiency.
“By working closely with the DAF optimisation team, we have ensured that our parts operation is streamlined to support faster servicing and repairs.”
Saga Truck and Van’s acquisition of Motus Truck and Van, the Mercedes-Benz Truck and Van division of Motus Group (UK), has also now been completed.
The acquisition by the France-based dealership group means its new network now has 10 dealerships across five counties.
Currently, operations at Motus Truck and Van remain unchanged and the same teams and services remain in place.
However, the rollout of Saga Truck and Van branding across its locations in Essex, Hertfordshire and East Anglia has now begun.
Philippe Canetti, European director of Saga Trucks, said: “At the beginning of 2024, we expanded our UK presence with the acquisition of Sparshatt Truck and Van in Kent.
“Now, this latest acquisition marks another significant step in our growth journey.”
In addition, Mercedes Benz Northern Ireland (MBNI) Holdings has now been fully acquired by its CEO Pauline McKeating, in a deal supported by Danske Bank.
MBNI Holdings is the parent company of of M-B Truck & Van (NI) – the only official Mercedes-Benz truck and van dealer in Northern Ireland – as well as Rossetts UK.
McKeating said: “This milestone is the pinnacle of my 25-year journey that began in 2000 when I joined what was then Agnew Commercials as an assistant accountant.
“Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of growing with this business, becoming a minority shareholder in 2020 through a management buy-in, and taking majority ownership in 2023.”
In the light commercial vehicle sector, KGM Motors UK – formerly SsangYong – recently expanded its dealer network with the addition of Celtic Auto Group.
Established in 2010, the dealer group based in Gorseinon, Swansea, serves all of South Wales including Swansea, Llanelli, Neath and Port Talbot.
Its showroom includes KGM’s full line-up, including the Rexton Commercial and Musso pick-up truck, and, in addition to vehicle sales, the dealership provides aftersales options, including servicing, MoTs, repairs, and genuine KGM parts.
Kevin Griffin, Managing Director at KGM Motors UK, said: “They (Celtic Auto Group) have a strong local presence and a reputation for putting customers first, which is exactly what we look for in our dealer partners.
“We’re confident this new partnership will help us reach even more customers across South Wales.”
