In the last few months there has been significant activity in the commercial vehicle dealership world, with takeovers announced as well as new dealer points built.
One such example is Daimler Truck’s recent major investment in the UK market with the acquisition of eStar Truck & Van.
The agreement brings six Mercedes-Benz van and truck sites in the North West – Knowsley, Stoke-on-Trent, Deeside, Trafford Park and Skelmersdale – into Daimler Truck’s direct retail network.
Located across one of the UK’s busiest logistics corridors, the sites provide excellent access to important freight routes linking Greater Manchester, Merseyside and North Wales, as well as the M6, M62 and the port of Liverpool.
The deal represents the first step into the UK for Daimler Truck’s Own Retail brand, and is aimed at improving service levels and strengthening relationships with UK customers.
At these sites the company will offer sales of new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks & vans, and Fuso trucks, as well as service and genuine parts supply for Mercedes-Benz and Fuso trucks, Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses, and Mercedes-Benz vans.
Volker Hüntrup, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Own Retail, Europe said: “Entering the UK market reinforces our commitment to being close to our customers where it matters most.
“Our new locations in the UK are situated in a strategically important region at the heart of the industrial and logistics hub of Northern England and Wales.
“With the acquisition of these six locations in the United Kingdom, we are significantly strengthening our ability to support customers with reliable, high-quality service.”
Meanwhile, Motus Commercials has opened a £10m, 38,000 sq. ft. DAF Trucks dealership at Ravenscraig in North Lanarkshire, relocating from Bellshill.
The purpose-built four-acre site features 11 work bays, an electric vehicle centre with a 180kW fast charger, as well as a dedicated ATF station.
Its opening is also a key part of the continuing investment by the entire DAF dealer network.
Recent and planned investments by DAF dealers across the UK now total more than £100m, delivering new and improved truck sales, parts and service locations that enhance service and support for customers.
Since 2018 the DAF dealer network has added 150 workshop bays – three kilometres of extra lane space.
Motus Commercials’ dealerships in Scotland are based at Ayr, Cumbernauld, Dumfries, Glasgow and Motherwell.
Collectively, the sites have about 186 employees, including 74 technicians, 21 apprentices, 14 DAFAid vans, 40 parts personnel and 11 parts delivery vans.
Matt Lawrenson, Managing Director, Motus Commercials said: “Now, with 11 dedicated 30m work bays (at the new site), we’ve increased our workshop capacity.
“This is also an electric truck centre, with charging facilities and the capability to service and maintain battery-electric vehicles.
“We’ve increased our parts stockholding to £2m, and we are open from 7am on Monday through to 1pm on Saturday. It really is a one-stop-shop facility.”
Also, MAN Truck & Bus UK has just opened a new MAN TopUsed Centre in Swindon.
Located in Blagrove – two minutes from junction 16 of the M4 – the centre features a dedicated sales office and a 100-vehicle forecourt, bringing the used-vehicle business closer to customers in the South of England.
Vehicles entering the MAN TopUsed programme, which include TGE, TGL, TGM, TGS, TGX models, Neoplan coaches, and a selection of used trailers, receive a full vehicle history (HPI) check and a 264-point inspection at an MAN Truck & Bus UK dealer.
In addition, every MAN TopUsed CCT vehicle comes with a 12-month MAN Driveline-plus factory warranty as standard, and all approved vehicles are identified by the MAN TopUsed Seal of Quality, which confirms they have been checked and certified.
Extended warranty options are also available, allowing customers to tailor coverage to meet their operational needs.
MAN TopUsed operates in more than 50 countries, supporting customers with used trucks, buses, coaches, and vans.
Torsten Schreck, Director of MAN TopUsed, MAN Truck & Bus UK, said: “The opening of our new MAN TopUsed Centre in Swindon is an important step in strengthening our used vehicle presence in the UK.
“Customers want confidence, accessibility and professional support when purchasing a used vehicle, and this new location allows us to deliver exactly that.
“Swindon is just the beginning. We will continue to open additional MAN TopUsed centres and stores across the UK to be even closer to our customers, while ensuring a consistent, high‑quality experience nationwide.”
MC Rental, part of the MC Group, has also expanded its dedicated vehicle hire and pre‑owned site in Maidstone, to provide faster servicing and inspection turnaround times; improved vehicle availability, as well as enhanced access to pre‑owned stock.
The newly developed area, located opposite the existing premises, includes a newly improved, fully tarmacked, one acre parking and display area dedicated to non-Volvo preowned vehicles.
There is also a new onsite vehicle maintenance facility, significantly reducing reliance on external workshops for available vehicles and improving sustainability through streamlined internal processes.
A new display area allows MC Rental to provide improved onsite viewing and stock organisation, giving customers a broader selection of commercial vehicles, faster availability, and confidence in vehicles that have undergone thorough inspection prior to sale or hire.
In addition, MC Rental has developed a fully equipped four bay workshop capable of supporting a higher volume of inspections and servicing.
Key features include four post mobile lifts to enable use across all bays; built-in compressed air supply; three phase electrical points; as well as integrated oil reels to support efficient servicing workflows.
Nick Thorne, Head of Fleet Maintenance at MC Rental said: “This expansion marks an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to elevating de-hire and re-hire of available vehicles by driving operational excellence.
“Gaining greater control over our onsite maintenance not only strengthens sustainability but also minimises unnecessary vehicle movements.”
It is therefore encouraging to see that commercial vehicle dealer groups in the UK are continuing to invest in high quality sites, and giving operators a level of service that is second to none.
