Isuzu Truck (UK) has announced the appointment of Automania Garage Services (Heathrow) as its latest authorised Parts and Service dealer for the Isuzu truck range covering this busy area to the West of London.
“We see the appointment of Automania as a further positive step in increasing our presence within the key M25/West London area as the Isuzu vehicle parc in this region is very strong in numbers. It is also pleasing for us that they have agreed to trade as ‘Isuzu Heathrow’ for the Isuzu side of their business,” said Keith Child, Marketing Director, Isuzu Truck UK.
Archive for October, 2009
New Isuzu Truck UK Parts & Service dealer at Heathrow
Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Guest Trucks expands territory with Iveco
Thursday, October 15th, 2009Guest Trucks has expanded its geographic territory to become the third largest Iveco dealer in the UK network.
The West Bromwich-based dealer, which operates additional Iveco franchised sites in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Coventry, has taken over responsibility for all new commercial vehicle sales for Iveco from Telford-based Furrows Commercial Vehicles with immediate effect. This sees the company extend its area of responsibility to include Shropshire and Mid Wales.
“This expansion is part of a wider growth strategy for Guest Trucks to reinforce and build upon our longstanding relationship with Iveco,” says Rob Spittle, Managing Director of Guest Trucks, a division of the family owned and run Guest Motors Ltd that has been trading for over a century.
The growth of Guest Trucks’ territory forms part of Iveco’s current network redevelopment project that began in 2008. As the first part of Guest Trucks’ development of this enlarged territory, it will be appointing two new sales executives to cover the region. Further developments will be announced shortly.
Repairers to sell Commercial Vehicles Through Hitachi
Thursday, October 15th, 2009Hitachi Capital Commercial Vehicle Services is helping its network of repairers secure new service contracts by enabling them to offer contract hire to their customers financed by the leasing provider.
Anita Damron has been appointed Business Development Manager for Network Members to spearhead the programme, which will provide Hitachi Capital with access to small commercial contracts and, in return, offer repairers a commission fee and ongoing maintenance contract.
Damron’s appointment is part of a sales team restructure being undertaken by Mike MacDougall, who was appointed Head of Commercial Sales in 2008.
“Like many others in the automotive sector, repairers are having a tough time of it at the moment,” said Mike MacDougall. “We see our network strategy as a means of helping them through the current economic times, and providing them with ongoing revenues over the coming years.
“Many smaller businesses may not have considered the potential benefits of contract hire as a means of replacing ageing commercial vehicles, and we believe Hitachi Capital can offer them a competitive proposition through a repairer that they already trust.
Used 4×4 pick-up prices rise by nearly 50% since February
Manheim’s Market Analysis reports that average value of 4×4 pick-ups has hit £6,204, some 48.3% (£2,023) higher than in February 2009. This also represented the highest recorded value for 4×4 pick-ups since Manheim began its monthly reporting on the wholesale used van market in 2006. The previous highest average monthly value recorded was £5,574 set in September 2007. Values in the overall wholesale van market were also up by 21.9% (£589) over the same period.
The significant rise in average values, while influenced in part by an increase in the volumes of late plate, low mileage 4×4 pick-ups in recent months, has been driven primarily by a recovery in values of models over 24 months old.
Alex Wright, Sales Director, Commercial Vehicles, Manheim Auctions said: “This significant recovery in used values in the 4×4 pick-up segment in the past six months is a trend that we have been expecting, following the dramatic fall in used wholesale values in the first half of 2008. Whilst the market did stabilise for the remainder of 2008 it wasn’t until March 2009 that the first signs of significant recovery became evident with a 16.9% (£708) month-on-month increase.
DELPHI LAUNCHES NEW TRUCK DIAGNOSTIC SOLUTION
Thursday, October 15th, 2009Extending its range of diagnostic solutions for passenger car and
light commercial vehicles (LCV), Delphi has developed a dedicated diagnostic solution for trucks,
buses and trailers with brakes.
“Delphi has secured significant, long term OE contracts in the heavy and medium duty segments in recent years and we are using the knowledge and experience we have gained there in this aftermarket service solution,” said Lucia Moretti, vice president, Delphi Product & Service Solutions, EMEA.
“We also listened to our customers while developing this system and as a result developed this
solution to work with our existing VCI and PC hardware,” continued Moretti. “This ensures that our
existing customers have a low cost entry into this growing service area and that our very popular
software look, feel and usability remain consistent.”
The Delphi Truck Diagnostic solution will provide to its independent aftermarket and diesel specialists customers comprehensive coverage of the European Truck, Trailer and commercial vehicles market, including all applications with a large electronic control unit (ECU):
- Seven heavy duty vehicle manufacturers: DAF, Iveco Trucks, MAN, Mercedes Trucks,
Renault Trucks, Scania, and Volvo Trucks.
- Trailers: Haldex, Knorr, and Wabco.
- Light commercial vehicles: Chevrolet, Citroën, Dacia, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia,
Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel/Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault, Seat, Skoda,
Toyota, and Volkswagen.
The Delphi Truck Diagnostic solution enables the technician to perform dealer level diagnostics
and has extensive functionality, covering all of the key systems that are featured on modern trucks.
The Delphi Truck Diagnostic solution can access and interrogate the full range of sub-systems featured on modern trucks such as engine management, emissions, suspension, safety & security,
transmission, braking systems, comfort & air conditioning and trailers.
The Delphi Truck Diagnostics solution can be provided as:
- a complete bundle for new customers who want to start performing truck diagnostics,
including UMPC, Tablet PC or PDA, Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI), Truck
Diagnostic cable and the diagnostics software,
- a standalone package utilizing the garage mechanic’s own PC
- a simple license upgrade to existing Delphi Diagnostic mini-VCI owners.
The Delphi Truck Diagnostic software also includes Delphi’s full LCV coverage and capability
which already is part of the Delphi’s existing diagnostic platforms. This will benefit those customers who service and repair light duty and medium to heavy duty applications.
The next software update will include a huge update for DAF, Iveco, Renault, Scania and Volvo
applications and sub-systems.
BIO-DME TRUCKS FROM VOLVO IN FIELD TEST
Thursday, October 15th, 2009In 2010, Volvo Trucks will be the first truck manufacturer to start conducting comprehensive field tests involving Bio-DME, a biofuel that generates very low carbon dioxide emissions. In the long term it has the potential to replace 50 per cent of today’s diesel use for transport operations in Europe.
The field test is being made possible through a joint project DME that is produced from biomass, known as Bio-DME, has both high energy efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions all the way from the source to the wheel. The raw material used is ‘black liquor’, an energy-rich, highly viscous by-product of the paper pulp industry. By using Bio-DME instead of diesel as a fuel, for example, carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by up to 95 per cent.
Volvo’s DME FH truck uses a regular D13 engine which, after some modifications to the tank system, injection system and engine management software, functions perfectly together with the biofuel.
An ideal fuel for diesel engines
Compared with a conventional engine, using Bio-DME as a fuel provides the same high efficiency rating along with lower noise levels. The combustion process produces very low emissions of particulates and oxides of nitrogen. Therefore, a simpler system can be used for after-treatment of the exhaust gases. The engine can also provide higher torque at start-up and thus improve driveability. All in all, this makes Bio-DME an ideal fuel for diesel engines.
Modifications to the fuel system
DME is filled in liquid form and stored in pressurised tanks in a leak-proof system which keeps the fuel in liquid form all the way to injection where common rail technology is used to create the optimum high injection pressure. As the energy content of DME is just over half that of diesel oil, it has to be compensated for by fitting larger tanks.
Scania Fixed Price Repair programme extended
Thursday, October 15th, 2009Scania has extended its Fixed Price Repair programme to cover an even broader selection of common workshop tasks. Among the many jobs now provided at an all-inclusive, up-front price are all small, medium and large services.
“Since its launch earlier this year, our Fixed Price Repair initiative has rapidly established itself as a popular choice among operators nationwide,” comments James Armstrong, Aftersales Director for Scania (Great Britain) Limited. “That’s because with the promise of no surprises or hidden costs, our fixed price options have done much to make life easier.
“As well as widening the range we have adjusted the pricing of many jobs to be more competitive than ever and also have a number of special eye-catching offers running until the end of the year (see table below). Furthermore, it’s not just the current Scania P, G and R series that are covered; 3 and 4 series Scania trucks and buses and coaches also form part of the programme.”
Examples of the price savings offered by the Scania Fixed Price Repair programme include:
Services Fixed Price Repair
S Service £255.00
M Service £366.00
L Service £647.00
Repairs
Fixed Price Repair
Ball Joint £128.00
Wheel bearing (front) £358.00
Cab shock absorber £160.00
Brake chamber £210.00
ABS valve £162.00
Draglink £250.00
Alternator £264.00
Starter motor £200.00
Clutch, disc and slave cylinder £874.00