TRUCKS

This first phase of VE Commercial Vehicles South Africa’s (VECV SA’s) entry into South Africa will see the introduction of the Eicher medium-duty Pro 3000 series.

The 8.5 t gross vehicle mass (GVM) haulage trucks (4 t to 5 t payload) will be followed by the launch of the heavy-duty Pro 6000 range, which includes freight carriers and a 10 m3 construction tipper.

The Pro truck range, which ranges from 4.9 t to 49 t in GVM consists of more than 500 variants.

VECV is a joint venture between the Volvo group and India’s Eicher Motors.

VECV SA is a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of VECV, and a member of the Volvo group in South Africa. The group includes Volvo Trucks and UD Trucks.

VECV SA country head Surender Singh admits that the Pro 6000 series will compete with UD’s products in the South African market. However, he notes that “each brand has its own unique selling point”.

He says Eicher products will be the lowest-priced product in the Volvo stable in South Africa, differentiating it from other products within the group.

Singh adds that the Pro 6000 range will enter the South African market once vehicle testing in local conditions has reached 100 000 km. This will allow for the homologation process to start.

“The Pro 6000 should be here before the end of the year.”

Eicher is available at 14 outlets across South Africa. VECV SA has joined hands with dealership groups such as Imperial, BB Motor, CMH, AAD, Billson Trucks, Fleet Dynamics Group and Premier Truck & Bus to make its products available to the market.

Singh does not want to elaborate on the sales volumes VECV SA is seeking in the South African market.

He does note, however, that the launch of the Pro 6000 series will be followed by the introduction of an Eicher bus in South Africa.

He adds that negotiations have started with UD Trucks Southern Africa to assemble Eicher trucks at its Rosslyn plant, outside Pretoria.

Eicher trucks are currently imported from India.

Singh says the India plant has the capacity to produce 100 000 trucks a year.

Eicher sold 57 000 trucks in India last year.

“Every third truck sold in India is an Eicher truck,” says Singh.

Eicher’s bus plant has capacity to produce 15 000 units a year. Sales reached around the same level last year.

Eicher is available in 30 countries worldwide. Exports picked up significantly on the back of the Pro series introduction in 2014.

Exports topped 3 970 units in 2013, jumping to 8 035 units in 2016.

The target is for exports to reach 10 000 in 2017.

Eicher is targeting volumes of 100 000 units, of which 10% should be exports, notes Singh.

He is positive that South Africa will make a significant contribution to export sales through the launch of the Pro 3000 series.

He says the truck range is known worldwide for its fuel efficiency.

The Pro 3000 haulage truck launched in South Africa includes features such as an intelligent driver information system; air brakes with ABS; power windows; air conditioning; and a maintenance-free propellor shaft, lubricated for life.