CAL Isuzu, which operates a Hamilton dealership, has purchased the Isuzu TCL franchises in Auckland and Tauranga (Mt. Maunganui) from Stevensons – to become a dominant force in the North Island truck market.
Ashok Parbhu, managing director, says the deal will have numerous benefits for the trucking community as the company now represents 54% of Isuzu sales nationwide.
“With the extra scale we will be able to offer better purchasing power and services to help our customers stay where they need to be – on the road,” he says.
Nearly 90 staff will be situated across the three sites, with most TCL staff in Auckland and Tauranga electing to stay on with CAL Isuzu. Stevensons purchased the franchise in 2008.
Highlighted by facilities that are more akin to a car dealership than a standard truck yard, Parbu’s aim is to bring the CAL level of excellence and expertise into what is already a very strong TCL setup.
Both Isuzu sales and the CAL brand are targeting growth and expansion in the upper North Island, resulting from the deal.
Parbhu’s father and brother started the company in the mid-1980s, initially trading trucks from the front yard of the family home before moving to a small yard in the early 90s.
“When my brother created CAL ISUZU he had a vision of creating the dominant force in truck sales and service. I was in awe of his ambition, and today I am very proud to have taken another step towards to realising that ambition,” says Parbhu.
By the mid 90’s the business, at that time known as Commercial Autos had moved to the current northern base on state highway 1 and was becoming a growing presence in the truck market throughout the upper North Island.
Today the company defines itself as offering NZ’s largest range of new and premium used Isuzu trucks – all superbly supported and sold from NZ’s largest purpose-built truck yard.
They also offer authorised Isuzu parts sales – and a state of the art full mechanical service department – as well as engineering, coach-building and paint facilities.
The site had a full scale overhaul in 2011, with a grand opening attended by many from the business and wider community. In an industry where dirt and grease are commonplace, the sleek modern lines mixing vast expanses of glass, aluminium and concrete confirm CAL as being a standout in the truck marketplace.
“Ashok is a person not afraid to stand up for his principles and goes from strength to strength. This is a great opportunity for him and his team,” says Oliver Foote, Isuzu New Zealand general manager.
““The growth of CAL Isuzu also goes to show the value of the Isuzu franchise and the confidence people have in the brand to invest in the business.”
Parbu’s brother Raman passed away in 1997 – but Parbhu says his brother would be extremely proud of what the business has achieved.
