One of the country’s most experienced light commercial vehicle specialists, Dave Didsbury, has been appointed to a new role heading the Daily van programme for Iveco Trucks New Zealand.
He joins Iveco as National sales manager – light commercial vehicles.
“Dave has more than twenty years’ experience working in the light commercial market and will be a huge asset to our team,” says Iveco Trucks New Zealand general manager Ian Walker.
“His responsibilities will include the development of our sales opportunities with Daily product both through a new national dealer network and directly using his wealth of experience with New Zealand fleets,” says Walker.
The new Iveco Daily van range won the 2015 International Van of the Year title with class-leading carrying capacities, power and torque along with a new eight-speed Hi-Matic fully automatic transmission.
The range offers gross vehicle mass ratings from 3300kg to 7000kg with capacities up to 19.6 cubic metres.
A cab-and-chassis light truck version with payloads from 2.4 – 4.5 tonne is also available.
Dave Didsbury began his career in the United Kingdom as a mechanic, spending nine years on the spanners before moving into sales. He worked for Ford, Kia, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz before moving to New Zealand in 2007.
His move to Iveco was from Mercedes-Benz New Zealand where he managed the van national fleet accounts.
Didsbury told DIESELTalk that it was an exciting opportunity to join Iveco New Zealand as the new Daily is launching into the marketplace.
“We feel we have a competitive offer in the new Iveco Daily van because people want to buy a commercial vehicle that drives like a passenger car,” says Didsbury.
“Currently supplies of the new fully automatic Hi-Matic model are flying off the yard,” he says.
Iveco New Zealand is also considering introducing European-built Daily minibus models in 12 to 23-seat configurations in addition to the cargo vans.
The Minibus models would arrive from the factory with everything but the seats, which can then be manufactured and configured to local requirements.
Didsbury says the specification of the Minibus is yet to be confirmed.
He will set up a new network of Iveco Daily dealers in addition to the existing 19 service agents nationally.
Christchurch has a new Iveco Daily dealership and two more appointments will happen before the end of 2015.
Didsbury says another three dealerships are likely to open in 2016, and that cannot happen soon enough for him
“We need to get demonstrator vehicles on the roads and bottoms on drivers’ seats, and our Minibus will also be a key player for us in future sales,” he says.
“My passion is dealing with van customers, and getting more of them on board means we must have the right sales staff and national dealer set up.
“It’s a great challenge for me and we can have some fun on the way, it is nice to be in a smaller company and offer a more personal service,” says Didsbury.
“It’s also an opportunity for staff to be able to step up and enjoy more career development, because we want to make a difference in the market,” he says.
