Anglesea Vehicle Distributors (AVD), an Ebbett Group subsidiary, will become the sole distributor for the Foton brand in New Zealand, taking over from Ateco Automotive NZ Ltd on November 1.
All current Foton dealers will have the opportunity to participate in the new arrangement, and AVD is planning further announcements in due course concerning Foton’s model line-up and pricing.
Ateco Automotive NZ chief executive officer David Smitherman says in a market size such as New Zealand it made no sense to have two separate importers handling different parts of a brand’s range of products.
Smitherman says that Ateco will continue to represent the Foton brand in the Australian market, but he says he feels that it’s a better fit for AVD to be the sole distributor for the Chinese manufacturer in New Zealand.
AVD was appointed the distributor of the Foton Van range in 2015.
Ebbett Group managing director Ben Van Den Engel says his company concluded the deal with Ateco with the full backing of Foton.
The new arrangement brings the light duty truck and ute business into AVD, consolidating the entire Foton range into one distributor for a more focused approach to the NZ market and better dealer support.
Van Den Engel says the consolidation of Foton distribution will bring benefits to its dealership network and existing customer database.
The Ebbett Group has 88 years of experience in the new vehicle market and says the move provides continuity that will see more focused distribution and dealer support across the whole Foton range, with a clearer and more powerful message for customers
“We are committed to the brand through our van distribution, so it makes sense to bring over the truck and ute business as well,” says Van Den Engel.
“As a successful retailer, our whole business focuses on delivering an excellent customer experience, and we will transfer that culture into our distribution business,” he says.
“We are in the unique position of understanding very well what a dealership needs from a distributor so I think our partners can be very positive about this move regarding support and relationships moving forward,” says Van Den Engel.
“We aim to visit each of our dealers as soon as possible to let them know our plans to grow the Foton brand in New Zealand,” he says.
