This story first appeared in the June issue of DieselTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE
Around 70% of new heavy truck sales in New Zealand go to customers from Taupo and north, so clever distributors regularly make the pilgrimage to the National Fieldays as it provides exposure to a large section of their market.
However in 2016, Fuso and Foton Trucks will be absent from the National Fieldays – but Hino Distributors, Hyundai Trucks, UD Trucks, Scania, and market leader Isuzu Trucks, will all be returning.
While Foton heavy trucks will be absent, Foton utes and vans will be back at Mystery Creek with displays from their respective dealers.
The distributors all say they saw high levels of inquiry on new products at the 2015 event, and it will be interesting to see if the trend continues for 2016.
Setting up shop at Mystery Creek for the four-day long event is an intensively time-consuming and expensive exercise for the truck brands, so no doubt levels of inquiry need to be high to justify the investment of manpower and money.
Once again, DIESELtalk spoke to the truck distributors to put a directory together for this issue, to find out the location of their stands and what particular vehicles would be on display, and what deals or incentives would be marketed to Fielday’s visitors.
Isuzu on the move
Isuzu Trucks will feature its new offerings on site I39,41 and 43, directly beside the Holden stand, says general manager Colin Muir.
This year the new Isuzu Trucks site will accommodate a new light duty N series 4×4 truck which has a greater GVM capacity than the previous model of 7500kg.
Isuzu Trucks will also introduce a medium duty F Series range that meets Euro 5 emission rules without needing AdBlue or DPD/DPF technology.
There will be a range of factory tippers in the N and F series 4×4 line up as well, and the Giga now receives a optional extra in the form of a premium interior pack, which Muir says should arouse some interest from the heavy duty sector customers.
A CYZ460 Tipper from the VC36 Giga range featuring a 7200kg front axle and silent Magnetic Driveline Retarder will take pride of place on the Isuzu Truck stand this year.
Hino gets new spot
This year Hino Distributors is going to be at a different site from previous years, at stand E85, according to sales and marketing co-ordinator Wendy Smaling.
“We will have a selection of our factory-built tippers and locally-built tippers on display across the 300 Series light duty and the 500 Series medium duty models,” says Smaling.
“We will have some Fieldays pricing on our display trucks so people can check that out when they’re on the stand. We haven’t confirmed all of the exact models that we are going to have on site, but there will be a mix of our light, medium and heavy-duty trucks there,” she says.
Hyundai goes big
Hyundai Motors New Zealand will once again have the large pavilion at the same site as last year which is located next to the Village Green, and Hyundai trucks will have its own position right next door.
General manager Andy Sinclair says alongside a couple of the current light-duty Hyundai Mighty trucks, which have 6000kg and 6500kg GVM respectively, Hyundai New Zealand will also display two of the new 7500kg GVM units.
Full range from Cable Price
Cable Price national marketing manager brand and communication Steve Young says the company will again present a full range of its products at stand E105 – E107. Unlike some of the other brands it has stayed put in its favourite position.
“We’ll be in our usual spot on the corner of E and I Roads, and we’ll have exclusive deals and giveaways too,” says Young.
“We will have a full range of products on display including Hitachi excavators and wheel loaders, John Deere wheel loader and skid steers, as well as Scania trucks,” says Young.
UD Trucks returns
UD Trucks will return to the same site as last year at Mystery Creek, being stand G14.
Sales manager John Gerbich says that once again the company is not actively marketing any specific promotions for the National Fieldays – it is simply there to present new product to existing and potential new customers.
“We will have on display an MK11-250AS chassis, a CW26-380AS chassis complete with a 9-metre Hobson horse box and a GW26-420AS chassis complete with a Cambridge Welding tip body,” says Gerbich.
Gough Cat does deals
Gough Cat is at site F94 and F96 at Mystery Creek, and will have a stand featuring Cat machines and generators.
“We will feature a range of Cat Excavators from 1.7 to 20 tonne, with Gough Power Systems highlighting Cat and Olympian generators, ranging from 11kVa upwards,” says Gough Cat marketing communications manager Richard Smart.
“For promotions, we’ll have a 0% finance rate available on Cat Compact machines,” he says.
