Daimler Truck brands Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Freightliner will soon have a general distributor locally in New Zealand from early 2025.
Keith Andrews Holdings, which currently has the distribution rights for Fuso vehicles and parts through its wholesale organisation Fuso New Zealand, will soon take over the distribution of fellow Daimler Truck brands Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Freightliner.
Currently, Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Freightliner vehicles are distributed in NZ by Daimler Truck Australia Pacific based in Mulgrave, Victoria.
Daimler Truck Australian President and chief executive Daniel Whitehead says the distribution change will benefit New Zealand customers.
“The general distributor model will deliver the best outcome for Daimler Truck customers in New Zealand because no one knows local customers better than locals.
“The team at Keith Andrews has helped Fuso become a successful brand in New Zealand and we are confident they will enable Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Freightliner to reach their full potential.”
As a Daimler Truck Regional Center, Daimler Truck Australia Pacific will continue to provide support to New Zealand customers by delivering the best-in-class technology, products and services to Keith Andrews and its New Zealand dealer network.
Keith Andrews Holdings executive director Kurtis Andrews says the team is looking forward to serving all Daimler Truck customers across New Zealand as the distributor for Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Freightliner brands, in addition to Fuso products.
“We are delighted to be given the opportunity to take on the distribution of Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner trucks in New Zealand.
“From our role of selling and supporting these brands over many years, we know how much value customers can extract from these class-leading products.
“We’d like to thank Daimler Truck for its faith in our hard-working team at Keith Andrews, which is excited to show the full potential of the amazing Daimler Truck products in New Zealand,” Andrews says.
Keith Andrews and Cable Price enter discussions
Currently, Keith Andrews represents Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Freightliner retail in the North Island, and CablePrice represents the two brands in the South Island.
Keith Andrews Holdings is working with CablePrice regarding the ownership and operation of selected Fuso, Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Freightliner sales and service sites in the South Island.
Keith Andrews Holdings says it aims to maintain all existing operations and personnel to determine a smooth transition and maintain a high level of customer support.
Discussions are currently focused on CablePrice’s Christchurch, Timaru and Dunedin truck dealerships, with remaining dealerships maintaining their Daimler Truck service and parts (2S) status as part of CablePrice.
Andrews says there is tremendous respect for the achievements in the South Island.
“The CablePrice team has achieved great success with Fuso in particular and been an integral part of market-leading truck and bus sales efforts in the past three years.
“We are thrilled by the prospect that they will continue to provide fantastic customer support in the mainland, either as part of CablePrice or Keith Andrews.”
CablePrice NZ managing director Aidan Mahony says he’s “extremely proud” of what his team has achieved since becoming the South Island dealer for Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Fuso trucks.
“I believe all customers will benefit from having a New Zealand based and focused general distributor.”
Andrews and Mahony both say they are united in their goal of keeping their valued teams and customers updated as the transition progresses, while remaining committed to the job of keeping Daimler Truck customers moving.
“Keith Andrews Holdings and CablePrice aim to maintain all existing operations and personnel to ensure a smooth transition and a high level of customer support,” they said.
The exact details of the distribution change will be finalised and communicated closer to implementation, which is expected sometime early next year.
In January this year, Daimler Truck Australia Pacific announced changes to its management structure which removes division along the brand lines of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Freightliner and Fuso.
The company says the “brand-agnostic structure” will help sharpen its customer focus in Australia and New Zealand.
