Kevin Smith tells DIESELtalk how he joined Iveco as general manager New Zealand in February 2011 with a big job to undertake – to reinvigorate the Iveco brand in New Zealand. However, one month later, Kevin was diagnosed with a life threatening cancer.
Understating the seriousness of the situation, Smith tells us that the alternatives to a proposed operation to remove the cancer were ‘not that flash’ – doctors had warned him that the clock was ticking.
Smith is clearly pleased to be able to tell people that the cancer has gone completely and that, by his own admission, he was probably back on deck too early. But with terrific support from the Iveco management team, they got through the difficult times and embarked on the job of re-establishing Iveco’s relationship with truck buyers.
Iveco has long been a feature on our roads, but is not the most commonly seen truck. However, with the plans that Iveco’s New Zealand team have in place to grow its market share – and provide customers with flexible routes to ownership – this looks set to change.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of one of the world’s largest automotive and heavy industrial groups, why wouldn’t this be the case?
As part of the Fiat Group, Iveco is backed by one of the world’s largest multinational businesses, a business that recently posted a one billion Euro€ Q2 trading profit across all regions. Iveco’s global contribution for this period was a trading profit of €127 million, making for a first half trading profit of €191 million.
Iveco New Zealand has significant financial substance and the group has developed an outstanding range of commercial vehicles. Italian by design, it’s no surprise to see that the Iveco range boasts superior cabin ergonomics and comfort.
Smith is very proud of the Italian DNA that pervades the range, with manufacturing plants across Europe and in Australia he says “some of our [NZ] range comes from Australia and some is made in Europe. There’s a marrying of the best technologies from Iveco factories worldwide, but it’s definitely an Italian truck.”
Despite a historically comprehensive range that is stronger in terms of technology, comfort and suitability to New Zealand roads than ever before, Smith admits that Iveco in the past has not taken its products to the market as effectively as it might have.
“We have to engage with our customers far more than before. The formula is right, we know we have the range and the national support that’s essential for buyers – it’s now a question of making sure we continue to deliver consistently high levels of service and have strong visibility in the marketplace.”
Smith continues: “We’re on a good curve, sales are picking up, albeit from what we regard as low base but the growth is excellent.”
Smith admits that there is something of a disconnect between the perceived quality of the range and the penetration it has achieved in New Zealand, something he is keen to change.
“People are acknowledging that these are great trucks – we’ve got vehicles with 1.3 million kms on the clock.”
