Leventis ripples market with Volkswagen trucks
By FIDELIS UGBOME
Friday, November 30, 2007

• Leventis trucks and tractors Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Drawing from its wealth of experience in the marketing of the Mercedes-Benz brand which spans over five decades, Leventis Motors is blazing a new success trail with an array of trucks and tractor heads made by Volkswagen of Brazil.

Though the vehicles have been penetrating the market since 2006, helped by their numerous unique selling points, including the fact that they have under their hoods the popular Cummins engines, they were officially launched some six months ago by which time no fewer than 150 units had been purchased by customers across the country, notably manufacturers and haulage companies.

Assessing the performance of the vehicles in the market since they officially premiered in May, Leventis Motors’ head of sales, Mr. Roland Kurz, said they have been doing very well, listing Nigerian Bottling Company Plc which has embraced the VW 17.220 worker truck by purchasing no fewer than 140 units, Consolidated Breweries Plc (10 units of the VW 18.310 worker titan tractor model) and Lacasa Hotels Limited (which is in love with the 17.220), as some of the truck/tractor users who have discovered the qualities of the Volkswagen products.

Kurz was not surprised at the impact the vehicles made before and after the launch because, according to him, “our VW truck and tractor range is undisputed and current market leaders in all segments in Brazil and have most features to offer the Nigerian market.”

With their confidence buoyed by the fact that the brand is riding higher than its competitors, including the giant Mercedes-Benz in export rating in Brazil, the Volkswagen trucks and tractors are driving into Nigeria designed exclusively for extreme rugged tropical conditions and rough roads - characteristics which the country shares with Brazil.

Kurz emphasized that the simple quality technology featuring the legendary six cylinder Cummins engines, extremely low maintenance costs and strong after-sales back-up network linked through hotlines to internationally-trained engineers, have interplayed favourably to boost the vehicles’ performance in the market. Ditto for the 12-month guarantee and extra support from Leventis Motors by way of free driver and mechanic training for customers.

Vehicles in the range Leventis is ‘unleashing’ on the Nigerian market include VW 9.150 worker truck, VW 15.180 worker truck and VW 17.220 worker truck, which are ideal for water tanker bodies of between 8,000 to 10,000 litres; drop side with drop tail; urban troop carrier; refrigerated box body, black-maria, bullion; and steel closed body.

Application for the VW 18.310 worker titan tractor and VW 19.320 Constellation titan tractor are fuel tankers of 33,000 to 36,000 litres, flat bed with capacity for 600 bags of cement, box-body for goods and 16 to 24 pallet carrier.

At the well-attended launch of the range at Leventis Motors Head Office in Apapa, Lagos last May, during which some of the trucks and tractors were displayed, the company had through the General Manager, Mr Anil Mahandru, assured that as much emphasis would be placed on after-sales support as in marketing the products. Some of the service personnel would be trained in Brazil even as replacement parts’ stock worth over N60 million was already in place, guests were told.

Echoing this commitment last week, Kurz remarked that everything needed in an efficient after-sales network is in place at Leventis Motors to ensure that customers like the Nigerian Bottling Company, which he described as the largest fleet owner with vehicles in all parts of the country, get the best of support.

“Due to the strength in facilities, infrastructure and technical knowledge, Leventis Motors remains the market-leading organisation in automotive after-sales support. Its reach throughout the nation covering over 900,000 square kilometres, is critical to its success…. Our company maintains well-equipped workshops nationwide, complemented by a mobile fleet maintenance team by hotline manned by experienced expatriates and local technicians who are constantly trained overseas,” Kurz stated.

This support, besides the quality of the vehicles, according to the head of sales, makes fleet owners like Leesibel Ventures, Tunkies Nigeria Ltd, Sunstin Engineering (Nig) Ltd and Chellarams, prefer choosing their heavy vehicular needs from the Volkswagen range.