Doing it properly

With sales that had tripled during 2011 over the preceding year, Hyundai Commercial Vehicles is looking forward to continuing the trend into 2012.

Hyundai Commercial Vehicles is currently on a growth path second to none. “We understand that the truck is central to our customers’ income,” says Wade Griffin, commercial director, Hyundai Commercial Vehicles. Continues Danie de Beer, general manager commercial vehicles: “In the past year we’ve really focussed on trucks, the trucking business and what customers want; we understand the trucking business now.”

Central to this success has been Hyundai’s promise of “legendary build, unbeatable warranty, invincible toughness” for its range of vehicles – aptly dubbed “The Indestrucktibles”. Combined with a network of 39 dedicated sales and 41 service outlets nation wide (as well as in Gaborone, Botswana, and Windhoek, Namibia), Hyundai’s aim for continued growth this year is almost guaranteed.

“Believe it or not, people don’t know that Hyundai does trucks and buses,” notes
De Beer.

Indeed, Hyundai does trucks, buses and light commercials. To begin with is the Mighty series of medium commercial vehicles (MCV), which consists of the
HD 65 and HD 72; that has been such a success for Hyundai in that segment of the market over the past year. De Beer and Griffin enthusiastically point out the range has experienced an extremely low warranty claim rate, both in South Africa and other markets.

As noted by FOCUS’ Vic Oliver during his test of the HD 72 in August 2011: “…it is easy to see the high quality of the vehicle’s build and finish, and to recognise that this is part of the reason why the robust workhorse is becoming so popular with commercial road transport operators in South Africa.” The HD 72 also presented Oliver with exceptional, user-friendly performance and was particularly praised for its excellent fuel consumption of 13,45 l/100 km (7,45 km/l) recorded during the test run.

During the course of 2012, the Mighty will be subject to various improvements. It has a one-year/60 000 km service plan and two-year/unlimited mileage warranty, with service intervals of 10 000 km.

Along with the Mighty, Hyundai offers the well-known H100 1,3-tonne bakkie. The H100 has earned a reputation as a hardy workhorse, yet still comes with Hyundai’s five-year/150 000 km warranty and three-year/60 000 km service plan, as well as five-year/150 000 km roadside assistance.

Hyundai’s third Indestrucktible is the H1 panel van, which, in the September 2011 issue of FOCUS, was described as “an honest, back-to-basics, workaholic of a panel van”. It comes with the five-year/150 000 km warranty, and a five-year/
90 000 km service plan. The H1 range is to be expanded early in 2012 with the
H1 Multi Cab.

Also available on special order, Hyundai offers local buyers its Universe luxury coaches in two versions – a 40-seater or a 39-seater fitted with a toilet. Hyundai also offers a 29-seater bus.

To further back up this holistic range of vehicles, Hyundai adjusted the pricing of its parts basket following an independent survey conducted by RGT Smart towards the end of 2011. “We understand that the customer buys cost of ownership, and that’s why we’ve improved our parts basket,” notes De Beer. It’s now among the most competitively priced in the market. A daily schedule of all roadside assistance incidents is also produced to monitor the reasons for any breakdowns and improve reaction times.

As De Beer and Griffin point out, Hyundai aims to be a strong brand with good presence, and customer-orientated service. And, as more customers are learning, they not only understand the trucking business, but the commercial vehicle business as a whole.