Allison Automatics attract more Aussies

Australian truck dealerships find it increasingly easy to convince buyers of the merits of fully automatic transmissions

Allison tells us that its auto transmissions are now the preferred choice for distribution vehicles operating in Australia's metropolitan areas, with all leading Japanese OEMs offering Allison automatics in their line-ups, to meet the demand.

As more fully automatic trucks become available in the Australian market, the benefits and features Allison offers over manual and automated manual transmissions (AMTs) are being highlighted by dealers and sales consultants.

Thousands of trucks fitted with Allison automatic transmissions are imported into Australia each year, and the majority of these are used in distribution work as more and more operators experience the value and efficiency delivered by fully automatic vehicles.

"Most buyers have already visited our competitors in the medium-duty market and have seen the manual and automated manual options available," said Jim Lekkas, a sales consultant at UD Trucks.

"So I start by explaining the difference between automatics and AMTs to help them understand the concept."

According to Lekkas, most of his customers are used to manual trucks and drive automatic cars. "I simply emphasise the logic of considering automatic transmissions in their trucks, particularly in urban distribution work," he said. "The fact is they are easier to drive than manuals and AMTs, so drivers will finish a shift less fatigued. They can concentrate on steering rather than changing gears, so they are more relaxed, less stressed and perform better.

"It is then a matter of highlighting the advantages an automatic has in terms of reduced driveline and brake wear, which minimise vehicle downtime, as well as the advantages of uninterrupted power shifting," said Lekkas.

Lekkas said that almost 90 per cent of the medium-duty UD trucks sold from the Sydney dealership are now Allison-equipped automatics.

"Truck buyers have experienced the cost and reduced productivity that comes from having to change clutches and other driveline components in manual trucks, so when you explain that with the Allison automatic you can cover more than 240,000km without even touching the transmission fluid, it really makes them sit up and take notice," said Lekkas .

Allison's long history and its global leadership in engineering automatic transmissions are also points Lekkas makes to potential buyers.

"By the time potential buyers hear all of those messages, the automatic proposition clearly presents as the best option, and that is born out by the fact that most medium-duty UD trucks sold today are Allison-equipped automatics," said Lekkas. "Buyers understand the Allison Automatic is proven technology – one they can rely on – and if anything does go wrong, Allison has the expertise to rectify it quickly."

Allison Automatics attract more Aussies

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