Huge Daimler dealership opens in Vic

Daimler Truck and Bus and Automotive Holdings Group (AHG) have officially opened the flagship Daimler Trucks Laverton dealership.

The largest and most advanced dealership in the Daimler Truck and Bus network was constructed at a cost of more than $30 million and will sell and support Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Fuso brands.

The new dealership is an 11,000 square metre facility located on a 68,000 square metre parcel of land on Boundary Rd in Truganina, a freight transport hub in Melbourne’s west.

It features a 48-bay workshop with two road train pits, shaker and roller testing, six wash bays and 11 pre-delivery build-up stations, in addition to a modern sales lounge and a separate service reception with its own lounge and waiting area.

We recently visited the facility and were amazed by the scale of the dealership. We met with Dealer Principal, Don Hovenden, who said he was thrilled to be operating the new dealership, which he describes as an ‘amazing facility’.

Mr Hovenden said the dealership was based on a similar facility in Perth: “The one in Perth is on a 47ha site whereas this one is on 68ha,” he said. “We have learned a lot from the Perth facility which is state of the art, and we wanted to make this one even better,” he added.

“We are heavily into training and looking to have 19 apprentices when we are at full capacity,” Mr Hovenden said. He went on to tell us that the service area currently has 45 technicians that run over two shifts. “We are working here from 7.00am to 11.00pm,” he said.

Daimler Trucks Laverton will offer a full 24/7 breakdown service within a 300km radius.

Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, says the company is excited that the new dealership on Boundary Rd is now open.

“The AHG Daimler Trucks Perth facility has proven to be an outstanding success and the team has delivered again with this fantastic new dealership,” Mr Whitehead says.

“We are delighted that AHG has made a significant investment in the Daimler Truck and Bus business as part of a long and fruitful partnership and we know that our Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Fuso customers will appreciate this wonderful new facility,” he says.

The dealership team was heavily involved in the design and layout of the extensive parts department, with logic-controlled stock and pick technology ensuring further efficiency across service requirements and direct customer sales.

“This system delivers something in the order of a 90 per cent reduction in the process of ordering, sourcing, dispatching and supply,” Mr Hovenden says.