Kiwis claim Scania Top Team 2018

A team of Scania technicians from New Zealand has claimed first prize – and a cheque for Euro 50,000 (nearly $A80,000) – in the 2018 Scania Top Team World Final.

The Kiwis proved themselves to be the best of around 8000 technicians representing 70 countries in this year's competition, emerging victorious at the finals held recently at Scania's head office in Södertälje, Sweden.

This year’s Scania Top Team is the 10th international event since it began in 1989. It has developed from a national training event into today's global training program, with a focus on both practical and theoretical skills.

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The finalists in 2018's competition were Argentina, Austria, Brazil, China, Finland, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands and United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand took the victory. Second place was Switzerland followed by Austria.

Mathias Carlbaum, Scania's Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations, said the event continues to showcase the excellence of the global Scania network.

"Our service teams play a significant role for Scania's success," he said.

"Their dedication, knowledge and efficiency contribute in the highest possible way to the creation of added value for our customers, making sure that our customers' vehicles are quickly back on the road in a roadworthy, safe and efficient way."

In Sweden as well as globally there is a shortage of service technicians. Scania alone needs annually to recruit more than 1000 service technicians throughout the world the coming years.