Australian arm’s boss sees freedom and cohesion in move
With January seeing the formal separation of Iveco from former parent company CNH Industrial, the trucks enterprise is looking to revel in its independence.
Iveco Australia MD Michael May saw only positives from the move, for Iveco owners in Australia and New Zealand.
“This spin-off will unify Iveco and provide the added freedom to further develop the brand’s potential as an exclusive on-highway business,” May said.
“The change will also allow a more targeted management focus, which will assist in accelerating innovation goals and the rate at which new products are brought to market, while also responding more nimbly to customer requirements.”
May said that along with these goals, he was confident that Iveco owners would now also enjoy enhanced levels of customer service and support.
The group casts the move as giving it complete control of the way it manages itself and develops in the future.
Its brands will be spearheaded by the core Iveco and FPT (Fiat Powertrain) businesses, while sub brands Iveco Capital, Heuliez, Iveco Bus, Iveco Defence Vehicles, Astra and Magirus will also form an important part of the on-highway offering.
“A key benefit of the spin-off will be Iveco’s renewed emphasis on better meeting the existing and future needs of on-highway customers, by taking a more targeted approach to their requirements.
“Among these areas of interest is to further develop the group’s alternative fuels and propulsion capabilities.
“Already a proven leader in low emission natural gas technologies including CNG and LNG, as well as electrification with the likes of the Daily Electric van, the Iveco Group’s new direction will also allow it to form closer ties with joint venture partners such as Nikola.”
The two companies have been working together since 2019, and in September last year the partners unveiled details of their state-of-the-art Ulm manufacturing facility in Germany which last month completed the first of its new Nikola TRE battery electric (BEV) trucks.