UD Trucks to focus on retaining market share in 2012 and exploiting opportunities provided by recently released Condor truck models
By Gary Worrall | February 3, 2012
After a strong performance in 2011, UD Trucks Oceania boss Erik Andersson says the focus for 2012 will be to retain market share and exploit opportunities provided by the recently released Condor truck models.
In an exclusive interview with ATN, Andersson says UD Trucks is now fully recovered from the effect of the March 2011 earthquake in Japan that decimated supply lines into Australia.
With the last Euro 4 models now cleared from the inventory, Andersson says the new MK and PK medium duty trucks, launched at the 2011 Brisbane Truck Show is striking a chord with customers.
“The reaction was good, we took orders for the new model at the Brisbane Truck Show static launch,” Andersson says.
Despite a reduction in the overall market in 2011, UD Trucks managed to increase not only total sales but market share in medium duty, as well as increasing its overall sales and share, compared to 2010 results.
For 2010, UD sold a total of 758 trucks and claimed 2.6 percent of the total market of 29,393 units, while in 2011 this increased to 927 units and 3.3 percent share of a market that shrank to 28,015 units.
In the medium duty segment these figures were echoed with results of 592 units and 8.5 percent share in 2010, as against 756 units and 12 percent share for 2011.
For 2012, Andersson says UD Trucks has the right product, especially with the updated Condor models, the sales network to support increased market penetration and a head office in Japan that is “more receptive” to customer requests.
When asked if the upgraded Condor, with significant improvements to in-cab comforts, could actually work against UD with its traditional customer base, Andersson acknowledged it could be a double-edged sword.
“There is always a risk when you take the step up in specification, but you can also use it as a lever to increase sales due to better comfort and safety for drivers,” he says.
With Andersson’s Oceania responsibilities including Papua New Guinea, he says UD has a “fairly good” market share, although the addition of a 4×4 or 6×6 product would improve market options, including in Australia.
“Yes I have a long wish list, virtually all product is on that, but we are not selling 4×4 or 6×6 anywhere,” he says.