Daimler Trucks Laverton is a $30 million-plus development taking a massive 68,000 square-metre slice of the industrial suburb in response to predictions for continuing growth in truck sales.
Opened by AHG managing director John McConnell and Daimler Trucks North America senior vice-president of sales and marketing Richard Howard, the building replaces a substantially smaller premises that was described as being “around the corner”.
AHG managing director John McConnell and Daimler Trucks North America senior vice-president of sales and marketing Richard Howard
The new site was previously a Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle dealership and was bought by AHG from Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific in July 2015.
AHG then built on the site in partnership with its property partner Charter Hall and builder Vaughan Constructions. It follows the design principles of its sister dealership in Perth and becomes the fourth AHG Daimler Trucks outlet that also includes Brisbane and Newcastle.
Within the new facility is concrete hardstand of 56,000 square metres – requiring more than 1400 concrete truck deliveries – and showrooms, workshops and parts zones of 11,000 square metres.
It has 48 workshop bays including two suitable for road trains, six washing bays, seven kilometres of air and oil lines, 300 parking bays, and more than 100 staff park bays.
Daimler Trucks Laverton dealer principal Don Hovenden said he was expecting increased sales with the Mercedes-Benz Actros heavy-duty truck as fleets looked at its fuel economy benefits.
“We’re also looking forward to the Freightliner Cascadia in 2020 though we are still strongly selling the Argosy (to be replaced by the Cascadia),” he told GoAutoNews Premium.
“We also have the light and medium-duty Fuso models and the range of Mercedes-Benz vans.”
Mr Hovenden said the dealership was expecting to be selling the Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute but admitted that had yet to be confirmed.
“That would round out the products,” he said.
Mr Hovenden said the move to the new location was completed in only two days.
“We packed up at noon on a Friday and were open Monday morning,” he said.
“We left everything behind – we virtually just walked out. Everything we have at Laverton was brand new.”
The new truck dealership brings AHG’s franchises to 188 at almost 120 locations, including nine in New Zealand.
By Neil Dowling
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