SsangYong Australia managing director Tim Smith said that since he began work on establishing the factory-run distribution network in Australia in June, one of the first things to implement was a reliable parts supply.
The company has achieved this with SsangYong contracting South Korean-based Pantos Logistics as its exclusive outlet.
Pantos, which has a network of 349 global centres, has a presence in Sydney, but taking on SsangYong as its sole automotive client has seen it establish a Melbourne distribution warehouse.
Mr Smith said it was absolutely vital that this parts centre come into play and that the warehouse be operated by a company dedicated to SsangYong.
“One of the first things we did when we were formatting our business plans was to take over the parts and service operation. We couldn’t see it working otherwise,” he said.
“We took it to the dealers last week and had an excellent response.
“Having a dedicated supplier means parts are available with real-time data tracking and for city dealers and customers, no more than an overnight delivery of parts.”
The exclusive deal is unusual in the auto industry in Australia.
Automotive parts logistics with warehousing and distribution are often shared between car brands, such as CEVA’s relationship with Holden, Mazda and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance that also includes Infiniti.
AutoNexus looks after Subaru and Proton, and LINK’s Autocare conducts various roles for a wide range of customers including Honda, Audi, Haval, Kia and Hyundai.
By Neil Dowling
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