SEVEN truck parts businesses have combined under one name, supported by the Bapcor Group, to create Australia’s largest resource for aftermarket parts for commercial vehicles with a target to operate more than 40 stores by 2025.

The new name is WANO and it combines HIM Spares, Don Kyatt Queensland, He Knows Truck Parts, I Know Parts, Japanese Trucks Australia, Japanese Commercial Spares and Truck Parts Dubbo.

WANO is an addition to the truck-focused business divisions of Bapcor that include Truckline, Diesel Drive and, in New Zealand, Trucks and Trailer Parts.

The seven businesses use one phone number to access a parts interpreter for Hino, Fuso, Isuzu, UD, Nissan, LDV and Toyota commercials. WANO claims more than 70,000 SKU lines across 15 locations.

WANO said that independent service workshops can avoid chasing a part by phone by using the single contact number.

Bapcor Mechanical executive general manager Mathew Cooper said that WANO was a new chapter in Australia’s commercial vehicle parts business.

“WANO brings a new level of stockholding, customer service and convenience to this important automotive aftermarket sector,” he said.

“To provide the best possible customer service and value to as many repairers as possible, we plan to extend the WANO store national footprint to reach 40 stores by 2025 to meet the demand of this growing automotive aftermarket sector.”

Bapcor said that the seven highly-specialised businesses that form WANO had a strong heritage and proven track record in the rapid sourcing and fast supply of quality Japanese and Asian commercial vehicle parts.

Becoming one national and highly-specialised commercial vehicle parts provider offers the most comprehensive range of parts to suit Japanese and Asian commercial vehicle makes and models, the company said.

Bapcor earlier this year outlined its five-year strategy that aimed to increase its commercial vehicle outlets to 40 from the current 17.

It also said that in the “light” commercial vehicle market of vehicles under 20-tonne GVM, Bapcor’s annual turnover was now about $60 million but it’s estimated, under the five-year plan, to hit $120 million.

Revenue in the “heavy” over-20-tonne GVM sector would rise from the current $120 million annual turnover to a predicted $220 million by 2026.

By Neil Dowling