Isuzu and Bidvest McCarthy team up
Bidvest McCarthy’s first Isuzu Truck dealership opens alongside the N4, east of Pretoria
Bidvest McCarthy and Isuzu Truck South Africa (ITSA) last month opened the Bidvest group’s first Isuzu Truck dealership and workshop.
Situated within the N4 Gateway Industrial Park, east of Pretoria, the truck-specific dealership provides a multitude of fleet solutions, encompassing new vehicle sales, CPK costing, on-site finance and insurance as well as the servicing of trucks – even those that are out of warranty. In addition to on-site maintenance, the dealership operates on Saturdays and after hours.
At the opening, dealer principal Liza-Marie Gibson thanked ITSA and Bidvest McCarthy for putting a woman in charge. She said she was delighted to join the ranks of females in managerial ranks within both companies.
In attendance were a number of ITSA and Bidvest McCarthy executives, including new Isuzu Truck South Africa CEO Hiroaki Sugawara, Isuzu Truck South Africa COO Craig Uren, and Bidvest McCarthy Group Chief Executive Steve Keys.
In his address, Uren said collaboration and cooperation were fundamental factors in creating successful businesses. “What we as Isuzu Truck South Africa and the Bidvest McCarthy group are doing is exactly that, and our expectations are that this will be a successful venture.”
Keys said that joining forces with ITSA had been a venture long in the making. “The Isuzu brand represents a long and lasting heritage, based on uncompromising quality and superior state-of-the-art diesel technology,” he said.
“McCarthy has operated in the truck market for many years, representing a number of different brands. The Isuzu range of commercial vehicles enjoys great success in the South African market and was a logical extension of our truck offering. It is also a logical extension of our relationship with General Motors SA.
“As Bidvest McCarthy, we are extremely proud to represent Isuzu and to offer the brand’s products to our commercial vehicle customers – many of who are amongst the most discerning in the South African commercial market.”
In an interview, Keys said the quality of products offered by Isuzu Trucks helped to make the brand appealing to commercial vehicle customers. “Many of Bidvest McCarthy’s clients have a need in this segment and Isuzu Trucks is well positioned to serve the local distribution market,” he said.
“We see great potential for the new dealership to expand and become one of the largest Isuzu Truck Centres in the country. The operation has made a very promising start. Other dealerships will be considered as and when opportunities become available.”
Keys said Bidvest McCarthy was pleased to represent the Isuzu brand and was excited at prospects for the business. “We have assembled a very energetic and customer-focussed team and are confident that our investment will yield healthy returns to our shareholders.
“The Bidvest McCarthy brand promises to deliver always, and I am confident that Liza-Marie and her team will live that credo every day.”
