A golden era for logistics: positive growth outlook with a high focus on sustainability.

Drive for Better with new Euro 5 Quester and Croner

The local transport industry is showing steady signs of recovery from the ongoing global impact of COVID-19. A total of 27,075 trucks and buses were sold during 2021 in South Africa , an increase of 19% as compared to previous years.

“Despite all the unforeseen setbacks, over the past two years, the local transport industry is showing steady growth, it will be a bumpy road ahead of full economic recovery, requiring interventions such as building smarter logistics with lower environmental impact and taking a value-based approach to managing supply chains,” said Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa.

As the saying goes, 'in every crisis lies great opportunity'. The post pandemic era represents the logistics industry with an opportunity to be part of working towards a greener planet. Logistics providers have also been part of the environmental degradation problem that our only planet is facing, and now is the time to go the extra mile and be an active part of the solution as well. UD Trucks ikigai or purpose fits towards this journey. 

Sustainability, an anchor for Better Life
With a Better Life purpose, we will address not only global but also local environmental challenges. Additionally, COVID-19 will place more focus on offering a more sustainable response to post-pandemic challenges.

Our long-standing commitment to providing trucks and services the world needs today and tomorrow has led UD Trucks to introduce Euro 5 trucks ahead of regulations in South Africa. Our Euro 5 model range will expand later in 2022 with the addition of two new models.This latest launch also ensures greater resilience for businesses in a fast-changing world, be ever-ready for tighter regulations in the future 

A Euro 5 system with SCR (selective catalytic reduction) technology is since long been a globally proven technology in reducing carbon footprint, lowering NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) levels, and ensuring cleaner emissions for ‘Better Life’ for all.

A better environment will also provide a stronger foundation to drive economic progress, helping businesses achieve sustainable growth and long-term value–especially amongst fast-growing economies, such as South Africa. 

Innovation, a focus on safety and all-round efficiencies
Process enhancements such as automation, connectivity and electromobility can help reduce the pressure on logistics. We at UD Trucks have long invested in Smart Logistics solutions, outfitting our trucks with connected devices and safety features that can analyze data in real-time to improve efficiency and safety.

The use of UD Telematics system can help customers monitor factors influencing the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of their fleet such as fuel consumption, utilization, vehicle health, vehicle location and driver behavior, to identify areas for improvement. Since 2021, first in the South African market, UD Trucks offers telematics as standard on all new trucks sold in order for customer to take their performance and TCO to new levels.

ESCOT's automatic gear selection makes driving easy for any driver while improving fuel efficiency. As a result of advanced safety features such as the Traffic Eye Brake system, drivers are alerted to potential dangers on the road, improving their response times, avoiding possible collisions, and enhancing overall safety.

The goal of operational efficiency no longer ends with optimizing efficiency. It is about looking after the well-being of drivers, reducing environmental impact, and empowering communities and individuals.
By adopting a "full circle" approach that's tech-driven and value-based, businesses and governments are positioned to realize greater economic benefits, innovation, and even job creation to benefit their communities in the long term.

A focus on excellent customer experience
The strength of UD Trucks' after-sales support continues to be just as important as the manufacturing of trucks. We provide quality after-sales service performed by qualified technicians using genuine parts, service planning, and service agreements, as well as vehicle handover training to maximize fleet performance for businesses.

In addition, we are continuously expanding our professional and dense service network by investing in state-of-the-art facilities and retraining our aftermarket support staff. With the opening of a new UD Trucks dealership in the Vaal region in 2021, our customers can expect more choice and flexibility as we open a few more UD Trucks dealerships in the coming years.

60 years of Japanese innovation in South Africa
The 60th anniversary of UD Trucks in South Africa marks our continued commitment to improving lives, all while continuing to stay true to our Japanese heritage and promise to deliver ultimate dependability with trucks and services the customer needs today. Our goal remains to become "the truck brand that our customers want to partner with" and to be a desired employer to work for, today and in the years to come.

For media enquiries, please contact:
sanelisiwe.ngcobo@udtrucks.com 

UD Trucks is a leading Japanese commercial vehicle solutions provider, active in more than 60 countries on all continents. Since its inception in 1935, the company has been an innovation leader with a clear vision to provide the trucks and services the world needs today. 

The company is committed to go the extra mile for smart logistics with the most dependable solutions for demanding customers. To best support across applications and geographies, UD Trucks offers a range of heavy and medium duty trucks; Quon, Quester, Croner and Kuzer, as well as associated operational and financial services. 

UD Trucks is a proud member of Isuzu Group.

About UD Trucks Southern Africa
UD Trucks Southern Africa’s assembly plant and head office is in Rosslyn, Pretoria. It has 40 dealers in South Africa, and 11 dealers in neighboring countries including Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia to name but a few.