Love your work. - Mercedes-Benz

Love your work.
March 2012.
More Than A Box On Wheels
Mercedes-Benz Vans
Highlights
5
7
9
15
17
19
23
Purveyors of produce
Blind ambition
Keeping it in the family
Mini Vanessa
The lure of fishing
Maxed out
Best in class
D
ear Readers,
Welcome to our first edition of Love Your Work for 2012. Whilst
2011 was another challenging year for the Australian automotive
industry – most market segments were down and competition was
strong – the Mercedes-Benz Van business achieved some major
highlights, increasing both our volume and marketshare.
Last February we launched the all new Vito to much acclaim,
and then took out Delivery Magazine’s ‘Van of the Year’ award
in May to cement our belief in how good this model was. Since
launch, Vito sales have gone from strength to strength, winning
high praise from many new customers as well as existing owners.
Likewise Sprinter had another very successful year, easily
finishing as the #1 Large Van in its segment with our second
best result on record.
Most industries are expecting that 2012 will present its fair
share of challenges; however we are confident that you will
continue to see growing numbers of Vito and Sprinter models
on the road. This will be partly due to the great work our dealer
network provides in supporting their Van customers every day,
as well as your loyalty to our brand and for that we would like
to express our gratitude and thanks once again to you. We
hope that 2012 is a successful year for your business and that
Mercedes-Benz Vans can help you achieve your goals.
Finally, this will be the last edition of Love Your Work that I
will feature in. After many years in our Van division, I will be
handing the reigns over to our current National Sales Manager
- Diane Tarr – to lead the team to even greater heights. I will
certainly miss the regular connection with our Van customers,
however I know that our business is in good hands under Diane’s
leadership and I wish her, our team and, most importantly, you our customers, every success in the future.
On your journey to success, stay safe on the roads and
remember to Love Your Work!
Campbell York
Senior Executive
Mercedes-Benz Vans
1 Love Your Work March| 2011
Love Your Work March| 2012 2
A Daimler Brand
Drive away from
$38,990
*
We win.
• Car-like handling and ergonomically designed interior
• Powerful yet economical low emission EURO 5 engine
• ECO 6-speed transmission means low fuel consumption
• ADAPTIVE ESP® standard across the range
• 5-star ANCAP rating when fitted with optional front window airbags
*Includes 12 months registration, 12 months CTP insurance, stamp duty and dealer delivery. Offer applies to standard specification new Vito 110 CDI SWB.
You win.
Customer story
Mercedes-Benz Vans
the J.L.King delivers, in person,
to as far north as Deniliquin
and across to Bendigo, Ballarat
and Shepparton. On average,
clocking up hundreds of
kilometres along the way. In
turn, reliability is crucial.
“Our previous fleet of Ford
Transits continuously broke
down and, unfortunately,
the service was pretty bad,
particularly when you consider
that we were often left stranded
on the side of the road. We’d
had one Mercedes-Benz model
at the time as well, which, on
the other hand, didn’t give us
an ounce of trouble and that’s
why we ended up going for
the Sprinters. We were simply
looking for something more
reliable and better after-sales
service and care.
“Poyser Motors in Bendigo
have been fantastic,” continued
Robertson. “Their service and
help along the way have been
second to none. The key thing
for our business has been the
fact that, whenever we get any
one of the fleet serviced, the
dealership supplies us with
another vehicle, which, you
can imagine, is vital for us,
given the amount of deliveries
we do. And they certainly have
a presence on the road, and
that’s for sure.
According to Poyser Motors
Sales Manager, Mark Doyle,
customer service has played a
huge part in the ongoing, longterm relationship with J.L.King.
“Whenever J.L.King come
in for any type of visit to the
dealership, we provide them
with a loan van while ever the
other vehicle is off the road,”
said Doyle. “As you’d expect,
from a customer-service point
of view, we do everything we
can to ensure that there is no
disruption to their business,
from our end.”
Purveyors of produce
Reliability is king for leading fruit and veg wholesaler
J
.L.King & Co has a rich
history. It’s a lineage that
can be traced back to Bendigo
at the turn of the 20th Century.
Michael
and
Deanne
Robertson purchased the longrunning company in 1996, both
being very hands-on in the dayto-day running of the business.
Now based in Golden Square,
Central Victoria, the fruit and
vegetable wholesaler supplies a
diverse clientele – supermarkets
5 Love Your Work March| 2012
such as IGA, retail outlets,
restaurants, hotels, hospitals,
health-care groups and caterers
– throughout Victoria and
southern New South Wales.
The other part of the business
involves supplying salads all
around Australia, including
Queensland and Tasmania. In
total, J.L.King employs around
some 50 locals.
“We pretty much have up
to five Sprinters on the road
at any one time,” said Deanne
Robertson. “Being able to
carry pallets is crucial to our
business, which is why the
Sprinters work so well for us.
We have one long-wheel-base,
which can carry up to three
pallets. The rest are shortwheel-base, which can carry
up to two.”
The business’ five drivers can
cover considerable distances
on any given day, given that
Love Your Work March| 2012 6
Customer story
Mercedes-Benz Vans
Blind ambition
Made-to-measure Sprinter mobile showroom proves a hit
R
evolutionary isn’t a word you often
associate with ‘curtains and blinds’.
However, that’s precisely what Victory Blinds
has done to the industry with its innovative,
new Sprinter-powered franchise, setting the
benchmark pretty high in the process.
The revolution is in the Melbourne-based
company’s unique take on customer experience,
it’s mobile showroom franchise. How, exactly?
With a completely kitted-out Sprinter in tow,
Victory Blinds offers its customers a fully
stocked showroom that comes to you.
The franchise is unique in that customers
can effectively buy curtains and blinds from the
comfort of their driveway, pardon the pun. It’s
a buying experience where customers can not
only touch and feel the company’s 50-odd lines
in the flesh, so to speak, but even hang them up
in their window to see how they’re going to look.
In other words: you get to try before you buy.
Victory Blinds started life in Melbourne
in 1988, with the now franchise branching
out into New South Wales, Queensland,
South Australia, Tasmania and, of course,
greater Victoria. Boasting a 150-strong team
nowadays, it offers an extensive range of
indoor and outdoor window coverings.
The mobile van franchise launched last
September, with one van on the road at present.
“We’ll be actively seeking to grow the
franchise based on this new business model,”
said Victory Blinds’ managing director Tony
Cassar. “Essentially, this is our new growth
strategy and, long term, the franchise is
something we see as something that will
become a highly visible brand nationally.
The mobile showroom’s appeal speaks for
7 Love Your Work March| 2012
itself. And particularly for regional customers.
“Our customers have reacted very positively,”
Cassar added. “With the van, not only do we
bring large swatches, but we can show you
these blinds in their working capacity. You
can touch, operate and see, first-hand, the
multitude of options we have available.
“In terms of business, our sales in this regard
are on the up. It’s also a boon for our regional
customers, many of whom live in remote areas
up to a couple of hundred kilometres away.”
Countless hours of careful consideration
went into the fit-out, which was undertaken by
NRG in Campellfield, Melbourne.
“We worked closely with NRG regarding
the design and the fit-out as a whole. Along
with our product range, the fit-out includes
an audiovisual display, coffee machine,
microwave and fridge, for example. Plus we
also needed to install inverters and auxiliary
batteries. There’s also an automatic door and
automatic step, which is quite handy. In all, it
was quite a quick process, really.
And space-wise? “Put it this way, three
to four people can fit in quite comfortably,”
added Cassar.
Mercedes-Benz’s reputation for reliability,
safety and, above all, as a premium brand all
played a key part in Cassar’s decision when
it came to choosing what manufacturer and
model to align the franchise with.
“It was the quality of the Sprinter, compared
to all the others, that sold me,” Cassar said.
“Plus the safety and handling is second to
none. What’s more, we offer a quality product
so, in turn, we needed a quality brand to
associate the franchise with.”
Love Your Work March| 2012 8
Product
Mercedes-Benz Vans
Scheduled to arrive during
the second quarter of 2012.
Keeping it in the family
New Valente set to redefine the Australian people-mover segment
M
eet
the
new
model
from
Mercedes-Benz, the Valente. For
anyone familiar with the Viano, you’ll
understand the appeal of the innate
practicality of a people-mover.
Where to start. Firstly, the Mercedes-Benz
Valante packages together all of the brand’s
famed attributes and more. In turn, it has
9 Love Your Work March| 2012
been designed to compete with the likes
of Volkswagen Multivan, Toyota Tarago and
Chrysler Grand Voyager and offers significant
advantages, in terms of specification, when
you compare it to the competition.
Very simply, it offers families and anyone who
needs the extra space – and seats – a stylish
and practical vehicle, at a very affordable price,
particularly when you consider what you’re
getting for your money. A newcomer to Australia,
it also enters the people-mover segment here
with the range’s award-winning reputation in
the commercial sector firmly in hand.
Above all, it’s the new Valente’s practicality
for, say, families that makes it so appealing.
Add to that the most space in the class and
you start to get the idea. You get eight seats –
the rear front two having the ability to swivel
around – and there’s loads of useable space,
particularly in the ‘boot’, where you could
almost fit a push bike, standing up. It’s also
fully carpeted throughout.
As you’d expect from the range, fuel
economy is exceptional, making it an attractive
proposition to families, in particular. This isn’t
at the expense of power and torque, however.
The 120kW engine, in fact, has more than
enough power and performance on tap – perfect
to have on hand, should you ever need it.
“The 120kW/360Nm turbo-diesel powerplant
provides effortless performance while ensuring
outstanding fuel consumption at only 8.2 litres
per 100km (combined cycle),” said MercedesBenz Vans General Manager Diane Tarr.
Beyond the standard features you’ve come to
expect from the brand, the new model comprises
all the bells and whistles, so to speak.
Features include handy items such as
PARKTRONIC, an automatic-dimming rearview mirror, THERMOTRONIC air conditioning,
a light and rain sensor and both thorax and
window airbags. Offering a definitive sense of
style, the Valente also boasts 17-inch alloys, a
leather, multifunction steering wheel, black
tinted windows and an ultra-crisp six-CD
changer/media interface that’s iPod, USB,
Bluetooth and AUX compatible. It also comes
in seven colours – Arctic White, Jasper Blue,
Brilliant Silver Metallic, Flint Grey Metallic,
Obsidian Black Metallic, Sanidine Beige
Metallic and Velvet Red Metallic.
In addition to being well equipped, the Valente
is also competitively priced. COMAND APS and
a reversing camera are available as an option,
as are Bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime
driving lights and Dual Electric Sliding Doors.
“Although Mercedes-Benz already offers
the luxurious and highly successful Viano,
the company identified a gap in the $50,000$60,000 part of the people-mover segment,” Tarr
said. “The Valente offers an affordable solution
and will no doubt appeal to families looking for
quality, comfort and, more importantly, value in
terms of what you get for your money”
Love Your Work March| 2012 10
Dealer
Mercedes-Benz Vans
Visit Daimler Trucks
Adelaide for a full range
of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
Dealer focus
Daimler Trucks Adelaide
P
reviously factory owned, the Daimler
Trucks Adelaide franchise is now
owned by the Adtrans Group, a subsidiary
of Brisbane-based AP Eagers. Adtrans, itself,
has a long lineage of selling and maintaining
trucks that can be traced back more than 30
years, with long-established dealerships in
Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
While the franchise name is new, Daimler
Trucks has been servicing South Australia’s
commercial transport needs for the past
30 years.
11 Love Your Work March| 2012
For many years, trucks have been very
much the focus of the business. This, however,
has now expanded to include Mercedes-Benz
Commercial Vehicles.
“Mercedes-Benz’s product range is without
doubt the benchmark when it comes to excellence
and technology,” said Daimler Trucks Adelaide
General Manager Tim Ede. “What’s more, it’s a
product that’s backed by one of the largest, most
respected automotive suppliers, globally, and,
people/staff who have some of the highest levels
of training currently available.”
“Keeping with Daimler Trucks’ and Adtrans
respective traditions, we’re wholeheartedly
customer focused. A big part of the Adtrans
philosophy has always been to err on the side
of customers and focusing on building genuine
relationships with them.”
According to Ede, who has been with the
Adtrans Group for 17 years, Mercedes-Benz
offers customers something that other
manufacturers can’t.
“In a commercial sense, customers want a
van that won’t let them down,” added Ede. “It’s
as simple as that. It also has to be economical
to maintain and reasonably priced. In terms
of the Mercedes-Benz range, our customers
know that they’re getting the very best
manufactured product currently available,
combined with an extremely high level of
dealership commitment that aims to both meet
and surpass their expectations.”
Numbers wise, you’ll find anywhere
between 15-20 Mercedes-Benz vans on the
ground at any given time. And, with some 73
staff, customers have a wealth of knowledge at
their fingertips, with the business combining
the expertise of long-standing Daimler Trucks
staff along with the added experience of
various Adtrans employees who’ve joined the
fold. The business also sells a range of used
trucks and vans.
Visit www.daimlertrucksadelaide.com.au
for more information.
Love Your Work March| 2012 12
A Daimler Brand
Loaded with peace of mind
Running a business is rewarding, yet can be full of headaches and surprises. The more you can control
these unforeseen circumstances, the better. With a complete suite of solutions available, a Vito is
much more than a box on wheels because you get total peace of mind which only a Mercedes-Benz can
provide. We can assist you financially with our tailored finance products, provide insurance to protect
your investment and offer the best possible after-sales care with our service and warranty. A national
dealership network means you can hit the road with total confidence while category leading safety
looks after you and your employees. At the end of a long day on the road, you can rest assured you
haven’t made any compromises when it comes to the future of your business. For more information or
to take a test drive, visit your local Mercedes-Benz dealer or morethanaboxonwheels.com.au
That’s why Vito is Van of the Year.
Safety
Mercedes-Benz Vans
Safety tips for
winter driving
•Check that your car is in good condition
before heading to the slopes – tyres,
in particular.
•Slow down and avoid unnecessary
overtaking, particularly when driving in
heavy rain and/or fog.
•When heading to the snow, in particular,
drive slowly on ice and snow to ensure
that you retain traction.
•Also, your braking in these types of
conditions should be gentle and, in turn,
never left until the last second.
Road-safety warrior
TAC’s Vito-led campaign tackles safety on the roads head-on
T
he road-safety juggernaut Vanessa
continued to make serious inroads
into keeping people safe on Victorian roads
throughout 2011, with ‘Mini Vanessa’ keeping
busy throughout winter and then over the
summer festival period.
Very simply, Vanessa is a project pioneered
by the state’s Transport Accident Commission
(TAC) in an effort to educate youth on the impact
of driving under the influence of drugs and
alcohol, and offer them the chance to interact
with the body in a much more relaxed way.
First off, winter saw the community-based
project’s spin-off, the Vito named Mini Vanessa,
15 Love Your Work March| 2012
tackle alpine road trauma head-on, setting
up camp in the alpine region of Mount Buller
over the course of the ski season. In turn,
snow bunnies equipped with potentially lifesaving tips were on hand to offer motorists
returning from the slopes breath-tests and tips
for keeping safe.
“Since 2008, 28 people have been killed on
roads around the Alpine National Park,” said
TAC CEO Janet Dore. “Eight of those were aged
between the ages of 18 and 30. This winter, four
fatalities have been recorded for the area. This
ski season marked the first time that the TAC
has been to snow to campaign for road safety.”
To put things into perspective, some 70 people
have been killed on Victorian roads over the
winter period.
Dore went on to add: “Our statistics show that
too many people have been killed or injured on
roads around this particular region over winter
and we wanted to do something about it.
Mini Vanessa maintained a strong presence
throughout August, parked at the based of the
mountain’s Horse Hill chairlift. As with the van’s
presence at various music festivals throughout
the year, public reception continues to be very
positive, with TAC bunnies connecting with
hundreds of young ski-goers over the course of
Mini Vanessa’s extended stay on the slopes.
“She’s the friend every motorist should have,
in that she encourages them to enjoy the slopes
and have a great time, but, at the same time,
remind them of the importance of not drinking
and driving, stopping for a rest when fatigued
and looking after your mates,” Dore continued.
Summer also saw the youth-based project
continue to get its message out to the wider
community, with Mini Vanessa featuring at
the likes of the Harvest and Stereosonic music
festivals with her famed photo-booth. Visit
www.vanessabus.com.au and her subsequent
Facebook page to find out more.
Love Your Work March| 2012 16
Lifestyle
Mercedes-Benz Vans
The lure of fishing
Take some time out to enjoy one Australia’s favourite pastimes
E
veryone’s a lover of fishing at heart. Maybe
it’s the excuse of planning a weekend away,
or holiday, or taking the opportunity to bask in
one of Australia’s favourite leisurely pastimes
and – for the more serious fisherman – sports.
Thankfully, Australia’s very well versed for
fishing. Our diverse landscape means there is
a near-endless selection of fishing spots across
17 Love Your Work March| 2012
the country, catering for all types of fishing.
And with a growing sustainable fishing culture
that encourages the concept of ‘catch-andrelease’, the sport looks to be assured for many
future generations to come.
Here, we’ve assembled four destinations to
sample the very best of what Australia has to
offer in terms of landing the big one, so to speak.
Game fishing, Cairns
Fresh-water fishing, Central Tablelands
A fishing-holiday guide just wouldn’t be complete
without including marlin. Considered one of the
ultimate catches for sports and game fisherman
alike, a decent-sized specimen is sure to test even
the most experienced angler. Like many other
species, there are loads of marlin hotspots dotted
around the coastline. Cairns, though, in particular,
is considered ‘the’ place for game fishing.
The area also boasts a diverse range of game
fish,
Pacific sailfish,
tuna,
Visitincluding
Daimler Trucks
Adelaideyellowfin
for a
Spanish
mackerel
and wahoo,Vans.
each offering
full range
of Mercedes-Benz
a unique challenge to ‘land’ in their own
right. Catching these species is often seasondependant, with winter offering near-perfect
conditions to catch black marlin, Pacific sailfish
and Spanish mackerel. For more information
visit www.australiangamefishing.com
If you fancy a weekend of fly fishing, New
South Wales’ Central Tablelands, near the town
of Orange, is a Mecca, of sorts for still-water
fishing. The region has numerous, well-stocked
dams – namely Lake Oberon, Lake Lyell and
Lake Wallace to name a few – and has been one
of the go-to place for fish such as trout for more
than 60 years.
Here, you’ll find perfect fishing conditions for
pretty much all-year-round. Winter, though, is
definitely the time of the year to organise a
trip. The area is also stunning, which, outside
of fishing, makes it an idyllic holiday getaway.
With a plethora of fishing-geared businesses
on hand in the region, you’re spoilt for choice,
whether you have your own fishing gear, want
to arrange a tour or simply need advice.
Barramundi fishing, Top End
In-shore fishing, NSW North Coast
If you’ve ever tasted barramundi, you’ll
understand why they’re one of the most soughtafter fish to catch among diehard anglers.
While there are many place to snare yourself a
‘barra’, the Top End is undoubtedly the spiritual
home for the prized species.
A stone’s throw from Darwin, the Daly River
has a long-standing reputation as being one of
the better spots for landing yourself a decentsize barramundi. To organise a chartered tour
or day trip, visit www.dalyriverbarra.com.au
for more information.
Still in NSW, the seaside town of Evans Head on
the state’s North Coast is renowned for beach and
deep-sea fishing. With the latter in mind, it’s also
one of the closest points to where the Continental
Shelf hugs the Eastern Seaboard, which means
there’s a diverse range of sea-based fish to snare.
Snapper, jewfish (mulloway) and bream are
the order of the day if you’re fishing on
the beach or close to shore, while there’s
an abundance of pearl perch and the like if
you’re heading out on a boat or charter. Visit
www.evansheadfishingcharters.com.au
Love Your Work March| 2012 18
Customer story
Mercedes-Benz Vans
Maxed out
The taxi that can carry 11 passengers and all their luggage
B
efore settling on the long-wheel-base,
high-roof Sprinter 319, Maxicab Services’
Tony Kervin spent a year researching the large
van segment, meticulously planning what
would become one of the largest taxis – or
maxi-cabs – in the country.
Given the requirements of the Premier Cabsaffiliated owner-operator’s clientele, space and
practicality were top of the considerations
list when it came to the fit-out. When you’re
carrying up to 30 clients a day, many with items
such as wheelchairs or walkers, having more
than enough space and being able to comfortably
walk around inside the rear of the vehicle
becomes particularly important.
The clincher, however, was safety.
“Safety was paramount when it came to
eventually deciding which manufacturer and
model to go with,” said Kervin. “Plus, it’s
something that’s really important for my
clientele. It was the ANCAP test between the
19 Love Your Work March| 2012
Sprinter and Ford Transit – which you can watch
online – that really swayed me. Without doubt,
the Sprinter’s safety levels are far superior
to any other van on the road at the moment.
Things such as the doors locking automatically
once the vehicle gets over 15km/h give you
that added peace of mind when you’re carrying
passengers all day long.”
The maxi-cab was built specifically with
Kervin’s established clientele in mind. One
of Maxicab Services’ largest customers is
Macarthur Disability Services, which has
hundreds of clients travelling to various things
and activities throughout each day. Kervin also
transports a lot of passengers for Community
Connect Respite in Macarthur.
“On a typical day, I carry anywhere between
eight to ten wheelchairs – and passengers,
obviously – and up to 20 walkers each day.
To give you some idea, the Sprinter can take
nine walkers and two wheelchairs at once,
and there’s still room to move around in the
back. Having the height, being able to walk
around inside and having access in and out
of the vehicle are really important in my job
– and, more importantly, for the comfort of
my passengers.”
Kervin purchased the vehicle from the westernSydney dealership, Mercedes-Benz Commercials
Huntingwood, while the fit-out was completed by
the Byron Group in Milperra, New South Wales,
the engineering firm behind the fit-out of the
Sprinters used by various ambulance services.
“It looks fantastic and Tony is so in love
with it,” said Mercedes-Benz Commercials
Huntingwood’s Sales Executive Cheryl Healy.
“He did so much research before making the
purchase. Tony’s been a really lovely guy
to work with. The Sprinter definitely has a
presence on the road.”
In the back, the Sprinter comprises five single
seats and four rear-facing seats. It also features
windows all the way around. The fit-out also
included fitting all the necessary cab equipment,
two separate air-conditioning units, the rear one
housed in the roof, and a wheelchair lift – the
air-con units and lift are both powered by two
compressors. Kervin also elected to go for a
100-litre fuel tank and a 220-amp alternator.
The fact that the Macarthur area is far
from flat meant steered the owner-operator
towards the V6 diesel engine with a fully
automatic transmission.
“I go up a lot of hilly, mountainous areas, so,
basically, power and a fair amount of torque
are a must,” said Kervin. “The power plant gets
around 13.2 to 13.6L per 100km. Which, for a
3.5-tonne vehicle, is very good. Plus, on average
I’m doing anywhere between 2,500-2,800km a
week. The other thing is how quiet the engine is.
My customers often ask, ‘is the engine running?’.
The feedback has been great – my customers
absolutely love the Sprinter.”
Love Your Work March| 2012 20
Events
Mercedes-Benz Vans
Driving force
Annual Golf Day another resounding success
In December Mercedes-Benz
Vans hosted the annual
Melbourne Dealer Golf Day,
with the weather gods smiling
on Melbourne’s exclusive
Huttingdale Golf Club course.
Now in its 6th year, the day
once again brought together
dealers from around Victoria
and key customers and
account holders to try their
hand at wining the annual
competition. In all, 75, in fact.
Once again, the day proved
to be a resounding success,
21 Love Your Work March| 2012
with everyone enjoying what
is one of Australia’s premier
golf destinations, and one
that has played host to the
likes of golfing greats Tiger
Woods, Greg Norman and Jack
Nicklaus. It’s been hosting
the Australian Masters for
more than 30 years and
considered the home of the
Australian Masters.
“The Mercedes-Benz Vans
Golf Day was a very successful
day all round,” said Sophia
Formoso, Event Marketing
Coordinator. “Both for our
dealers and customers, with
everyone, as you’d expect,
very excited to play on the
Huntingdale course.”
PGA professional Kate Dunn,
presently the ambassador for
PGA of Asia, was also on hand
to award the event’s top players
at the afternoon presentation.
The day was taken out by
Jason
Lindores,
Kevin
McEwan and Steve Maxwell,
with a further four runnersup sitting on a close second.
How to attend:
Mercedes-Benz Vans run several Customer Golf Days throughout the year in Melbourne
and Sydney. If you would like to attend one of these days, please contact your Authorised
Mercedes-Benz Vans dealer.
Love Your Work March| 2012 22
News
Mercedes-Benz Vans
Best in class
Sprinter sales eclipse rivals’ second year in a row
T
he Sprinter’s dominance of Australia’s
large-van segment gathered pace, with
the model outselling its rivals for the second
year running. And this time, by quite a lot.
To give you some perspective, the segment
was previously dominated by Ford’s Transit
for close to 15 years. The Sprinter out-muscled
the Transit, in terms of sales, in 2010, beating
it by some 84 units, according to the Federal
Chamber of Automotive Industries’ official
VFACTS results for that year.
For 2011, the Sprinter widened the gap on its
closest rival, edging out the Transit, once again,
by more than 345 units this time around.
23 Love Your Work March| 2012
“Over the last 15 years and more recently, the
Sprinter’s success comes down to both dealer
and key account levels,” said Mercedes-Benz
Vans General Manager, Diane Tarr. “Dealers,
in particular, have been winning multiple
deals within their respective sales zones,
while Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific has
picked up picked up numerous key accounts
over the years, including the likes of Australia
Post, Winnebago, Jayco, Apollo and various
ambulance services.”
“Sprinter sales peaked at just under 2,300 for
the year,” Tarr continued. “An incredible result.”
New and improved
Westpoint Star in Osborne Park are due to begin construction early this year on their
brand new Autohaus Facility for Light Commercial Vehicle Service and Parts. This state
of the art facility is conveniently and easily accessible from the existing showroom, only
a couple of blocks away and is due to open doors mid 2012. There will be increased
customer parking and a beautiful air-conditioned customer lounge. Along with the new
customer facilities, an expanded workshop capacity will cater for customer demand. For
more information on this new facility or for sales and service, please call or visit them
to speak to their knowledgeable and experienced staff.
Westpoint Star
472-474 Scarborough Beach Road Osborne Park, WA 6017. Tel (08) 9492 8188, mbwestpointstar.com.au DL17663
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Albury, Baker Motors
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Fairfield, 3 Point Motors
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Miranda, Tynan Motors
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Mildura, North Star Mildura Motors
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Mona Vale, G Brothers
T (02) 9999 5111
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T (02) 9828 8002
T (02) 4228 8933
Moorabbin, Barloworld Motor
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South Melbourne,
Mercedes-Benz Melbourne
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Tasmania
Hobart, Performance Automobiles
T (03) 6210 7000
Warwick Farm,
Peter Warren Automotive
Launceston, Neil Buckby Motors
T (03) 6334 8444
Wollongong, Mercedes-Benz
Sometimes a brochure just won’t cut it when
you are searching for a new van or want to
upgrade your fleet. A Mercedes-Benz Van drive
day brings our brochure to life and is certainly
an event that you won’t forget.
Our professional instructors will allow you to
experience the key safety and dynamic aspects
of our vans, including ESP and braking exercises
as well as handling, acceleration and cornering.
The drive days are an excellent way to assess
the quality of our product, driver ergonomics
Mt Gambier, Carlin and Gazzard
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Wayville, Australian Motors
and vehicle control in real world applications.
Or, if you would prefer to drive a golf ball on
some of Australia’s best courses, you need to
book a tee time at one of our Mercedes-Benz
Vans Customer Golf Days. It’s a fun day with
great prizes to be won as well as a barbecue
buffet and some cold drinks at the end of
your round.
Vacancies are strictly limited so contact
your Authorised Mercedes-Benz Vans dealer
for more information.
T (02) 9697 7777
Australian Capital Territory
South Australia
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Western Australia
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Queensland
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Welshpool, Diesel Motors
T (08) 9311 7400
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T (07) 4151 1923
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Mackay, Carlisle Motors
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Maroochydore, Garry Crick Prestige
T (07) 5409 0100
Rockhampton, DC Motors
T (07) 4999 1200
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T (07) 4750 0460
Northern Territory
Darwin, Kerry’s Automotive Group
T (08) 8980 8080
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