Page 140 - ITUK Press Cuttings 2017

TRANSPORT NEWS JUNE 2017 57

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Garage in Aberdeen. at the heavier end of the market we didn t fouryears in charge of lil.]Kwhenwehave
'We are hoping to appoint a dealer in compete. I mean the traditional Australian had three referendums in consecutive years,
Dundee inthe near future and a fu1I sales and 68 tonne rigs with two trailers. We didn't the implementation of Euro 6 engines and
service dealership has opened in Broxbum sfuetch into these horse powers, but we were the introduction of \{hole of Vehicle Type
under the banner of Graycoll, all joining the massively strong in the lighter and medium Approval and, in spite of that lot, we had to
higtrly successful and award wirufingwest of weight markets. soldier oru selling trucks.'
Scotland dealership Imperial Commercials 'What also helped was the fact that there Again onreflectioru the retiring chaiman
based at Govan, Glasgow. is no import duty on cab and chassis trucks of ITUK wishes there are things he had done
'Our fully appointed training centre at entering Australia. This is not the case in differently. 'I should have lived in the UK
ITLIK headquarters in Hatfield is now hot Europe of course, where semi knock dolr.n rather than being based in Brussels. I now
on sales, parts and aftersales training, plus of kits go to our Midi production plant at spendbetween 35 and40% of my time in the
course technical training where they cover all Verona in Ita1y who produce our current LrK anyway. However I suppose having to
facets of the mechanics' work and our centre range of 3.5 to 12 tonne trucks. look after Europe and the Midi production
is now Irtec approved.' 'We would of course Iike awider product plan! my six languages did come in handy.
Back discussing his tenure as boss of IT line-up and we continually plead our wish
Australi4 the truck manufacturer's fust list with Japan, because at ITUK we want GNTIIEST ilIllIIIEIII$
majority ou,ned tmck sales company, Yuki to compete in as many weights as possible
recalls, 'Isuzu held 60% of the stock with and ironically, Midihas the spare production 'Looking back, one of my greatest
the remaining 41/"heldby General Motors. capacity to cope. moments was the winning of Isuzu's
When I left to take up the European post we 'Now that we have Breft if the UK renowned I-1 Grand Prix World Technical
held a market leadng25/o of all Australia's reached a special trading agreement with competition. ln20l4 it was won by the team
tru& sales over 3.5 tonnes, admittedly with a |apan it could be a sea change for us, from Imperial Commercials in Glasgow and
fulI range of trucks and tractor units on offer. although so far things have notbeen made Australia were second!
Yuki Murata confirmed considerable any easier with the devaluation of the Pound 'Also, one year later Imperial
pressure since he was'not allowed to slip versus theYen and Euro. Commercials took third spot and became
into second place'. 'On reflectioo my eight years in Australia the first eve4, two consecutive podium
'What compounded the pressure was that was relatively problem free compared to finishers in the competition.
'I'm so forfunate to have worked these
last four years with such a professional
.: i group which has maintained standards,
even with the retirement of Nikki King who
did so much to elevate Isuzu Truck UK
: Glotal firard Winning llealetsni[ i to the current position it enjoys, however
I had to appoint Nikki's successor and
ll O\ERING the west of Scotland, Imperial Commercials' Isuzu dealership based in I'm delighted to say that Pete Murphy
l, Courn, Clasgow made a name for iiself on the intemational stage in2014, by being has taken on the mantle of managing
the first British serwice team to win Isuzu's I-1 Grand Prix Technical competitioru held in director with skill and tenacity. I consider
Japan. my appointment of Pete as one of the best
Dealer principal Willie Minty is justifiably proud of this'Golden Spamer' win which in decisions I have made in my business life. I
many ways was the culmination of continuing forward progress from 2004 when Govan am leaving ITUK in a safe pair of hands'
was initiated as an Isuzu sales and serwice agency, coincidentally the same year as the And so Yuki Murata has his flight tickets
legendary Nikki King and her colleagues bought the Isuzu UK company from Lex Group. booked from Brussels to Tokyo on 31 May
Recalls Willie;'Fu1l dealership status was adopted in 2008 when we created stand aione to fulfiI two or tluee months of handover
premises for the marque and over the years, sales sectors in our area have become more work in Japan before his retirement,
diversified with product acceptance becoming more widespread particularly in 3.5 tonne probably inAugust.
retail sa1es. Yuki was chairman of Isuzu Tiuck UK,
'Repair and maintenance contracts have continued to increase into a substantial Isuzu Tirrck Europe and a board member
portfolio and significantly 1oca1 authority penetration continues apace, where the ITUK of Midi based in Verona. It is expected
Customer Care programme has been particularly well appreciated. his successor will be someone primarily
'I am delighted that manufacturer back-up and support is enjoyed by all departments in based in Japan who will hold the title of
our Isuzu dealership thanks to the ever present'can do' attitude at the Hatfield HQ. chairman of ITUK, but willbe commuting
'We are continuing to invest in the frandrise wi*q for example, an'above and beyond' periodically as Pete Murphy the UK
training programme and we have recently commissioned two new panel vans in full managing directoq, will be regularly
Isuzu corporate livery to join our parts distribution and roadside assistance programmes.' briefing the |apanese HQ on developments
in Britain.