Driven by the success of the Fiat Ducato and in preparation for new models arriving in 2008, Fiat Professional has expanded its commercial vehicle dealer group in Australia with new appointments.

Driven by the success of the Fiat Ducato and in preparation for new models arriving in 2008, Fiat Professional has expanded its dedicated Fiat commercial vehicle dealer group in Australia with new appointments in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

“The new Fiat Ducato has proven to be an outstanding success,” says Chris Swann, General Manager for Fiat Commercial Vehicles in Australia. “This means that we need more dealers to keep up with demand and to support the growing number of Fiat commercial vehicle owners across Australia. The support requirement is particularly important not just because of the reliance that commercial vehicle operators place on their Fiat Ducatos, but also because the rapidly growing number of Fiat Ducato-based motorhome owners need service facilities regardless of when they roam across Australia.”

"In 2008 we will be adding the Fiat Scudo to our range. Given the fact that this medium size van will compete in the largest van sector, it will mark a significant increase in volume for Fiat in Australia and we need more dealers to enable us to fully capitalise on this projected sales growth,” says Mr Swann.

RH Taylor Trucks is based in Newcastle and are now providing Fiat with a full sales, service and parts dealership for Newcastle, Gosford and Tamworth. In Queensland, Gold Coast Commercials are providing a new full-service Fiat Commercial Vehicle dealership in Southport. Adelaide is benefiting from a new service and parts support service, with Manta Automotive Services joining the Fiat Commercial vehicle family.

All the new dealers, like the existing Fiat Commercial Vehicle dealers, are commercial vehicle specialists. This is a deliberate policy by Fiat in Australia, who believes that only a commercial vehicle specialist can provide the support that van operators need, be it the expertise to equip a new vehicle to a particular customer’s needs or to provide servicing facilities that meet the particular needs of commercial vehicle operators. Given the size and complexity of their vehicles, motorhome owners also need a level of specialist service that often cannot be provided by car dealerships.

“So far this year Fiat Ducato sales are up 25 per cent in Australia over last year,” says Chris Swann. “The appointment of these new dealers will fuel further growth for Fiat in Australia and ensure that we are able to provide the ideal level of customer service and support for all our owners. Not that we have finished appointing new dealers, new growth will provide new opportunities and we are more than happy to talk to companies that wish to be part of our Australia-wide success.”