Clarke snaps up Steyrs
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• A former Steyr dealer has bought most of the remaining right-hand-drive Steyr trucks in the UK.
Clarke Commercials in Leeds made the deal for the 84 rigids and tractive units after the winding down of Steyr's UK marketing operation when its parent SDP merged with MAN last month.
Clarke Commercials, which says it will offer lower prices than before on the vehicles - worth E2.5 million at showroom value — shrugs off suggestions that hauliers will not be interested in the marque following the planned closure of Steyr Trucks (UK). "We wouldn't have bought them if we didn't believe we could sell them," says sales director John Hemmingham who, with fellow director Sean Clarke, has sold 34 Steyrs since winning the franchise in April.
"We were offered the re
maining stock, as were other dealers, when the merger announcement was made," he says. We decided to buy them." He is confident that a statement from Steyr, saying that former dealers will go on offering a parts and maintenance service, will further encourage customers.
Herruningham who, with Clarke, used to work for Leyland Daf dealers, says several big operators, such as Al in Leeds, were on the verge of concluding deals when the news of the merger broke.
Around 20 Steyr demonstrators and other vehicles are still with Steyr dealers. Clarke Commercials, which also offers a bodybuilding, used truck and contract hire service, says it hopes to win a franchise with another manufacturer.
Cliff Groves, managing director of Steyr UK, says around 100 trucks were offered to all Steyr dealers at a price "a little cheaper" than before.