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Delivery times are a hot topic at CV Show

26th April 2007, Page 8
26th April 2007
Page 8
Page 8, 26th April 2007 — Delivery times are a hot topic at CV Show
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

With demand for new vehicles still outstripping supply, lead times are stretching into 2008. But is this just a blip or a long-term trend?

AS THE CREAM of the UK road transport industry assembles at the NEC, the big talking point is Jelivery times. Al] the truck manufacturers are reporting extended lead times as demand from the booming European truck market continues to outstrip supply.

Twenty-week lead times are rximmon, with some manufacturL,.rs unable to fulfil orders for new trucks until next year.

Renault Trucks is one of the hardest hit. Its factories around Europe have boosted daily build rates from 175 to 275, and the corn pany is still quoting a delivery date of early 2008 for Kerax multi-wheelers ordered now.

The whole industry appears to be in a similar situation," says Renault Trucks sales and marketing director Bruce Allison. The lead times depend on the vehicle ordered. Kerax will be the beginning of next year; tractors we are quoting November; for the light range we we'd be able to supply by July orAugust."

However, Renault Truck UK MD Laurent Farman says:-I think this is a blip. All the manufacturers around Europe appear to have forecast much lower demand for new trucks in 2007,when in fact the market is performing strongly."

In the UK,Farman adds average monthly orders in the first quarter of 2007 hit 245, almost the same as the first quarter of 2006.

Of the truck manufacturers we spoke to,Scani a appears best positioned on lead times. According to business development manager Tim Pugh, V8-powered tractors can be delivered by September and all other models will be with customers by October.


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