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Renault unveils the lightweight Highway
Page 20
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II by Coln Barnet
Renault's long-awaited lightweight 8x4 chassis has finally been unveiled—the UKspecific Highway Kerax. Compared with the traditional Kerax, frequently condemned as being too heavy for anything but muckaway work, the new version offers a payload advantage in the region of 750kg. Although principally targeted at the asphalt and aggregate tipper market, Renault will be just as happy to sell it for general haulage applications including brick or fuel delivery. While the Highway Kerax has the same basic frame as the original, it carries much less heavy-duty flitching and reinforcement.
He was more spedfic on some of Renault's other plans, though. These include a campaign to return the company to the position it once enjoyed in the municipal market under the Dodge brand, and it will also be looking to make in-roads into the small but highly visible fire appliance sector. As a starting point, Renault will be exhibiting at this summer's Institute of Waste Management Show (Torbay, 10-12 June).
On the subject of Renault's broader sales policy, UK MD Yves Garin confirmed his strategy to concentrate only on profitable business, saying: "The buy-back game is a silly game". Acknowledging that the company lost business in the UK in 2002. Garin confirmed that it was mostly loss-making contracts, which Renault was happy to drop. The UK was the only market where Renault actually lost market share.
Other news from Renault is that its Choice used-truck programme has abandoned the
mufti-level refurbishment and preparation approach. Used vehicle director Bruce Afton admitted that, while the Elite level may have been suitable for a one-off Magnum buyer, it was over the top for fleets.
Renault Truck is also taking further steps to improve its product support. Among the moves are a new Technical Training Centre at Dunstable, a programme of dealer network expansion and refurbishment and a new in-house roadside assistance call centre at Rugby, working alongside similar operations in Lyon and Gent.