Go with the grey
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• Grey imports still represent a good deal, despite the recent strengthening of the euro against sterling, according to two leading import specialists. "Savings vary, but they can be anything up to £10,000 on premium tractive units such as Volvo, Scania, and Daf," says John Rogers, managing director of EM Rogers (Transport) of Northampton.
A further advantage is that vehicles can be supplied immediately, he adds. Rogers orders trucks before he has customers for them, so he has a steady stream of vehicles coming into the country.
The disadvantage of this approach is that the buyer does not always get the exact vehicle he wants, although Rogers and his colleagues have a good idea of what customers are likely to require.
He always goes for the top specification, including air-conditioning. Warranty isn't a problem, he adds; some trucks now come with a comprehensive factory-backed twoyear warranty which has to be honoured by dealers throughout Europe. "And all dealers are pleased to have trucks in their workshop for servicing, no matter where they've been sourced from," he adds.
Rogers is now supplying left-handdrive 18.410 XXL versions of MAN's new TG-A tractor.
Simon Hall, from Oxfordshire im porter KelBerg, reckons that any strengthening of the euro may be no bad thing for established importers because it will eradicate opportunists who have jumped into the market to make a quick killing.