M-B revamps Scots service
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Mercedes-Benz truck sales in West Central Scotland will now be handled by Port Dundas, Glasgowbased Vardy Continental as part of a massive reorganisation of the manufacturer's UK dealer network. Former dealers Caledonian and Derwent will retain service points in Ayr and Bel!shill respectively, says Vardy Continental commercial branch manager Duncan McCann.
"We will be depending on them to provide aftersales back-up in their areas," he says. "The haulier in Ayr or Stranraer won't want to bring his truck to Glasgow."
Vardy Continental has had a successful six months since it opened its £2.5m Port Dundas site last December, says McCann. Now one of the biggest van and truck dealerships in Scotland, it's already sold its allocation of Ategos. "The newcomer has been very well received, and we just can't get enough of them," he says.
Van sales are forging ahead too, and McCann aims to sell more than 400 Vitos and Sprinters this year. "Vito sales are going better than I ever thought they would." Putting together the right finance package and promoting it strongly is the key to light commercial sales success, he says: "Fortunately, Mercedes vans have strong residuals, so we can offer attractive deals." Vardy Continental advertises on radio, using competitive weekly payments as its theme. "We get very high finance penetration," McCann reports.
Vardy Continental can deploy four light commercial and three heavy truck salesmen, together with a business manager and a used CV sales manager.