Sherpa seeks a mate
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-EXCLUSIVE
FREIGI II ROVER is seeking a Continental truck manufacturer to sell Sherpa vans through its own dealer network — and possibly even with the truck company's own badge on it.
In an exclusive interview with CM, Freight Rover managing director George Simpson confirmed that BL's van-building subsidiary is talking with several European manufacturers although "nothing concrete" has been agreed.
According to Simpson, the move is something "we would dearly like to do", and would not only increase the pace of Freight Rover's penetration into Europe, but also provide additional sales volumes for the partner companies.
"We plan to expand the base of our operations away from being a 95 per cent domestic manufacturer," says Simpson, who feels there is room to sell the 300-Series wide-bodied Sherpa throughout Europe. While no specific truck builder has been named by Freight Rover, there are rumours that one likely partner could be Volvo or Scania.
Neither produces vans, and the 300 Series could give them extra sales volume in the limited Scandinavian market. But a Swedish truck builder "would offer no more or no less than any other", says Simpson.
Freight Rover already sells the 2.5-litre diesel-engined 350 Sherpa high roof in France. Spain, Finland and the Benelux countries and it intends to build up its existing dealer network in these and other countries.
Around 1,500 Sherpa 350 vans are sold annually on the Continent, although Simpson says this could grow to 5,000.
• Meanwhile, by its own efforts, Freight Rover has scored a notable success in France with the Paris-based Transam vehicle hire company ordering 46 Sherpa 350 vans — one-third of its fleet requirement — in a deal worth over 000,000.