The original Hino truck dealership in the Imperial Group was located at a BP filling station site in Elandsfontein, an industrial area on the East Rand. This site later became the early headquarters for the Imperial Group, while the truck dealership has now been relocated to a new site in Pomona after previous moves to Wadeville and Germiston.
The original Hino truck dealership in the Imperial Group was located at a BP filling station site in Elandsfontein, an industrial area on the East Rand. This site later became the early headquarters for the Imperial Group, while the truck dealership has now been relocated to a new site in Pomona after previous moves to Wadeville and Germiston.
“However, we are now looking at Hino Pomona as a new business situated in an industrial area that is rapidly growing in importance as more logistical warehouses are built there,” explained Mike Darroll, the Dealer Principal of Hino Pomona, which is strategically situated in Maple Road, Kempton Park, alongside the busy R21 freeway and near the OR Tambo Airport.
“Obviously, we want to keep the customers that have been with this Imperial Hino dealership at its previous locations, but we also see a great deal of potential in the area in which we now operate.”
The new facility had its official opening recently and is already a busy place. It is, in fact, an upgraded and enhanced dealership on a site owned by the Imperial Group and occupied in the past by the Tyco Trucks division.
The revamping cost almost R2-million and the focus was on making the facility user friendly to ensure top quality customer service. There are 10 workbays and the height of the service centre has been increased to suit the taller modern trucks and trailers. A brake roller tester and diagnostics tester have been added to the equipment brought across from the Germiston facility.
A Parts Department with a substantial holding in replacement and service parts is an integral part of the new Hino Pomona dealership.
An important offering by Hino Pomona is 24/7 servicing available by appointment which should find favour with fleet customers. The dealer also offers a mobile workshop which can service trucks at the premises of customers. Current throughput in the workshop is approximately 15-16 trucks a day.
The dealership is staffed by 34 people with 12 in Service, seven in Parts and there are four salespersons and a sales manager in addition to administrative staff.
Dealer Principal Mike Darroll said he was very proud to have been given the opportunity of running this important new dealership in the Imperial Auto Group, which has as its vision being recognised as the most successful group which aims to be the sustainable motor company of choice for employees, customers, and the franchises they represent.
“Our mission is to provide legendary customer service that can serve as a model for the Hino brand’s reputation,” added Darroll, who has a strong financial background and has been in the motor business for many years, including having worked at Imperial dealerships for the past nine years.
Speaking at the official opening of Hino Pomona, Ernie Trautmann, the Vice President of Hino South Africa, said that the new location opens great opportunities for the dealership to grow its customer base and he challenged Mike Darroll and his team to win the Hino Dealer of the Year trophy within the next three years.
Trautmann also stressed the importance of Hino Pomona as a strategic dealership in providing Hino Total Support to customers as Hino aims to increase its product range in the future and become an even bigger player in the local truck market.
Gert Koekemoer, the Managing Director of the Commercial Vehicle Division of Imperial Auto, emphasised the importance of always putting the customer first and invited customers who were not happy with the service they received at Hino Pomona to contact him directly. “We aim to be the best truck dealers in town,” he added.
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