Penske Commercial official Auckland opening

Date: 08.12.2015

Penske Automotive Group chairman Roger Penske and Auckland Mayor Len Brown officially opened Penske Commercial Vehicles New Zealand on 6 November 2015.

Headquarters to a network of 15 dealers across the country, the premises measures just shy of 18,000 square metres, having been purpose-built on the outskirts of the city and accommodating the combined resources of Penske Commercial Vehicles and Penske Power Systems. In dollar value it represents over $40 million dollars of investment for the company.

Speaking at the official opening attended by special guests and media, Penske underlined the large investment in human capital and building a state-of-the-art facility to carry the business brands into the future.

The Group will distribute and service Western Star, MAN and Dennis Eagle trucks from the site, as well as the Detroit Diesel brand. The sale of these vehicles however, appear to represent only a small amount of the business turnover, with Penske saying that approximately 90 percent of the gross profit being generated from parts and servicing.

The move is seen as a return to the Australasian market for Penske Automotive, after the company acquired the Western Star and MAN distribution rights in 2013. This was followed shortly thereafter in late 2014 with it taking over Australian-based MTU-DDA, rebranding it Penske Power Systems.

Penske says that the MTU-DDA acquisition was an ideal fit for the business, as it includes engines, transmissions and a range of systems from different manufacturers, including Detroit Diesel and Mercedes-Benz; servicing industries across the whole commercial spectrum.

After the conclusion of the official ceremony, Penske invited media on a tour of the facility, which consists of 20 service bays, truck dynamometer bay, inventory of around $5 million worth of parts; training section; and a purpose-built customer lounge with two separate semi self-contained sleeping areas with ensuite facilities.

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