Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) will have supplied more than 300 trucks to the JSE-listed Imperial group by June next year, in a deal worth more than R500-million, says Mercedes-Benz Trucks head Clinton Savage.
Imperial and MBSA concluded the deal – “on a handshake” – around six months ago, he adds.
Imperial and Mercedes-Benz Trucks in 2014 started to look at ways to achieve a strategic win-win for both parties, and “we started talking about a strategic business purchase”, says Savage. “It was never intended as a single transaction, but more a strategic process to reach a common goal.”
He describes the relationship between Imperial and MBSA as “a complex one”.
Imperial’s logistics business operates in Europe where the company carries Mercedes-Benz parts to the vehicle manufacturer’s plants. The group is also linked to MBSA’s East London plant.
“They are also our customer and they also own some Mercedes-Benz dealerships,” notes Savage. “So this deal is about a long-term relationship focused on mutual gain.”
Around 200 trucks have been delivered to Imperial to date, with about 80% of these Actros vehicles, says Imperial Logistics Industrial CEO Nico van der Westhuizen.
By June next year, the number of trucks supplied will reach more than 300 units.
The supply deal is financed through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, in what is the “biggest single transaction ever” for the trucks business.
All in all the deal includes maintenance, driver training, finance, the vehicle itself, as well as fleet-management aid FleetBoard.