UD Trucks posts solid growth in Mideast market, sales up 6pc


UD Trucks, a leading Japanese commercial vehicle brand, registered solid growth in its Middle East markets in 2020 with a six per cent jump in sales over the previous year and its successful reactivation in Saudi Arabia with a new local partner.

UD Trucks, a leading Japanese commercial vehicle company, continued its journey of growth across the Middle East in 2020 with a six per cent jump in sales over the previous year despite the challenging business environment caused by the pandemic crisis.
 
The Japanese commercial vehicle brand improved its market share in the majority of its regional markets, while also registering increased sales in many of the countries.
 
The positive performance was built on the company's continued, comprehensive and consistent strategy for growth, which is based on customer focus and satisfaction, a strong partnership with its regional partners and employees' engagement, said the company in a statement.
 
Against the backdrop of extremely challenging economic conditions, UD Trucks succeeded in almost doubling its sales in the key market of Saudi Arabia, whilst also growing by an impressive 14 per cent in Qatar. 
 
At the same time, the brand maintained stable sales in other key regional markets, including the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Ethiopia, stated the Japanese truck maker.
 
With the confirmation of Zahid Tractor as UD Trucks' new exclusive importer and distributor in Saudi Arabia shortly before the start of the year, 2020 was always going to be a transition year for the brand in the kingdom. 
 
There was a focus on raising customer service standards and support to the highest levels, reflecting UD Trucks' ambitions and Zahid Tractor's long-standing reputation as a customer-centric organisation. The new partnership was marked by a series of celebratory launch events in Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh.  
 
UD Trucks' full range of modern heavy-duty and medium-duty vehicles, which introduced new features to the region, combined with a total solutions approach for trucks and services, were key to this growth, and will continue to play a critical role as the company pursues further growth in the future.
 
UD Trucks' MEENA (Middle East, East and North Africa) team demonstrated a high level of agility and resilience in facing up to the unprecedented challenges, placing health and safety first for its customers, employees and partners, as well as supporting its customers and helping partners to minimise any negative impacts of the crisis.
 
Simultaneously, UD Trucks continued to invest significant resources in East Africa as it rolled out ambitious new plans for its Kenya operations.
 
CMC Motors Ltd, the local distributor, developed and expanded the brand both locally and regionally. The importer offers customers the new range of the Quester and Croner models, which deliver unique solutions for every application, it stated. 
 
UD Trucks Meena President Mourad Hedna said: "2020 was a difficult year across all market segments with many challenges and uncertainties. Thanks to our customers' trust and our partners and employees' engagement, the solid performances we recorded have given us a lot of confidence and motivation to continue our sustainable growth journey." 
 
With attention now firmly on 2021, UD Trucks is set to launch its "Better Life" long term strategy to demonstrate the brand's commitment to provide a better life for people and the planet by delivering sustainable logistics solutions. 
 
The company will aim to have the lowest impact on the environment, be a leader in customer satisfaction, and provide customers with best-in-class trucks and services. 
 
"This year, our focus will be on continuing to deliver our core business objectives by ensuring that the customer feels supported and satisfied at all times. We will continue to work with our local partners to ensure the right partnership mindset and the required flexibility to adapt to each market's needs," stated Hedna. 
 
"Simultaneously, as a company with a long-term focus, it is essential that we provide visibility to our key stakeholders, including our customers, our partners, and our employees, of our long-term strategy and ambition beyond 2021 and the pandemic," he noted. 
 
"That is why we will start implementing our "Better Life" strategy, which will only continue to strengthen our presence and contribution to the region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service