Avia proving to be commercially viable

Dublin-based firm CP Commercials recently began retailing the Avia truck. The vehicle has a number of attractive features and with CP Commercials proving its worth by selling a large number of trucks in the first few months, Avia's decision to use the Baldoyle firm has been justified writes Cian O Raghallaigh.

Vehicle testing network - CP Commercials, Baldoyle Industrial Estate

CP Commercials are specialists in sales, repair and commercial vehicles. Based in the Baldoyle Industrial Estate, the company also runs a DOE test centre run by Jim McGrath, a mobile tyre repair service and a 24-hour breakdown service.
Paddy Murphy provides a highly efficient and reliable sales service at the company. Since November 2005, the firm began establishing itself as the only agent for the Avia truck model in Dublin. Paddy, who is working in the biggest DOE centre in Ireland has just sold five new Avia trucks to Grange Building Providers. He is the sales manager at the company and the only person involved in sales. Avia, a Czech company formed in 1919, originally manufactured aircrafts and aircraft engines.
CP Commercials has a full stores department for all their truck parts. The Avia models come along with a two-year, 200,000 kilometre warranty and come standard with electric windows and a CD system and more.

Paddy Murphy, Sales Director at CP Commercials, with the new Avia D75

"We have been selling trucks since 1980 and we saw the Avia project as an opportunity as Avia is an up-and-coming truck in Ireland. The Euro 4 model is also due to come in soon and will be ready in 2007," he stated.
Grange Building providers have been in business since 1986. The company has grown from humble beginnings and has become a major player in supplying building materials to the Dublin market. The family-run firm is based around its same-day delivery service. Grange has recently expanded its fleet to 21 trucks and five vans, with the acquisition of the five new Avia tippers from CP Commercials.

Award-winning driver Adrian Mitchell with his truck and coach recovery vehicle

These new Avia trucks are part of an expansion plan by Grange that will also include a second 3.22 acre store in Kilbarrack Industrial estate. The expansion plan should offer the company's customers a wider selection of products with an extra-better delivery service.
Grange chose the Avia truck for its reliability. Both Grange and CP are located in Baldoyle and have grown together over the past twenty years. Grange has bought all of their trucks from CP and relies on CP's services to help the company maintain its fleet and to deliver over 200 loads a day to builders across the city.

Mick McKiernan, Tommy Cosgrave and Peter Cosgrave (junior) with Paddy Murphy of CP Commercials and the five new Avia D90 tiped lorries at the Grange Builders Providers premises at Baldoyle

At the moment Avia has two kinds of products: the seven and a half tonne and nine tonne trucks and will have a twelve tonne truck by the end of September. The company's intention is to develop a niche market and be in a position to provide more to its customer but at the moment, a small number of trucks mean that its staff are able to understand the finer details of both products.
Avia Managing Director David Mullen stated that the company was aware of what CP Commercials could provide to the public.
"CP approached us to get involved - they have a tradition of having a good customer base. What we liked was their fantastic reputation for backup service and their ability to look after people," he explained.
"Dublin is where most of the business happens and we needed to get a presence there. CP Commercials are well-known nationally and are also well-located."

Price-wise, the trucks range from Eu35,000 (the 7.5 tonne truck) to Eu37,000 (the nine-tonne truck).
The well-priced vehicles and the warranty were two of the factors which helped the company, and demonstrated that Avia had huge confidence in the vehicle from the beginning.

Feature-wise, there are a number of factors which make it attractive to buy. These include cruise control, central locking, an effective exhaust break (i.e. the ability of the truck to maintain control during bad weather) and others.
The interior of the Avia D-Line attempts to please both the driver and passenger. The truck has a number of items which are usually found in a passenger car such as air conditioning (optional), power windows, adjustable steering wheel as well as storage compartments and reading lamps.

The positioning of the front and side windows and the heated and adjustable side mirrors offer maximum visibility. The body itself is compact enough to be able to fit through narrow city streets and tight spaces. The front lid opens for easy access, so that drivers can check various oil and water levels.
Fuel consumption also makes Avia a very economical truck to drive. The average consumption of diesel is around 15 miles per gallon in a truck of this size, but Avia quotes an average of 18 miles per gallon with some customers returning as much as 21 miles per gallon.

The Avia product has given CP Commercials an added dimension and if the firm can maintain its progress, such projects should come the company's way again in the future.