LDV's new Centres of Excellence mean business

LDV - the UK's light commercial vehicle specialist - is to further raise the standards of its dealer network to provide a much sharper focus on meeting the needs of its customers.

Dealers will be expected to meet tough new standards to become an 'LDV Centre of Excellence'. Some will also gain the status of an 'LDV Fleet Centre of Excellence'.
Customers can expect longer opening hours, better communications, more thorough product knowledge, guarantees on service times and parts supply, and what LDV believes will be the most comprehensive after-sales support in the UK light commercial vehicle market.

LDV Executive Director Sales and Marketing, Tony Lewis made the announcement at the 2006 Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham where LDV was exhibiting seven new derivatives of its award-winning Maxus range (Hall 5, stand 5431).
"During 2006 we expect over 30 of our 61 UK dealers to achieve the new 'LDV Centre of Excellence' status," said Mr Lewis. "Twelve of our dealers will also become an 'LDV Fleet Centre of Excellence' with a particular emphasis on the needs of fleet operators."

Mr Lewis said that the new dealer standards will be challenging to meet. "When we first introduced the concept of the dedicated VAN Centre we raised the standard for the whole light commercial vehicle industry, through the introduction of the Centres of Excellence we are once again raising those standards. We operate in a professional business-to-business market place where customer expectations are high, both in respect of the product in which they are investing and with regard to every aspect of their pre and post sale experience. We therefore have to raise the bar if we are to win the market share that our high-quality Maxus range deserves and is capable of achieving."

"As their name implies, a Centre of Excellence will deliver just that - an excellent experience for the customer at every stage. What customers will find are staff with detailed product knowledge and a greater understanding of their needs. Those staff will have the ability to lead a customer through the buying process in a way that inspires confidence both in the Maxus product and in the essential services that support its initial purchase and its in-service life."

Customers using an LDV Centre of Excellence will find:
* A specialist and dedicated light commercial vehicle sales team;
* Be-spoke solutions to their vehicle needs through LDV's Special Vehicle Operations;
* extended opening hours of at least 70 hours a week;
* 48 hour test drives, with vehicles delivered to them; and,
* access to the UK's largest stock of factory approved used vehicles.
The centres will also be focussed on keeping a customer's business on the road by guaranteeing:
* a replacement vehicle during a repair with 48 hour maximum turnaround times on servicing and repairs;
* vehicle collection and delivery;
* overnight delivery of parts; and,
* greater workshop capacity with competitive parts pricing and local hourly rates.

All of the Centre of Excellence standards will apply to an LDV Fleet Centre of Excellence. Staff at these locations will also be required to have a broader understanding of managing a fleet, such as risk management and cost of ownership. There will be more emphasis on the training of technicians, including those from fleet operators who maintain their own vehicles, and on the use of specialist diagnostic equipment.

"Maxus is setting the standard in the heavy van sector in the UK," says Tony Lewis. "Our Centres of Excellence will build on that to offer customers the best possible support to enable them to buy vehicles that are precisely tailored to their needs, that represent great value for money, and that they can operate cost effectively and with total confidence!"