UD Trucks Southern Africa, in partnership with Combined Motor Holdings (CMH), officially opened a state-of-the-art dealership facility in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal.
This strategic development follows the successful 2023 launch of UD Trucks' flagship dealership in Cape Town and is part of UD Trucks’ journey to expand and upgrade its customer support for the future, signalling the continued investment drive in customer experience and dealer partnerships across the region for customer success.
Opening the event, Sean Singleton, Franchise Director at CMH, expressed his enthusiasm:
“We value our long-standing relationship with UD Trucks and are proud to represent a brand that consistently delivers on quality and reliability. UD Trucks is not just a supplier – it is a partner in progress. This investment underscores our shared commitment to innovation, customer service and growth in the KwaZulu-Natal region.”
The newly upgraded CMH Commercial Pinetown facility spans approximately 28 000 square metres and features 13 fully equipped service bays, a modern, welcoming customer-reception area and a driver lounge offering inclusive amenities for both male and female drivers. Its design and layout embody UD Trucks’ brand promise of “Going the Extra Mile” and reinforce the company’s commitment to delivering a smart, modern, customer-centric experience.
The official opening was attended by global and regional leadership from UD Trucks, including Koichi Ito, President and CEO of UD Trucks Corporation, who travelled from Japan to support this milestone. Also in attendance were Fabrice Gorlier, Senior Vice President of UD Trucks International Sales, and Filip van den Heede, Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa.
As UD Trucks celebrates its 90th global anniversary in 2025, the milestone carries profound meaning across the organisation. Commenting at the opening, Koichi Ito, President and CEO of UD Trucks Corporation, remarked:
“This facility reflects our commitment to our customers in Southern Africa. It showcases how UD Trucks continues to innovate, invest and grow in key markets, together with strong partners like CMH. This year, we celebrate 90 years since UD Trucks was founded – a momentous occasion that reminds us of our challenger DNA. Throughout our history, we’ve always challenged the status quo and pursued continuous improvement. Seeing this mindset embraced by our dealers in South Africa are both affirming and inspiring,” he says.
Filip van den Heede, Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa, emphasised the importance of cultural understanding and respect in leading a diverse market:
“UD Trucks Southern Africa is deeply committed to building strong, respectful partnerships rooted in local relevance and long-term value. As we say here, ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ — a person is a person through others. While UD Trucks celebrates 90 years globally, we’ve been present in South Africa for over 60 years.
Every year has brought continuous improvement. As we reach this milestone, we remain committed to our brand strengths — quality, durability and reliability. This facility reflects our journey toward reaching retail excellence, enabled by dealers who represent the UD brand in a smart and modern way.”
Ruan Joubert, Dealer Principal at CMH Commercial Pinetown, added: “Our goal is simple — to be a trusted partner in every mile our customers drive. This upgraded facility equips us to do just that, with greater capabilities and a passionate team ready to go the extra mile.”
Reflecting on the transformation across the dealer network, Marle Visagie, General Manager: Retail Development at UD Trucks Southern Africa, stated: “It is incredibly rewarding to see our dealers embrace what UD truly stands for — going the extra mile, excelling on essentials and delivering in a smart and modern way.
“The relationship with CMH is a strong one, built over many years of mutual respect and collaboration. It’s exciting to witness how our partners are internalising the UD brand and elevating the customer experience in meaningful ways,” Marle said.
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