The Coventry depot of Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia is now an official Sales and Service Dealerpoint for Nissan Light Commercials and Vans. Jin Samra is the Nissan Sales Executive.
“In effect, we’re a Nissan dealer,” he says, “but with our focus on the Interstar and Cabstar range. The Nissan Interstar van is available from 3.3 to 3.5 tonnes and the mini-truck like cab-over Nissan Cabstar from 3.4 to 3.5 tonnes. The new range comprises tippers, dropsides, vans and minibuses up to 16 seats.”
The Coventry facility is designed to provide a one stop shop to the customer. Whether they need a valuation on their part exchange, a demonstration, a visit to the customers’ premises or expert advice on the best truck for their operation, this expertise can all be found via Jin at the Coventry site.
Jin reports that the first few months have been very successful, especially sales of the Cabstar. It’s somewhat like a small truck and has enjoyed success amongst builders, builder’s merchants, scaffolding companies, fencing contractors and the hauliers.
“The Cabstar is proving very popular with our Volvo truck customers,” he says, “Many of them operate light commercials in addition to their heavy trucks and have begun to source these from us as we can provide the full back up of the truck Dealership with long opening hours and highly skilled workshop Technicians.” Jin has plans to continue the sales success already achieved. “As well as existing customers who already enjoy the benefits of Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia’s aftersales support, we plan to market to the food and drink segment with the refrigerated chiller and freezer variants that suit the range.”
Whilst Jin is focussed purely on the new Nissan sales, his colleague Scott Sandford, who is Used LCV Sales Executive at the site, provides part exchange and trade-in valuations. Working closely together, they can quickly identify whether a customer is in the market for a new or used van and what sort of specification they’re after. With a wide range of demonstrators available, including a Cabstar dropside, Cabstar tipper, MWB and LWB Interstar vans, Jin says, “We’ll take the vehicle out to the customer at their premises.
We’ll go out any time of the day or night and the customer can assess the product in their own environment. They also have the option of assessing it on the forecourt”. A marketing campaign is in full swing and the full range of finance options is available. The Cabstar 3.4 tonne is currently available on 0% APR finance over 3 years, with 3 years free RAC cover and a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty.
The Interstar attracts the same RAC and warranty package. Lead times are extremely reasonable on the new range with most available within 2/3 weeks from agreeingthe final specification. Aftersales support is available 7 days a week. When asked to sum up his first few months, Jin said, “I’m really enjoying the job. I come away from work every day with a similar feeling. That’s a feeling of things really starting to bear fruit. We’ve got a great site, a marketing programme and sales success. It gives me a real sense of achievement. It’s all happening and I feel good about it.”
For more information, contact Jin at nissanlcv@volvosouth.co.uk