IVECO New Zealand has confirmed it plans to build an impressive new wholesale headquarters, retail showroom and parts and service facility in Wiri.

IVECO already employs 20 people at their current location in Wiri, as well as numerous employees nationwide. The new office will house more than 40 employees, with room for further expansion as the business continues to grow. Recruitment is expected to begin shortly.

“When we started exploring for a new facility we took the opportunity to review our approach to the market, keeping all options open,” says IVECO Trucks Australia managing director Michael Jonson. “The conclusion was straightforward; New Zealand customers are very important to us with IVECO being a successful and growing brand. From there we decided to go all-in and create a flagship retail and service facility.”

IVECO New Zealand general manager Ian Walker says ultimately the goal was to continue the momentum on localisation.

“Our team has worked hard in the last year to really localise our product, from taking more custom units from Australia, to growing the Trakker range specifically for New Zealand, to updating our standard specs across the board to recognise Kiwi requirements. This new facility takes our localisation that much further by providing a state-of-the-art workshop, impressive showroom facilities and corporate offices.”

From left to right: Michele Lombardi, executive managing director IVECO Asia-Pacific; Stefano Pampalone, chief operating officer IVECO Asia-Pacific; Michael Jonson, managing director IVECO Australia, and Ian Walker, general manager IVECO NZ, at the groundbreaking ceremony on 2 October.

The more than 11,000 square metre site will be home to corporate offices, a retail showroom, retail offices, a parts warehouse supporting the whole of New Zealand, parts and service offices and eight service bays including a Daily-dedicated lane, a truck wash and COF compliant brake testers.

IVECO New Zealand has seen their sales more than double in the past two years and Walker says a new facility was necessary. The company is also investing in new IT infrastructure to support the growing dealer network and customer base as well as doubling the size of the parts warehouse and parts stocking in New Zealand.

Walker says it made sense for IVECO to have its own workshop so it could process its vehicles coming off the wharf and also provide top-notch service to its Auckland customer base.

IVECO expects the new facility to be fully operational in the third quarter of 2018.