Scania has added a new service dealer to its South Island representation – forming a partnership with ACL Smallbone to cover south Canterbury and mid-Canterbury.
The arrangement follows the merger last year between existing Scania service dealer Smallbone Timaru and Ashburton contracting business ACL – a get-together aimed at expansion, with a new Ashburton workshop just opened.
Scania says that ACL Smallbone – operating from two main locations, in Timaru and Ashburton – is "a perfect fit for our network."
The partnership will establish "a mega site for commercial vehicles in the region."
Scania New Zealand managing director Mattias Lundholm says the service dealer network expansion "demonstrates our commitment to provide a premium service offering for our customers.
"As our network of service dealers grows, Scania are well equipped to deliver customers more convenience than ever before. 
"The scale of service offered by the ACL Smallbone merger represented an ideal acquisition to Scania's network in a key growth region of the country."
Scania NZ network director Colin Bowden says that the deal was cemented by ACL Smallbone's "commitment to a customer-focused dealership.
"I know our customers will be impressed as they ramp up their new premises over the next few months."
ACL Smallbone CEO Gary Casey says: "Scania's standing within the NZ trucking industry, as well as its expanding customer base, will benefit all the parties involved in this exciting new venture – most of all the truckies within the south Canterbury and mid-Canterbury regions."