In a major development in Daimler Trucks' New Zealand dealer network, North Island dealer Trucks & Trailers has gone nationwide – purchasing South Island-wide dealer Prestige Commercial Vehicles.
The family-owned business has operated as an official sales, service and parts dealer for Mercedes-Benz trucks, vans and utes and Freightliner trucks, out of dealership sites in Auckland, Palmerston North and Wellington.
Prestige (PCV) has been in operation in the South Island for the past decade, providing sales, service and parts support for FUSO as well as Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner trucks.
Trucks & Trailers' purchase of PCV adds sites in Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, Invercargill and Greymouth, seeing the company now with 200 employees in eight locations. 
Trucks & Trailers directors Mark and Shannon Wright say in a statement that the opportunity to purchase PCV fulfills "an important objective" in their ambition "to be a leading heavy and light commercial vehicle supplier across NZ. 
This passion, they add, is shared by their team – "who know firsthand their people-first business philosophy has set them up well for this exciting transition.
"Our business is built on longterm, personal relationships and acquiring PCV is about looking to the future and doing the right thing for our customers, staff and suppliers," say the Wrights. 
"By bringing PCV into the Trucks & Trailers family, we aim to provide more opportunities for our dedicated team and at the same time lift the bar in commercial vehicle service and support on a national level – creating greater efficiencies and reduced downtime for our customers."
According to the statement, the directors of Prestige Commercial Vehicles "are extremely happy passing on the baton to another NZ-owned business."
"They believe the move cements a positive and bright future for their loyal team and customers alike," the statement adds.
Trucks & Trailers is the only Daimler Elite Support-certified dealership in NZ.
It has a long history with Daimler Trucks brands: Just four years after Don Wright founded the business in 1987 – servicing and repairing trucks from the back of a ute – the first Trucks & Trailers branch was opened….and another three years on it became an authorised agent for Mercedes-Benz heavy vehicles. 
Say the Wrights: "We see a very bright future, with the excellent range of product that we have to offer – not just now but in the future. 
"Early in 2020 we will see the arrival of two brand-new trucks from the Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz stables which will further consolidate our unique position, where we can offer state-of-the-art product – from a 2WD ute to a 250-tonne heavy haul truck….and everything in between.  
"We have the ability to bring to the table product that is setting new benchmarks in safety, sustainability, connectivity and productivity."