Federal Auto Holdings Bhd (FAHB), the company once synonymous with the Volvo brand having served as its official distributor until the establishment of Volvo Car Malaysia in 1997. Since then, the company has moved on to become a multi-brand dealer of passenger cars, with outlets representing Volvo Car, Volkswagen, and Mitsubishi Motors.
Last year, FAHB added Iveco commercial vehicles to its portfolio, having been appointed by the CNH Industrial brand as its exclusive distributor for the sale of Iveco vehicles, service support and the sale of genuine spare parts in the market. A joint press conference was held by representatives of Iveco and FAHB today at the Saujana Hotel Resort in Kuala Lumpur to officially present the full range of Iveco trucks to the Malaysian market. It marked Iveco’s first official event in the country.
Ahe joint press conference, representatives from Iveco and Federal Auto top management also presented their business strategy for the market, and their plans for the further development of the sales and service network. These include training programmes to ensure customers are supported by professional, skilled staff.
They introduced the wide range of vehicles for Malaysia and presented five key new product ranges in the Iveco line-up: the Daily light commercial vehicle and International Van of the Year 2015, the Trakker off-road truck, the Eurocargo medium truck and, the Stralis Truck of the Year 2013, and the 682 heavy commercial vehicles. The product offering is complemented with a full range of after-sales and financing which will take advantage of Federal Auto‘s local presence in the country.
Iveco is a global manufacturer with a wide range of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, off-road trucks, and vehicles for special applications. Its full line of vehicles ranges from the lightest 3.5-ton vans for urban use to the 60 ton heavy vehicles for long distance haulage and heavy loads. Iveco is able to leverage on the global R&D resources and economies of scale of CNH Industrial in order to bring its customers around the world the most advanced technologies and safe, fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles at competitive costs.
Michele Lombardi, APAC Iveco Brand Leader, said that the company was pleased to have found a strong and committed partner in Malaysia, “Malaysia is an important market with a dynamic automotive sector. We are entering this competitive market with a full line of 14 models, and with the help of Federal Auto, we are confident that discerning fleet and transport operators and business owners in Malaysia will appreciate the proven quality, durability, reliability and, most importantly, the cost-efficiency of Iveco products. The technology that goes into every Iveco vehicle has proved its worth on roads around the world and in the extreme conditions of the Dakar rally.”
“I would like to thank the management of Federal Auto for the excellent cooperation that has led to us being here today. They are a very dedicated, professional team and I am proud that they are representing Iveco trucks and buses as our exclusive distributor in Malaysia. I believe that Iveco and its customers will thrive in Malaysia together with Federal Auto and their strong team,“ concluded Lombardi.
Federal Auto managing director Cheng Seng Fook, meanwhile, said that the company was delighted to add such an established brand to its portfolio of premium automotive marques, “We are proud to announce that Iveco is now here in Malaysia and able to offer our customers a range that no other brand can. We will have a complete line-up that will cater for the growing demands of the trucking industry not only in terms of the tonnage required but also in terms of power, torque, safety, ergonomics and comfort and reliability.”
A full range of vehicles for the Malaysian market
Iveco offers the Malaysian market a total of 14 models, including the Daily light commercial vehicle, Stralis and 682 heavy commercial vehicles, Trakker off-road truck and Eurocargo medium truck previewed at the press conference. All products and model variants will be rolled out in stages, during the next 18 months.
The New Daily is expected to be a best seller in the country. A point of reference in its category for its unique total cost of ownership, comfort, driveability, productivity, and sustainability, it was named 2015 International Van of the Year. The vehicle is presented in the Van model (both panel van and window van), 10.8 m3, with wheelbase of 3,520 mm and with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3.5 tonnes, as well as in the Chassis cab model with the wheelbase of 3450 mm and a GVW up to 5 tonnes. Both Daily van and chassis cab models are powered by the Iveco 3.0-liter F1C engine with 146 hp.
The Iveco Stralis heavy commercial vehicle is an excellent solution for the haulage industry due to its low fuel consumption, high reliability, superior safety features, best-in-class cabin ergonomics and comfort. The on-road vehicle, with a gross combined weight (GCW) up to 44 tonnes, is presented in the following models: 4×2, tractor with rear air suspension, rough road version; 6×2 tractor with rear air suspension, twin wheels, third rear lift axle; 6×4 tractor with rear air suspension, for heavy mission. The Stralis is equipped with the Iveco cursor 10 engine, which is a 10.3-litre, 6-cylinder in-line engine, with a power rating of 430 hp. These outstanding features at the top of the category earned this model the Truck of the year 2013 at IAA show in Hannover, Germany.
The Iveco 682 heavy-duty truck is the optimal combination of cost efficiency, strength and cutting-edge technology. It is currently offered in 4×2 (GCW 43 tonnes) and 6×4 (GCW 60 tonnes) variants for the tractor model, which is available in the on-road version. The truck is also presented in 6×4 (GVW 33 tonnes) and 8×4 (GVW 41 tonnes) variants for the tipper and mixer models, available in the off-road version. The 682 is powered either by Iveco cursor 9 or cursor 13 engines. The cursor 9 is an 8.7-litre, six-cylinder in-line engine available in three different power ratings: 290 hp, 340 hp and 380 hp, while the cursor 13 is a 12.8- litre, six-cylinder in line engine available in two power ratings: 430 hp and 480 hp.
The Iveco Trakker is a high performance and robust truck designed to operate in the extreme off-road conditions often found in the construction and mining industries. The vehicle is presented in the 6×4 tractor model, with a GCW up to 60 tonnes. It is powered by the Iveco cursor 13, a 12.8-litre, six-cylinder in-line engine available with 420 hp.
The Iveco Eurocargo medium truck offers unprecedented reliability, flexibility and versatility. It is available in multiple variations to suit different needs. The on-road vehicle is currently presented in the 4×2 truck model, with mechanical suspension, with a GVW up to 18 tonnes. Eurocargo features a tector 6, a 5.9-litre, six-cylinder in-line engine available with 280 hp.
Keyword: Federal Auto launches full range of Iveco commercial vehicles