MAN Trucks is spending a wad of cash on the dealer network – some £20 million to be precise. There have been a series of recent openings of new MAN dealerships with Gateshead finished in November 2019. Replacing their existing Earlshead facility that has dealt with MAN trucks since 1996, the new dealership is on a 3.3 acre site on the Team Valley Trading Estate, near to the A1(M). The construction took less than a year to complete and, as with most busy truck dealerships, the site will be open 24 hours a day during the week with long opening hours at the weekends.
What the Boss Says
Thomas Hemmerich, Managing Director MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd said: “MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd has operated a wholly owned dealership in Gateshead for nearly a quarter of a century, since 1996, and throughout this time we’ve both sold vehicles to and supported our customers from our existing facility in Earlsway, Gateshead. However, as our business footprint has grown considerably across both the Tyne Valley and the surrounding areas, so has our requirement for a larger premises. “This considerable investment in a new purpose built state-of-the-art facility clearly demonstrates our long term commitment to both the North East and to our strong customer base in the area. The new facility will allow us to continue to grow further across the region and we’re all incredibly excited to have this opportunity.”
The Stats
Under the careful watch of the famous landmark, Gateshead’s Angel of the North, there is a new 24,524 sq. ft. building housing no fewer than 12 workshop bays and an additional MOT ATF test lane.
Employing twenty technicians each day, the facility also holds an impressive £350,000 parts stock holding – although at current parts prices that might just be a couple of bumpers and some plastic trim!
All the workshop kit is brand new, including the tacho rollers, brake testers, compressors, steam clean ramp and three ton overhead crane.
There are 28 metre long inspection pits featuring jacking rails, lighting and air lines and six new 7.5 tonne Stertil Koni wireless mobile column lifts.
MAN have also invested in keeping the drivers comfortable with a dedicated waiting area with a TV, vending machines for drinks and snacks, and somewhere to charge the mobile phone.
The business end gets dedicated sales offices, meeting rooms, administration rooms and hot desks for field based staff. There’s also a staff canteen and locker rooms, as well as showers and facilities for male and female members of staff.
