Mack Trucks Initiates Mexico Operations

Jan. 1, 2001
MACK Trucks Inc will begin marketing trucks in Mexico in 2001, with initial sales projected at several hundred. Mack's goal is 10% of the Mexico truck

MACK Trucks Inc will begin marketing trucks in Mexico in 2001, with initial sales projected at several hundred. Mack's goal is 10% of the Mexico truck market by 2004.

The announcement was made November 17 during Expo Transporte 2000 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Expo Transporte is the largest truck show in Latin America and is sponsored by ANPACT, the Mexican commercial vehicle manufacturers' association.

Mack Vehiculos Industriales de Mexico SA de CV will have its main office in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Parts distribution also will be handled from facilities in Monterrey. Dealers are being established in key industrial cities.

Up to this point, Mack was not selling trucks in Mexico. However, some Mexican customers have purchased Mack trucks in the United States for years. Mack wants to make sure these and potential new customers receive the same high level of service and support that is provided in other Mack markets around the world.

"We will not begin selling trucks until we are absolutely sure that we have our sales and support infrastructure in place," said Paul L Vikner, Mack executive vice-president of sales and marketing. "We are close to having key partners in place in the primary Mexican markets.

"We have spent the past six months developing the infrastructure that we believe must be in place. We are committed, and we see many future NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) opportunities."

Eduardo Basanez, director general of Mack Vehiculos Industriales de Mexico SA de CV, said that the Mexican market had experienced uninterrupted growth over the past three years, and the future looks bright. "Mack builds rugged trucks that meet the demands of this market."

The primary focus will be on trucks targeted at vocational and specialty markets, which Mack officials believe will achieve the best growth in Mexico over the next few years. Models being emphasized for the Mexico market include the DM with its displaced conventional cab, the cabover MR, CH conventional, and Vision conventional.

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