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Heavy equipment company, Hilti South Africa, has added 15 new Ford Ranger XL models painted in Ford’s Colorado Red to its fleet as part of a partnership with Ford, the extension of which was announced in May. These eye-catching Ford Rangers, driven by Hilti’s reps, will continue to prove their outstanding all-round versatility and reliability as they traverse the country, over all types of terrain, while carrying heavy-duty equipment.
Ford has been a proud fleet provider to Hilti since 2010 and these new Rangers have increased the total footprint to 80 Ford Rangers, powered by the proven 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, in Hilti’s nationwide operation. Ford South Africa was also able to meet Hilti’s exact vehicle requirements by offering Park Distance Control as well as other accessories like a nudge bar and lockable tonneau cover on Hilti vehicles.
“When we launched the current Ranger, Hilti was one of the first fleet businesses to come on board and we’ve been building on that relationship ever since, starting from 10 vehicles up to the current 80,” says Yashalan Pillay, Corporate Rental and Leasing manager at Ford South Africa.
“We know that most of these vehicles record high mileage, with many expected to do 200 000km in four years. This therefore highlights yet another important area in Ford’s after-sales service and customer experience. Our Fleet after-sales support team has added significant value not only to this fleet but to all Ford fleets; if there is a problem there is now one point of contact for the customer and we jump on it immediately and sort it out.”
According to Pillay, “Hilti has enjoyed the benefit of that service over the years and that’s one of the reasons why this relationship has continued to grow. Our ongoing relationship with Hilti would not have been possible without the ongoing support and commitment from Eqstra Fleet Services, the finance house of the total Hilti fleet. Eqstra and Ford SA share a strong working commitment to ensure that the Ford Ranger is number one on their LCV supply list.”
Fleet confidence is enhanced by the implementation of Ford’s Ranger Support Team, which is available to all Ranger owners whose vehicle is still covered under Ford’s standard four years/120 000km warranty. The moment the Roadside Assistance team is notified of a Ranger breakdown, the Ranger Support Team kicks into action.
From this point a single case manager oversees the case from start to finish and contacts the customer immediately to offer whatever support and assistance they require. Ford will arrange armed security to wait with the customer until the recovery vehicle arrives if required, organise a like-for-like loan car and book accommodation for the customer if necessary.
“A key consideration behind choosing the 2.2 XL Double Cab model was the engine’s balance between performance and fuel efficiency, “explains Dirk Dijkstra, General Manager of Hilti in South Africa. “Globally Hilti is looking at sustainability to make sure that we’re more responsible in terms of emissions and fuel economy, so the 2.2-litre engine in the Ranger is a very good choice. Our teams at Hilti are happy with the choice; it has become something of a legend on the job site, and when people see it, they know that the solution is nearby.”
The Hilti fleet is just one of many active fleets to have trusted and aligned their business to Ford South Africa’s commitment, quality and customer service. Together, Ford and Hilti ensure that many of the products and services that so many South Africans depend on are delivered on time and efficiently.
