Industry insights — Justin Hocevar, CEO, Renault Australia

What has the demise of the local car manufacturing industry meant for imported products, particularly in the commercial space?

Renault’s range of passenger cars, light vans and trucks offers fleet customers an opportunity to specify state-of-the-art European executive and tool-of-trade technology from efficiency to safety and also enjoy excellent ergonomics and mobile office functionality. Our comprehensive reassurance program adds much longer warranty (five years on passenger cars and up to 200,000 km for LCV) and much lower servicing costs than fleet managers may have experienced before, while Renault Financial Services offers an array of funding possibilities that can assist the P&L reports.

Field service vehicles spend more time on the road than most, what factors should fleet managers consider when searching for a suitable commercial vehicle?

Reliability is a key factor when specifying a fleet. Renault LCV has been the number one supplier of vans and light trucks in Europe for 18 years straight. Fleet buyers are confident the vehicles will suit the job, go the distance and offer strong residual value at the end of the term. Driver comfort and occupant safety are also important when long hours behind the wheel are required. Renault's extended service intervals (up to 30,000 km) provide a significant reduction in maintenance costs, but also require fewer days off the road, allowing the business user greater asset and labour utilisation. Some competitors require servicing every 10,000 km, so once you triple that cost and time off the road and multiply it by the size of the fleet, Renault’s cost advantages become apparent.

Safety is obviously paramount for fleet managers. What can we expect to see in commercial vehicle offerings in 2016 that will help fleet managers meet their duty of care?

Renault continues to improve the level of standard safety equipment in its vans. The mid-size Trafic vans and large Master vans and light trucks now all feature driver and passenger airbags as well as side chest/head airbags, as well as ABS, ESP and traction control systems. Trafic and Master also feature a standard steel bulkhead separating the cabin from the load area, which also makes it easier to control the air temperature in the cabin for enhanced driver comfort. Both vans are semi-bonneted designs that push the engine and transmission out well in front of the driver, providing a large impact-absorbing buffer for the occupants. The smaller Kangoo is built on the platform of the Scenic small people mover, so it has been designed with high levels of occupant safety from the start.

Beyond safety, what trends are we likely to see emerge in the short term — what is the ‘next big thing’ in terms of commercial vehicles?

Connectivity and communication are vital tools for all fleet operators. Renault already offers Media Nav enhanced multimedia systems in its vans, on a par with those in its passenger car ranges. This delivers GPS navigation capability as well as system function insight. Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones already provides safer, hands-free calling and seamless music streaming. For those with a focus on environmental issues, Renault is already trialling a small fleet of Kangoo Zero Emission vans with Australia Post. They have an impressive real-world range between recharges and can adequately cope with daily round-town duties.

How big a role does customisation play in delivering the most suitable offering to your client and can off-the-shelf ever compete with a fully tailored solution?

Renault’s strength in LCVs is demonstrated by its commitment to the Renault PRO+ concept. PRO+ dealers will offer a full array of demonstrator vehicles, including some that have been converted with popular solutions such as refrigerated interiors or with load trays already installed. PRO+ dealers have LCV conversion experts on staff and longer opening hours or weekend servicing by arrangement can be provided for time-poor customers. Renault has selected preferred suppliers for conversions, ensuring the work will be done to a high standard, and giving customers the simplicity of a single invoice and one point of contact for any future queries. Renault will continue to progressively roll out the PRO+ concept around Australia in 2016.

Under Justin’s leadership, Renault has become the highest selling French automotive brand in Australia, growing a staggering 218% increase in the last five years. With a strong line-up of both passenger and commercial vehicles, Renault continues to attract the praises of expert motoring bodies winning prestigious awards such as 2013 & 2014 Australia’s Best Light Car for the Renault Clio and 2015 Delivery Magazine’s Best Small and Medium Vans for the Renault Kangoo and Trafic respectively.