AN ANDOVER-based Mercedes-Benz dealer has benefitted from a £1million facilities upgrade.

Marshall Truck & Van has extended the workshop at its branch on the Walworth Industrial Estate in Andover, adding an additional couple of bays to the previous four.

One of the new bays is equipped with rollers and other equipment required to undertake tachograph installations, calibrations and repairs. These tasks were previously assigned to an independent specialist that only worked during normal working hours, so the change will increase convenience for customers.

The nine-month project also entailed the creation of a comfortable new waiting area for drivers, while members of the Marshall Truck & Van team have benefited too – the sales offices have been facelifted, with a new meeting room installed, and technicians who previously took their breaks in a portable unit now have their own canteen and washroom.

Marshall Truck & Van’s head of business, Wayne Edwards, said: “The very substantial investment we’ve made at Andover is benefiting customers and colleagues alike, and reflects our determination to be the number one provider of truck and light commercial vehicle sales, maintenance and repair, and parts services on the South coast.”

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The Andover facility now exceeds the standards required of its franchised partners by Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK. The comprehensively equipped and stocked Mercedes-Benz Service 24-hour van based at this site is allocated to highly trained technicians who provide round-the-clock emergency roadside assistance.

Marshall Truck & Van also operates from other branches in Fareham and Croydon, as well as the flagship £3.8million dealership at Nursling, Southampton, which it opened towards the end of 2019.

Wayne continued: “Our Andover general manager David Collard and his team have made great strides over recent years, in attracting new aftersales business from locally-based operators.

“The timely, customer-focused back-up that they have worked so hard to deliver has been instrumental not only in enhancing established relationships, but also – as word of mouth has spread locally – in enabling us to win new converts to the Mercedes-Benz and FUSO brands.”

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David Collard added: “The development here at Andover is great news for operators, not least because it means that if a truck comes in at night with a tachograph-related issue we can jump straight on it, rather than having to tell the customer they’ll have to book a separate visit during the day. We aim, as far as possible, to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ service, so the tacho bay adds another important string to our bow.”