Iveco supports Australian manufacturing

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Prime Mover Magazine  /  March 1, 2018

Commercial vehicle manufacturer, Iveco, has commented on the local assembly of the Stralis ATi model, following a manufacturing boost at its facility in Dandenong, Melbourne.

According to Iveco, selected components including mirrors, wheel angles, trailer connections, batteries, wheels and liquids are now all sourced locally.

The addition of the Stralis AT to the local production mix has also seen the Dandenong facility undergo investment in tooling and software to calibrate the AT’s adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning systems, and in doing so introduced new technology to the site that could also be used for other models in the future.

“Australian buyers will enjoy several benefits from the local production of AT models including greatly reduced lead times from vehicle order to delivery, and the ability to customise to order by adding factory-fitted special options and local accessories,” Iveco said in a statement.

Iveco’s local engineers are also working on the installation of new Euro 6-rated Cursor engines for both the AT and AS-L variants. The Australian engineering team is continuing its real market testing on a selection of these engines.

Iveco Australia Marketing Manager, Darren Swenson, said the increase in local production and development highlighted the company’s commitment to Australian manufacturing.

“Iveco is one of few truck brands that continue to manufacture here – this latest expansion in Australian-based production demonstrates the company’s commitment to having a strong local manufacturing presence,” said Swenson.

“The addition of Stralis AT variants to the local production mix along with the validation of new power plants and other initiatives is great news for the local workforce and our third-party parts suppliers but also for Australian truck buyers who can further reap the benefits that locally-manufactured vehicles provide.

“The expansion of local production not only reflects a strong belief from Iveco Australia that local manufacturing is sustainable, but the initiative is also strongly supported by Iveco’s parent company, CNH Industrial,” he said.

The Stralis AT and AS-L ranges join several other of Iveco’s locally-manufactured models including the ACCO – which has been built in Dandenong for over 40 years – and Delta and Metro bus chassis.

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