Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced that it is divesting its business within Volvo Maroc SA to a longstanding distribution partner SMT Group. Subject to regulatory approval, the agreement between Volvo CE and SMT Group is expected to come into effect in the second quarter of 2016 and cover the sale, importation and distribution of Volvo and SDLG branded construction equipment products and services in Morocco.
SMT Group is already an established Volvo Group partner, with 25 dealerships in the EU and Africa. Today it represents Volvo CE in a large part of North and West Africa, including all the countries neighbouring Morocco.
In safe hands
Under the deal Volvo CE business and employees will transfer to SMT, along with all warranties and customer service agreements, maintaining the Volvo brand’s strong customer relationships and high quality of service in Morocco. Meanwhile, SBMH who is distributing the SDLG branded products in Morocco, will continue to act under the new direction of SMT.
“Our colleagues at Volvo Maroc have built up the Volvo CE business in Morocco almost from scratch over the last 10 years and benefited from a close assocation with the strong Volvo Truck brand image in the country,” says Tomas Kuta, president of Volvo CE’s Europe, Middle East and Africa sales region. “We now feel that further growth would be best achieved by a strong independent dealer, one that can offer the right investments and give the opportunity to develop new business and achieve economies of scale as part of a large group in North West Africa.”
“With many years of experience doing business in North and West Africa, and with a clear vision for growth in the region, SMT is an ideal partner to take over and grow the Volvo CE business in Morocco,” Kuta concludes.
Jérôme Barioz, CEO of SMT adds: “With a lot of respect for what has been achieved so far by the Volvo teams, we are delighted to take this new challenge that strengthens again our relationship with Volvo. SMT is committed to take the Volvo CE business to a new step offering the highest standards in services for the success of the Moroccan customers”.
