DAF Trucks has pledged that prices on all new UK orders for LF, CF and XF vehicles will remain secured for vehicles built by the end of February 2021.
The Dutch manufacturer made the pledge ahead of the government’s announcement on whether there will be a Brexit deal between the UK and EU or not, which is expected on 15 October.
Despite the threat of import tariffs brought about by a potential no-deal Brexit, and the potential of a devalued pound against the euro, DAF Trucks has moved to ‘deliver a level of certainty during a period of uncertainty’.
DAF Trucks is the only heavy truck manufacturer that builds the vast majority of its vehicles in the UK. Most right-hand-drive DAF LF, CF and XF trucks are built at Leyland Trucks in Lancashire, which, in the event of a deal not being struck, will mean DAF buyers would not face whole-vehicle import tariffs.
With DAF Trucks’ order books already filled for 2020 production, this pledge gives pricing certainty for operators needing new vehicles in the first part of 2021. They will also be able to configure the specification to their needs, rather than risk a compromise if taking a vehicle from pre-built stock.
DAF Trucks is also bolstering its inventory at its UK Parts Distribution Centre – also at Leyland Trucks – while also adding two weeks supplementary stock across the UK’s 130-location DAF Dealer network to mitigate against any potential cross-border supply-chain delays. Similar action is being taken at DAF Trucks’ parts centre in Eindhoven in anticipation of a no-deal outcome.
DAF Trucks believes these pre-emptive moves will inject some confidence into the market for new vehicle acquisitions, as truck sales director, Russell Patmore, explained: “In addition to the fears brought about by the ongoing health emergency in the UK,” he says, “operators also face Brexit anxieties. We hope our price assurance will deliver a level of certainty during a period of uncertainty.
“The potential consequences of tariffs have contributed to a strong order intake and production slots for this year are now filled. As a UK manufacturer, and if tariffs are imposed, they will be far less impactful than those experienced by our competitors on whole-vehicle imports.
“Despite the fact that truck prices are expected to increase in the UK in general, we’re prepared to commit to firm competitive pricing. We want to support operators and in so doing, inject some confidence into the market.”