Europcar turns to mining to meet growing demand

MAY 2012

Leading global car rental company, Europcar, is staking its claim to Australia's booming resource industry, providing mine-equipped vehicles for major projects across the country. Traditionally a leisure and corporate passenger brand, Europcar has rapidly expanded its commercial offering, with aggressive growth plans to bolster its services throughout West Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

After years of servicing the resources industry throughout the Hunter Valley and south-east Queensland, Europcar has opened six new branches since February 2012 across Esperance, Kalgoorlie and Geraldton, specialising in mine-specced vehicle rental to meet the needs of West Australia's resource boom.

This specialist commercial vehicle offering from Europcar is designed to provide resource industries with a faster and cheaper alternative to purchasing vehicles for project requirements, particularly when vehicles are on backlog orders.

Building on its commercial expansion, Europcar is also about to open new branches in Busselton, Bunbury, Albany and Collie to supply vehicles to key industries in West Australia, including mining, construction, logistics and infrastructure.

Europcar has its sights set on the east coast too, with plans to expand the already established network of mine-equipped vehicles servicing major projects in the Hunter Valley and south-east Queensland to also accommodate projects in north and west Queensland and South Australia.

In line with Europcar's commitment to work with qualified professionals who are equipped to meet the needs of their customers, Europcar has appointed a range of industry experts to head up the new branches across the country.

Local mining expert, Rod Zakostelsky, is spearheading the company's expanding commercial operations in West Australia. And with more than 20 years' experience in mining, construction and equipment rental industries, Zakostelsky brings a wealth of first hand knowledge of the specialist requirements of the resource and construction sectors.

Zakostelsky says Europcar's increased focus on commercial vehicle rentals reflects an understanding of some of the supply challenges businesses are facing during the current resource boom, such as the shortage of vehicles as manufacturers struggle to meet purchasing demands. This backlog has triggered an increase in demand for rental vehicles, a need Europcar intends to meet as they strive to become a major player in mine-specced vehicle rental.

On the other side of the country, Europcar has been providing mine-equipped vehicles across south-east Queensland since 2008, with about 15 branches from Gold Coast to Bundaberg. Europcar's Administration Manager for south Queensland, Brian Cordes, says their vehicles are in demand right up to central Queensland, with vehicles currently onsite at Hail Creek Mine, about 120 km south west of Mackay.

Supporting Europcar's ongoing growth plans, Mark Crampton, who has worked in the automotive industry for more than 25 years, has been appointed to head up the new Toowoomba station, which will offer a brand new fleet of vehicles including the all-new Holden Colorado from June 2012. In line with Europcar's aggressive growth strategy, Crampton plans to expand into key areas around Roma and Chinchilla to support major projects throughout Queensland.

Europcar Australia and New Zealand Operations Director, Matt Barker, says Europcar is delighted to be partnering with industry experts, whose extensive experience and local knowledge make them the ideal choice to drive Europcar's commercial expansion to leverage the resource boom.

The new fleet includes trucks, dual cab utes, single cab utes, 12-seater vans and a number of 33-seater coaches, all of which meet the safety standards of construction and mine sites. As Europcar opens more branches over coming months, the company's commercial offering will only get stronger, enabling vehicles to move easily between locations to meet fluctuations in demand.

With a strong presence already established in West Australia, New South Wales and south-east Queensland and rapid expansion plans across north Queensland, Europcar is on the fast track to become entrenched in Australia's resources industry. And with extensive experience in the leisure market, Europcar has the skills and expertise to guarantee a reliable, hassle-free service tailored to customers' unique commercial needs.