UD Trucks has reported a stellar 2021 in the Middle East, East and North Africa in 2021 with sales growth of around 30% in the region – a five-fold expansion on its growth figures for the previous year.

The Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer, part of the Volvo Group, said this continues the upward trend for the brand in the region, where it had experienced 6% growth in 2020. The star market for growth in the region in 2021 continued to be Bahrain, where UD Trucks saw an increase of around 40%, reinforcing the brand’s number one status in the country it considers among its flagship markets.

Other markets to also record increases in sales include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan and a number of countries in East Africa. While sales increased by 30% in Qatar, they were up by 24% in Saudi Arabia, which is UD Trucks’ biggest market by volume in the region. The UAE, which hosted the regional launch of the brand’s Euro 5 models, registered an increase of 22% compared to 2020.

Outside the Middle East, UD Trucks earned positive traction in Pakistan and registered significant growth in East Africa in 2021, where a number of strategic deals for both heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks were signed, despite the challenging business climate.

Mourad Hedna, president of UD Trucks for MEENA, said: “The resilience our brand showed in 2020, built around a consistent and comprehensive strategy and supported by our strong regional partners, provided a solid platform for us to build on in 2021."

"Registering about a 30% sales increase in one year is a remarkable feat. I am grateful to the UD Trucks MEENA team, our customers, partners, and stakeholders throughout the region for their hard work and dedication.”

According to UD Trucks, the growth came as a result of a “fantastic collaboration and coordinated effort by UD Trucks and its partners throughout the region and their joint focus on supporting UD customers”.

The introduction of the Euro 5 range and upgrades to the Euro 3 line-up, a strong retail network and partnerships, and the impact of its ‘Better Life’ strategy, all played significant roles in UD Trucks’ success in the region, sad a statement from the company.

“UD Trucks’ widest-ever range, which covers almost all segments in the heavy-duty and medium-duty truck sector, and the nature of the brand’s product portfolio have also been crucial factors in this growth,” added the company’s statement.

UD Trucks said that its range has been developed to meet the market’s needs by covering all key segments in the industry. The company has also focused on launching new trucks that enhance profitability for customers by lowering the total cost of ownership. This includes the introduction of upgraded Euro 3 models as well as the new Euro 5 range of UD Trucks’ popular Quester and Croner trucks.

The launch of the Euro 5 models is a result of UD Trucks’ strategic vision and objective to ensure peace-of-mind for its customers by allowing them to better prepare for running more environmentally-friendly fleets as new regulations are introduced across the fast-developing region, said the company.

The new range reduces NOx emissions by about 43% compared to Euro 4 models while providing an enhanced driving experience and safety. The upgrades to the Euro 3 trucks are centred around creating a more driver-centric experience. They receive similar upgrades to the Euro 5 range, including a new instrument cluster, the Escot automated manual transmission, body builder module and the UD Trucks Telematics Services.

UD Trucks also said that its regional dealer network was another factor in its improved market performance. The brand’s dealers are committed to “providing and delivering the highest quality customer service and aftersales support” supported by comprehensive warranty offers and readily available spare parts, said the manufacturer. UD Trucks’ Telematics services allow its customers and retail partners to follow the trucks’ performances over time, creating a closer relationship with the brand’s customers, it added.

UD Trucks also implemented its ‘Better Life’ strategy in 2021, through which it “demonstrated its commitment to providing sustainable logistics solutions and to delivering a better life for both people and the planet”. This strategy reflects UD Trucks’ objective to becoming a Japanese leader of sustainability in the industry, said the company.