Triumph announced new SA importer

By Réhann

Triumph South Africa (Pty) Ltd has been appointed as the new distributor of Triumph motorcycles in South Africa. This is a joint venture between the Fury Motor Group and automotive industry veteran Bruce Allen.

The appointment is effective 1 March 2018. Allen is CEO of the new company.

Triumph SA takes over from Kawasaki Motorcycles South Africa that imported Triumph motorcycles for 23 years.

Allen says they will be importing Triumph’s adventure and touring motorcycles (Tiger 800, 1200 and Tiger Sport), roadsters (Street Triple and Speed Triple) as well as the various Bonneville derivatives (from Triumph’s so-called modern classics series) Timelines required for regulatory processes should allow the first sales of motorcycles in May 2018.

Paul Stroud, chief commercial officer of Triumph Motorcycles UK, says that the company has high aspirations for the South African market. He says the appointment of the new distributor shows that they “really mean business in the increasingly important South African market”.

“South Africans have also long had a love affair with the Triumph brand. In recent years Triumph has sold an average of 450 motorcycles per annum, enjoying a market share of 6% of the segment for motorcycles with engines larger than 500cc,” says Allen.

In its 2017 financial year, Triumph grew global revenues by £90,9m (R1,5-billion) to £498,5m (R8-billion).

Triumph is committed to ensuring that its motorcycles are presented in a premium manner.

“We have committed to building a flagship ‘Triumph World Black’ facility in Woodmead, Johannesburg,” says Allen. “Construction on the new facility will commence in May and will open to the public by December 2018.”

In the interim, Triumph will operate from South Road in Sandton, where servicing will be available from late March 2018. This is a Fury Motor Group-owned property.

The Woodmead facility will be followed by dealerships in Cape Town in 2019 and in Pretoria in 2020.

The existing Triumph dealers in Gauteng (Centurion, Edenvale and Boksburg) will continue to act as authorised Triumph service centres during construction of the new facility in Woodmead. Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth will also continue as authorised Triumph service centres.

“These dealerships used to be part of the Triumph dealership network, but will now just be authorised service centres. Because our only retail dealership will be in Johannesburg, we would gladly facilitate the sale and delivery through Triumph Johannesburg.

“All warranties on products sold by the previous Triumph retail network will remain intact on the original Triumph warranty terms for the balance of that motorcycle’s warranty. Triumph South Africa will ensure that customers’ service, parts and warranty needs are well taken care of through the appointed service network,” says Allen.

The Fury Motor Group and Allen have optimistic plans for Triumph South Africa. Fury is a diverse private motor group, representing various automotive brands in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

“The addition of Triumph motorcycles to the portfolio is an exciting venture for Fury, and in following our mission of ‘Doing the Right Thing’, we hope to ensure that Triumph enjoys the rightful position among premium motorcycle brands it deserves,” says Fury Motor Group CEO Marq Roberts.