Daimler Truck Own Retail has purchased Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle dealership eStar Truck & Van, acquiring six sites across Greater Manchester and Liverpool.
Announcing the deal, Daimler Truck said the acquisition marks a major milestone in the expansion of its owned retail and service centers across Europe, adding that the UK market offers “significant growth potential, especially due to its strong aftersales orientation”.
The six locations, in Knowsley, Stoke-on-Trent, Deeside, Trafford Park and Skelmersdale, will offer sales of new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks & vans, and FUSO trucks; service and genuine parts supply for Mercedes-Benz and FUSO trucks, Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses and Mercedes-Benz vans; and vehicle preparation centres.
The deal sees all of the 300-plus eStar Truck & Van employees transferred to the Daimler Truck Own Retail business. The OEM praised the staff for their “strong technical expertise, high level of commitment, and longstanding customer relationships across retail customers, fleet operators, global truck accounts, municipalities, government customers, bus operators, and bodybuilders”.
Stina Fagerman, president of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Region Europe, said: “The truck business is very complex, consultation-intensive, and characterised by strong relationships between us and our customers.
“Through our group-owned dealerships and locations, we are in close contact with them and can continuously develop our products and services. We are therefore firmly convinced that our own retail locations will continue to be critical to the success of our business in the future.”
Fagerman continued: “In the United Kingdom, where we previously had no presence with own sales and service locations, our recent acquisition of six locations has put us in an excellent position almost instantly. Investments like those in the UK will help increase the service share and thus the resilience of Mercedes-Benz Trucks.”
Volker Hüntrup, head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Own Retail, Europe, added: “Entering the UK market reinforces our commitment to being close to our customers where it matters most.
“Our new locations in the UK are situated in a strategically important region at the heart of the industrial and logistics hub of Northern England and Wales.
“With the acquisition of these six locations in the United Kingdom, we are significantly strengthening our ability to support customers with reliable, high-quality service. Investments like these are central to reinforcing our commitment to our customers and ensuring the long-term resilience of Mercedes Benz Trucks.”
Sid Sadique, eStar Truck and Van chairman, added: “I am pleased to announce the sale of eStar Truck and Van Ltd. to Daimler Truck Own Retail, an important milestone that secures a strong and stable future for our 300 employees.
“Leading eStar alongside my co‑investor Ali Sharifi and the entire eStar team has been an immensely rewarding journey. I am confident that the existing Board of Directors and our dedicated eStar colleagues will continue to serve our customers with the highest standards of care and commitment, keeping their businesses moving every day.
“Supported by Daimler Truck Own Retail Europe and its team, eStar is well positioned to build on its growth and continue delivering an exceptional level of service to its customers.”
