Allison Transmission expands West African network

US company Allison Transmission has expanded its service network across West Africa

It has formed a new strategic partnership with Services Machinery Trucks (SMT) Ghana, a leading service provider for Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Trucks, Terex, Hitachi, Dongfeng Trucks, SDLG and Dressta.

The agreement designates SMT Ghana as an Allison Authorised Dealer.

Allison Transmission designs and manufactures propulsion solutions for both commercial and defence vehicles and is a global manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmission systems.

In a statement, the company said the tie-up with SMT marks a “significant step” in the growth of its African service network.

“Based in Accra since 2012, SMT Ghana’s recognised excellence in construction, transport and mining vehicles and equipment services makes the company an ideal partner for Allison,” it said in a statement.

“This partnership will enable Allison to increase the expert technical support and service it provides across the region. The company's expertise will also help ensure access to Allison Genuine Parts, Allison Approved Fluids and extended warranty coverage.”

Allison’s authorised service network now has approximately 1,600 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide.

The company separately announced a similar expansion of its service network in Japan, reflecting what it called a “commitment to delivering global customer support and service accessibility to the increasing fielded population of customers and applications using Allison propulsion solutions" outside North America.

"Our efforts to form new channel partnerships are part of Allison's broader strategy to bolster our global service network, which is currently comprised of approximately 1,600 independent dealer and distributor locations,” said Rohan Barua, vice-president, North America sales, global channel and aftermarket at Allison Transmission.

“As we continue to see significant growth in preference for fully automatic transmissions outside North America, strengthening our service network is key to supporting our growing global customer base.”

Barua added that the new partnerships in Japan and West Africa will ensure the company delivers in an “increasing fielded population driven by growth initiatives in Allison’s outside North America on-highway, off-Highway and defence end markets.”

Allison products are commonly used in a wide variety of applications, including on-highway vehicles (distribution, refuse, construction, agriculture, fire and emergency), buses (school, transit and coach), motorhomes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (energy, mining and construction applications) and defence vehicles (tactical wheeled and tracked).

Headquartered in Indianapolis in the USA, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil, alongside manufacturing facilities in the USA, Hungary and India.