Commercial vehicle parts supplier Whites Diesels has been appointed as the new Daewoo bus distributor for Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
The news was flagged to Truck and Bus News serveral months ago by the new general manager of the Whites bus operation, Lou Riccardi and we were asked to sit on the news until all the paperwork was signed and confirmed.
The news has since been sent out to state bus association journals and it has been confirmed that Whites is now distributing the Korean brand down under.
Whites’ CEO Klaus Hann said the appointment is an exciting opportunity for Whites and comes at a time when the company needed to expand its operation.
“After more than 25 years in the market as one of the country’s primary European parts suppliers for leading bus and truck marques we needed to expand our operation,” Klaus Hann said.
“Whites Commercial Vehicles will be responsible for all future bus and chassis sales, spare parts distribution, service and technical back-up for current and future Daewoo bus operators.
“The operation will be headed up by Lou Riccardi, who brings 30 years’ bus experience to the team and will be responsible for driving the new venture forward,” Hann added.
Daewoo buses were previously distributed in Australia by Asia Motors, which held the distribution rights to Daewoo Bus for many years up until 2017 when the company went into liquidation.
Lour Riccardi, was previously the general manager of Asia Motors for 12 years up until its liquidation in 2017 and was the financial controller for seven years prior to that. He joined Whites in January this year to establish the new distributorship.
Riccardi says Whites aim is to offer the best after-sales service, spare parts and technical back-up.
“The Whites’ team has more than 25 years’ of bus industry experience, capability and know-how and is backed by seven branches around Australia, which ensures a great platform to service current and future customers promptly and efficiently,” he added.
Whites says it has negotiated with overseas and local bus body builders and can satisfy the unique needs of Australian operating conditions with a focus on quality, reliability and value for money.
“We intend to develop buses of the highest standard and build quality, “ said Riccardi.
Whites was founded in 1991 by Darryl White originally specialising in used Mercedes-Benz parts before opening its first branch in Sydney when it started importing brand-new parts in 1998.
The company now has seven branches around Australia as an importer of new parts and it is one of the country’s leading bus and truck parts suppliers, shipping across the Asia-Pacific.
