COMMERCIAL vehicle giant, MAN Truck & Bus has opened doors to its state-of-the-art facility on Gateshead’s Team Valley, as the company continues its expansion in the North-East.

Following a £20million pound investment and 11 months of building work, the 3.3 acre dealership and maintenance facility opened to customers last week at a celebratory launch event.

Featuring a dedicated maintenance workshop with 12 workshop bays and a MOT ATF test lane, the new site will operate 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday, as well as offering extensive opening hours during weekends.

It also houses a 24-hour breakdown service area and support vehicle, giving MAN Truck & Bus customers in the region will now have access to round the clock roadside support and breakdown assistance.

Thomas Hemmerich, Managing Director MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd said: “MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd has operated a wholly owned dealership in Gateshead for nearly a quarter of a century, since 1996, and throughout this time we’ve both sold vehicles to and supported our customers from our existing facility in Earlsway, Gateshead. However, as our business footprint has grown considerably across both the Tyne Valley and the surrounding areas, so has our requirement for a larger premises.

“This considerable investment in a new purpose built state-of-the-art facility clearly demonstrates our long term commitment to both the North-East and to our strong customer base in the area. The new facility will allow us to continue to grow further across the region and we’re all incredibly excited to have this opportunity.”

The new dealership was purpose developed for MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd by UK Land Estates – the largest commercial property investment and development Company in the North-East.

Tim Witty, Development Director at UK Land Estates, commented: “This is a fantastic investment by an international company in the North-East, and a real vote of confidence in the region.

“UK Land estates has partnered with MAN Truck & Bus UK in the Team Valley for more than 23 years and we are delighted to have been able to find a suitable location for the new facility within our large portfolio of development land and quickly provide a solution.

“This new facility has been designed and built to offer MAN Truck, Van, Bus and Coach operators an enhanced level of customer service and support. Being new, every aspect of the build has been scrutinised and designed to meet the requirements of today’s customers and has been futureproofed so that the company can adapt and grow well into the future.”