The company has taken a long-term ground lease on a 2.4ha site with a strong road frontage presence on Ruakura Road to showcase the commercial services it will offer from late 2025.
Sime Darby Motors NZ is part of the multinational Sime Darby Berhad, which has operations in 18 countries across the Asia Pacific region and a workforce of 30,000 employees.
Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua, Chair of Tainui Group Holdings (TGH), welcomes the company to Ruakura, highlighting the two organisations’ common commitment to invest in the local economy and its people.
"Sime Darby Motors has been steadily building its business across Aotearoa for 25 years to now boast more than 80 locations and 1,200 staff. They are making a major, long-term investment into our country and our region, and we look forward to working alongside them as we continue to grow and build Ruakura as a regional hub of economic growth.”
The Commercial division of Sime Darby Motors is made up of 11 businesses that underpin the transport industry value chain from end to end. The business supplies trucks and materials handling equipment supported by a nationwide aftersales network, parts sales and distribution operation serving body builders, transport operators, and the public.
“The Ruakura Superhub site will become our largest truck service centre in the North Island and is part of our ongoing programme of growth and investment in New Zealand,” says Pat McKenna, Sime Darby Motors NZ Managing Director.
The site is strategically located with direct access to the Waikato Expressway and around 1km from the Ruakura Inland Port, connecting the three major economic nodes of the North Island, Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga (Golden Triangle).
“This represents significant investment in a key area for our truck servicing customers as the Golden Triangle sees over 40% of New Zealand’s total freight movement,” says McKenna.
Chris Joblin, TGH chief executive, says the new Sime Darby facility will add great value to the growing logistics ecosystem at Ruakura Superhub.
"The addition of another key player in the transport industry will add depth, strength and resilience to enhance Ruakura’s value proposition as a comprehensive logistics hub,” Joblin says.
The new facility will house multiple Sime Darby Motors NZ businesses including a flagship Volvo showroom, a 14 bay (2600 sqm) truck service centre to support Sime Darby Motors’ four truck franchises (Volvo, Mack, Hino, and UD), plus office space, parts storage and a yard. This will be a significant addition to Sime Darby’s growing Truckstops network.
The building is targeting a Green Star 4 rating – as part of the Superhub’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. This will include provisions for solar, EV charging stations, rainwater recycling, site landscaping, end of trip amenities for employees including bicycle storage.
The consenting and design process is well underway, and once completed, the appointment for a lead construction contractor will go out to tender, including a social procurement component for iwi-owned businesses, setting the scene for construction of the new facility to start in late 2024.