In an industry where downtime can mean the difference between profit and loss, bus operators across Australia know that reliable access to high-quality spare parts is essential.
Whether it’s a sudden breakdown on the side of the road or a routine maintenance schedule, having the right components on hand can make or break a fleet’s productivity and profitability.
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That’s why Challenger Bus and Coach has made it a priority to ensure their customers can source critical spare parts quickly and cost-effectively.
Australasian Bus and Coach Parts stocks everything you need, offering an extensive inventory of parts not just for Challenger vehicles, but for all major bus brands operating across the country.
“Challenger was created with operators in mind, so when establishing Australasian Bus and Coach Parts, we wanted to ensure operators needs were front of mind,” Challenger national sales and spare parts manager Mark Collins told ABC.
“Parts are something that are always going to be required, and we know there’s nothing worse for operators than having a bus off the road and being unable to get parts.
“That’s why we hold a comprehensive range of critical parts right here in Australia, ensuring swift overall client support.”
Through Challenger CEO Greg Sloan’s connections, the business has been able to establish a network that can source spare parts of many brands quickly and at a good rate. Passing this onto customers, the business acts as a local connection.
Collins says Challenger customers are finding value in being able to talk to an Australian company to source international bus and coach parts. As inquiries and demand have grown, Challenger has sought to keep all Challenger parts in stock in Australia while also sourcing high volume, popular parts for other brands.
“And if a customer can’t find the exact part they need in stock? No problem,” Collins says.
“We can provide a guaranteed lead time and fixed price to get the part delivered straight to the customer’s door.”
Challenger’s deep relationships with national supplier networks, including industry leaders like Cummins, ZF and Allison, give it unparalleled access to a vast array of running gear components.
This allows it to provide customers with reliable access to everything from engines and transmissions to suspensions and brakes.
“We understand that most operators have buses from varied brands, and it can take a lot of time and patience to source particular parts for each,” Collins says.
“Instead of having operators bouncing around to different shops and online, they can come and get everything directly from Australasian Bus and Coach Parts.”
But it’s not just the breadth of its parts inventory that sets Challenger apart. The company also offers heavily discounted retail pricing on common service items like filters, belts, wheel bearings and brake linings. This helps operators keep their maintenance costs down and their buses on the road.
“We don’t want to charge operators an inflated cost and make their lives harder when there is already so much going on,” Collins says.
“We simply charge them what the part would cost us to buy.”
It’s this unwavering commitment to its customers that has earned Australasian Bus and Coach Parts a reputation as a true industry leader. By putting parts availability at the forefront of its business model, it is ensuring that bus operators across Australia can keep their fleets running smoothly, no matter the challenge.
“Customers have loved the service so far as it minimises downtime and allows operators to put their time and focus into other issues,” he says.
“Nobody wants to spend days running around tracking down parts.”
Opening its first depot in Melbourne back in 2017, Challenger now has locations in Perth, Brisbane and most recently Sydney.
“From starting small in Melbourne, we have now been able to grow our capabilities and offerings across the country,” Collins says.
“We’ve found success at the current depots, and it is encouraging us to continue to expand our reach.”
While the current depots are mainly used as spare parts holdings, the team hopes the time will come where they can offer a full suite of services.
“All depots are used to hold stock of buses and significant stock of parts,” Collins says.
“We also use them to pre-deliver the vehicles, as offices and increasingly as show rooms where operators can come and view the vehicles and take them for a test drive.
“But hopefully, when the time is right, we would love to use the depots as multi-purpose shops for customers, offering not only spare parts stock but repairs, maintenance, the whole lot.
“At the end of the day, our mission is to be a true partner to bus operators across Australia.
“If you are after spare parts at super affordable prices, please reach out to us at parts@challegnerbusandcoach.com.au or call Mark Collins on 0431 705 566.”