BCSA HANDS OVER BLKBONLUCK BUS REINS
THE QUEENSLAND-BASED Australian distributor for Chinese-made BLK-Bonluck buses has ‘passed over the baton’ to new operators, it’s announced, with BLK factory operations commencing locally in February.
The new company called BLK Auto will be headed by Jason Pecotic – also GM of Optare and Higer bus distributor Bus Corp Oceania and CEO of Hyzon fuel-cell bus distributor HDrive.
PAYING TRIBUTE
The move by BLK to establish its own operation in Australia has been made to enable the company to pivot to an electric and hydrogen fuel-cell bus operation and to give it the resources and backing to put it on a footing for a zero emission future, the company states.
BLK director Ken Lee congratulated BCSA on the work it has done during the past 14 years.
“Under the Bonluck name, BCSA has done a commendable job at pioneering and building sales of BLK product into the Australian and New Zealand bus and coach industry and establishing a strong reputation for reliability, dependability and back-up,” said Lee.
EASY OFFER
Aldridge has more than 40 years’ experience as a company director and in senior management roles for both private and public companies, as well as contracting to transport authorities across Australia. He is the current committee chair and been involved with Australian Standards for more than 40 years, BLK Auto states.
As managing director of BLK Auto Australia, Pecotic brings more than two decades of experience in the automotive industry, including roles in pioneering other automotive brands in this country.
“I have long respected the BLK brand, and as a result when the opportunity to be a part of the new operation came about I could not pass it up,” he said.
“The pivot to zero-emission bus technology is an enormous opportunity and, with the backing of BLK, we will have the resources and expertise to take the brand to a new level in Australia.
“BLK is already a key part of one of Australia’s first hydrogen fuel-cell-powered bus orders, providing President 2 glider chassis for the winning tender with Hyzon Motors for Fortescue’s initial 10-bus order, for its mining operations in the Pilbara of Western Australia.
“BLK Auto will also be distributing a new range of JAC Battery EV trucks, the first of which are set to arrive in Australia within the next two months to start trials with a number of online home delivery retailers,” Pecotic added.
While BLK Auto will continue to be based in Queensland, it is immediately looking to appoint a Victorian sales representative along with a group general manager to oversee the sales and distribution throughout Australia and NZ, the company states.