Celebrating the end of an era, UD Trucks donated the last of its U41 range, a UD 40, to the Legends Rhino Orphanage in Limpopo*.

As the last vehicle rolled off the assembly line in Rosslyn, staff gathered to see the end of an era in its MCV range, as the company embarks on its new range being introduced from 2015.

The company sold more than 13 000 units if the range since its introduction in 1996.

Rory Schultz, acting MD at UD Trucks Southern Africa, says, “Although this might be the end of our current MCV range, UD Trucks has an exciting future ahead of it.  From 2015, we will be introducing a various new models over the next number of years, which is set to not just renew our product offering to our customers, but also challenge the way one thinks about the local transport industry.”

In the company’s tradition of celebrating the last unit coming off the assembly line, management and staff wanted to mark the occasion in a significant way.

Rory adds, “Seeing that the legendary U41 range is now extinct, so to speak, we wanted to help the Rhino Orphanage prevent a living legend, the rhino, from going extinct as well.”

Aubrey Rambau, general manager of manufacturing at the assembly plant, said, “It is a privilege to get involved in an issue that affects the local community. Many of our staff members working on the assembly line have been part of the U41’s journey since its introduction 18 years ago.   We are all proud to play a role in the production of this legendary range, and even prouder that one of our vehicles will be used for such a good cause.”

*The Rhino Orphanage is a registered non-profit company based in the Limpopo Province, founded by Arrie van Deventer in 2012. The orphanage is the first specialist, dedicated, non-commercial centre that cares for orphaned or injured baby rhinos with the only aim of releasing them back into the wild.