Tractafric Motors,
DEVELOPMENT ROUTES

Fitting Africa

Africa means long distances, difficult roads, a low density of infrastructures… All these realities have to be considered when thinking about the mobility of the continent. Optorg and Tractafric have acquired a unique and recognized expertise in adapting constructor’s standards and services to African conditions.

DESIGNED FOR AFRICA

The Tractrafric commitment since the beginning has been to adapt the best of automobile construction to African use. The group selects the vehicles and transforms them into tailor-made products so that they are adapted to African conditions.

ALL TERRAINS

In order to meet their clients' specific needs, Tractafric teams, together with their constructor and bodywork partners, have perfected specific bus designs for the African markets. Tailor-made, these vehicles combine the advantages of elevated ground clearance and maximum space for passengers as well as luggage.

WHAT IS TROPICALISATION?

This is the adaptation of vehicles to the sometimes extreme conditions of the continent: climate, dust, tracks in corrugated metal… Modifications include raising the ground clearance, protecting the body sill, reinforcing the suspension, high-performance filtering systems for engines and enhanced-capacity cooling systems which are adapted to the extreme temperatures of African countries.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

Ambulances, armoured transportation, break-down lorries for buses, fire engines, lorries for cotton collecting…Tractafric has produced several unusual vehicles in the course of its history. Working together with constructors and bodywork specialist partners, tailor-made solutions are proposed depending on the requirement and activity of each client.

Breakdown lorry for buses.

QUALITY AS A RESPONSIBILITY

Maintenance quality and road safety are a real challenge in Africa, where the grey market makes the reliability of rolling stock non-transparent. From the beginning, Tractafric has always encouraged the circulation of vehicles that are reliable, long-lasting, safe, good-value and clean.

Dakar garage in the 70’s.

Mercedes-Benz showroom.

Tractafric Motors workshop in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

THE VIRTUOUS EFFECT ON THE VEHICLE FLEET

In a continent where many vehicles come second-hand from Europe in a used state, Tractafric plays a role in maintaining quality standards of the vehicle fleet. As an official representative of its constructor partners, it offers guaranteed service, constructor-trained mechanics, certified original spare parts, representing a guarantee that not all sellers will provide.

Clients receiving diplomas after Tractafric training in driving HGV in Guinea.

GREATER COVERAGE OF TERRITORIES

It is a challenge to serve a market as huge and disparate as Africa. To make the service it offers as homogenous as possible, Optorg has rationalized its organization to provide flexibility and reactivity.

TRAINING DRIVERS

Training sessions are proposed by Tractafric to their clients with the objective of teaching HGV drivers the techniques of safe and cost-effective driving. This service goes back to the 50’s and 60’s when a specialized training centre in Douala was created. It remains a differentiating specific service offered by the group in its markets.

DELIVERY AGAINST ALL ODDS

To make operations work where classical distribution channels are insufficient, Optorg has set up methods for direct distribution. In 2014, this allowed fast responses to the Ebola epidemic by delivering 300 ambulances to all the affected zones in record time.

Ambulance fleet awaiting delivery
at the logistics platform in Dubaï.

Workshop in Cameroon.

PROXIMITY AND REACTIVITY

Tractafric has developed its own network of subsidiaries and certified sub-distributors. Functioning in a ‘cluster’ method sets a precedent: in order to cover a whole regional area, Tractafric relies on a central office and local representatives. This model allows the rationalization of the organisation whilst maintaining proximity with people on the ground. Several constructors have identified this as a model for ensuring their representation in Africa in the best conditions.

ON-SITE
OR TAKE AWAY

Tractafric has developed a network of workshops in its markets thus ensuring technical follow-up of vehicles. This service does have its limits however for distant clients. To counter this problem, adapted solutions have been put in place with mobile workshops and vehicles fully-equipped to diagnose and repair client fleets directly on their site!