Mr Delivery, known these days simply as Mr D, has purchased 60 Mahindra 3-wheeler load carrier vehicles to service a new contract for the Pick n Pay Online Shopping Delivery service, operating from the multitude of Mr D hubs in the country.

Mr D director David Chait says that the Mahindra vehicles had been purchased specifically to service the Pick n Pay business. They are fitted with specially designed, lockable canopies that are able to handle the expected volume of packages.

“We have always been aware of the cost effectiveness of these 3-wheelers which are a popular and efficient means of delivering goods in many cities around the world and we believe they are ideal for the Pick n Pay contract,” said Chait.

 “We have selected Mahindra SA as the vehicle supplier due to the fact that it is a reputable company with a growing dealer network. It has a good footprint in the urban areas to provide the necessary service and parts supply. The vehicles themselves are robust and return very good fuel economy, while being keenly priced,” added Chait.

The fleet of 60 Mahindra 3-wheelers, which is expected to grow in the future, is dedicated to the Pick n Pay business with most journeys being 5km to10km in distance operating from the national footprint of Mr D hubs.

Deliveries are made to the Mr D hubs by trucks and then packed into the 3-wheelers for localised deliveries, using the hub and spoke transport model.

Mr Delivery was founded in 1992, with David Chait and Alon Rom buying into the company three years ago. A 60% shareholding in the company has been sold subsequently to the Cape Town-based online retailer: www.Takealot.com.

Mr D delivers between 85 000 and 100 000 items a month via the 48 franchise network, which employs 800 drivers nationwide that operate until 22:00 each day.

“We are delighted that Mr D has chosen our Mahindra 3-wheelers for this new project and we are confident that they will provide the solution for this localised transport operation. These vehicles have low running costs, are easy to drive, and they have been tested extensively in a similar environment in many locations in the world,” said the CEO of Mahindra SA, Ashok Thakur.

The Mahindra 3-wheelers are powered by a 400cm³ air-cooled diesel engine developing 5.5kW of power and 16,7N.m of torque. The manual transmission has four forward speeds and one reverse.

The vehicle is of monocoque construction with a cab and doors. It can carry a load in excess of 500kg. A long wheelbase and independent suspension on all three wheels provide a comfortable ride and good roadholding. The dual circuit front and rear drum brakes are auto adjusting.

“We are sure this pilot operation by Mr D will result in many other companies in South Africa seeing our 3-wheelers as the ideal transport solution for many urban deliveries,” added Thakur.