CVC- A Legacy Built on Service
The story of CVC is about much more than trucks.
It's a story of hard work, long-standing relationships, loyal customers and the people who helped build the transport industry across the South Island. From humble beginnings to becoming one of New Zealand's leading UD Truck dealerships, our journey has always been driven by service, trust and a commitment to doing right by our customers.
The documentary below celebrates that journey, told by the people who were there. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed helping preserve this important part of our history.
Built on Strong Foundations
Southland has had a unique association with Nissan Diesel UD that is probably unrivalled anywhere else in the world.
Allan Melhop of Invercargill was the primary instigator of establishing the Nissan Diesel UD brand in New Zealand in 1965, with his company H. E. Melhops taking on the sales and service role for Southland and Otago.
Melhops became the most successful sales and service agents nationwide which resulted in those two provinces having more Nissan Diesels at work by a large margin than any other region in New Zealand.
New Zealand was the first country in the world to sell Nissan Diesel heavy trucks, and Melhops developed a particularly strong relationship with Nissan Diesel UD which resulted in Melhops helping develop the product to better suit the New Zealand operational conditions.
Melhops sold their Nissan Diesel sales and service operation to the newly formed CVC in 1985, and kept all of the Melhops sales and service staff at the time, resulting in a seamless transfer of over twenty-years of knowledge and capability of the brand, which the CVC management used as a foundation to built upon to reach their current status of a South Island-wide sales and service operation some 40 years later.
Growing with the South Island
From our beginnings in Otago and Southland, CVC has grown alongside the communities and industries we serve.
What started as a two-branch operation has grown into a South Island-wide network supporting customers from Invercargill to Nelson. Along the way we've continued to invest in our people, workshops, parts departments and technology so we can provide the level of service our customers have come to rely on.
Whether it's a single truck or an entire fleet, we understand that keeping vehicles on the road keeps businesses moving.
It's Always Been About People
While trucks have changed enormously over the past four decades, one thing has remained the same. CVC has always been a people business.
Many of our team have spent decades with the company, building trusted relationships with customers who often become lifelong friends. That knowledge and experience has been passed from one generation to the next, creating a culture where genuine service and practical advice come naturally.
It's something we're incredibly proud of, and it's one of the reasons so many customers continue to choose CVC year after year.
Looking Ahead
We're proud of our history, but we're equally excited about our future.
As the transport industry continues to evolve, so will we. By investing in our people, embracing new technology and continuing our long-standing partnership with UD Trucks, we're committed to supporting South Island transport operators for many years to come.
The trucks may have changed, but our commitment to our customers never has.
A Special Thanks
Our history is something we're incredibly proud of, and we're equally proud to have it captured so thoughtfully by Bryce Baird.
Bryce's passion for New Zealand's transport industry shines through in every minute of this documentary. His dedication to researching our history, recording the stories of those who lived it and bringing decades of memories together has created something truly special.
On behalf of everyone at CVC, thank you Bryce, for preserving our story and celebrating the people, partnerships and values that have shaped our business over the past 40 years.
Below are links to more of the archive that Bryce has beautifully curated.
