Rafael Alvarenga is the new managing director for Scania New Zealand, beginning 1 September 2021.

Alvarenga succeeds Mattias Lundholm, who recently returned to Sweden following a three-year stint in the managing director role and launching Scania NZ into the New Zealand market.

Scania significantly expanded its footprint throughout New Zealand last year with a stable of 24 nationwide service centres, of which 10 are Scania New Zealand branches and 14 are independent approved service centres.

“I am excited to start my new chapter with Scania in New Zealand and pick up where Mattias has left off,” said Alvarenga.

“I look forward to continuing the growth and success of the New Zealand business and experiencing the Kiwi culture.”

Alvarenga has worked in the automotive industry since 1996, spending eight years at Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles in Brazil before joining Scania Latin America in 2004.

For the past four years, he has been the services director at Scania India. His career with Scania has seen him perform in a variety of roles across application engineering, sales, KAM and most recently, services.

In 2005, Alvarenga graduated as an engineer, and in 2011 received an MBA in Business Management. He comes to New Zealand with his wife and three children.