Sime Motors NZ has announced it will sell its Hyster New Zealand business to Australian materials handling and fleet management solutions provider Adaptalift Group.

The transaction is scheduled to be completed on 28 February, 2025.

Founded in 1979, Adaptalift Group has more than 600 employees and is the exclusive Australian distributor for Hyster, Yale and Combilift forklifts. The company established its first NZ branch, in East Tamaki, in 2023.

The sale follows the acquisition, by Sime parent company Sime Darby Berhad, of Toyota Forklifts in 2023. 

Michael Doeg, general manager Sime commercial sales NZ, says that transaction “had a downstream impact on our dealership agreement with Hyster Yale in New Zealand”.

“We invested a lot of time selecting the right business to take Hyster New Zealand forward, with a key focus on offering attractive terms of employment for employees and a clear vision for the future,” says Doeg. “Adaptalift was the right fit on both counts.”

Steven Taylor, Adaptalift chief executive officer, says he is excited by the opportunity to welcome the Hyster New Zealand team to Adaptalift.

“Hyster New Zealand is a strong business with deep customer relationships, great technical expertise and a nationwide footprint,” Taylor adds. “Our initial focus is on supporting business continuity, working closely with the team and customers to ensure service levels are maintained and optimised.”