AA launches South Island first

The AA has launched its latest rapid recovery vehicle (RRV) in Queenstown this week, with the roadside assistance van capable of an “all-wheels-up” recovery.

The RRV can deploy its trailer and lift all four wheels of a broken-down vehicle weighing up to 2.4 tonnes in about 10-15 minutes, which removes the need to call for a tow truck. AA technicians will then tow the vehicle to members’ homes or a place of repair.

Bashir Khan, AA roadside solutions general manager, says the new RRV is the fifth in its nationwide fleet and the first in the South Island.

Its first RRV was piloted in Auckland in 2021 and since then the fleet has grown and completed more than 1100 tow jobs, which is about 20 per cent of their total work.

Khan says as vehicles have become more complex with new technologies, it can sometimes be more challenging to get members’ vehicles mobilised on the roadside.

“Our technicians will first attempt to mobilise the vehicle with the usual tools they carry, however if this is not possible, this is where the RRV comes in handy,” he explains.

“The technician can simply deploy the RRV’s trailer and tow the vehicle, eliminating the need to call out a separate tow truck saving motorists’ time if they breakdown.”