AA launches Rapid Recovery Vehicle in South Island

The AA Rapaid Recovery Vehicle was launched in Queenstown. Photo: AA

One of the AA’s latest fleet innovations is hitting Queenstown roads this week – a roadside assistance vehicle capable of an ‘All-Wheels-Up’ recovery.

The Rapid Recovery Vehicle (RRV) can deploy its trailer and lift all four wheels of a broken-down vehicle weighing up to 2.4 tonnes (covering most personal vehicles) in about 10-15 minutes.

This removes the need to call for a tow truck if the vehicle can’t be mobilised at the roadside.

The Technician will then tow the broken down vehicle to the owner’s home or a place of repair.

AA Roadside Solutions General Manager Bashir Khan says this is the fifth RRV in the AA’s fleet throughout New Zealand and the first in the South Island.

“Our first RRV was piloted in Auckland back in 2021, and following a successful trial, plans were made to expand to more corners of the country where RRVs could work alongside our existing towing partners,” said Kahn.

So far, the existing RRVs have completed over 1100 tow jobs, accounting for approximately 20 percent of their total jobs. 

Khan says as vehicle models have become more complex with new technologies, it can sometimes be more of a challenge to get Members’ vehicles mobilised on the roadside despite AA Service Officers’ decades of experience.

“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 said.

“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 break down.”