Author Archives: Van Rental

Used Van Prices Rise In December as Supply Shortage Bites

1 Reply

If you’ve been following the story of used van prices at auction over the last few months, it will come as no surprise to you that BCA’s average auction values for vans rose in December, resuming the upward path they have been on since August, barring a minor blip in November.

However, there was at least some logic to the increase in December — average age and mileage fell over the month to 55.9 months and 78,700 miles respectively , thanks to a higher proportion of good quality fleet and lease stock than usual.

BCA average used LCV prices at auction, 2010 - 2012 (courtesy of BCA)

BCA average used LCV prices at auction, 2010 – 2012 (courtesy of BCA)

Prices rising ahead of inflation

If you look at the bigger picture — always a good idea — then the news isn’t so good. A shortage of good quality supply (caused by a long-term slowdown in new registrations) means that used van prices are rising far ahead of inflation.

According to the latest figures from BCA, December 2012 was ahead of December 2011 by £461 or 10.7%, with age virtually static and mileage rising over the period.  That’s 10.7% inflation for a van with more miles on it.

Year-on-year table: All vans

All vans Avg Age Avg Mileage Avg Value Sale vs CAP
Dec 2011 56.08 76,495 £4,275 98.56%
Dec 2012 55.93 78,793 £4,736 101.12%

Duncan Ward BCA’s General Manager – Commercial Vehicles commented:

“The stock shortage is a long term issue and is unlikely to change until new van volumes pick up significantly and the economy improves enough to generate a bigger churn of vehicles in the marketplace.”

“Overall, 2012 saw steady value growth in the used LCV market, with average values ahead of those seen in 2011.  Buyer confidence is fairly fragile and there is a lot of buying to order, but competition for the best quality vans is driving values up.   Currently there appears to be little on the horizon that is going to change those market conditions, but with the continuing economic pressures and reduced business confidence it remains to be seen if we see the same robust value growth in 2013 that was experienced in 2012.”

The problem is that even if new van registrations rise — which doesn’t seem likely — this increased supply will take several years to feed through to the secondary market, during which time supply pressures will continue to keep used values high.

Still, it’s good news for large van hire companies and other operators who do renew their fleets regularly — rising used values means that the total cost of ownership falls.

Vauxhall Tops UK CV Manufacturing League For 11th Year

Leave a reply
Vauxhall Vivaro - built in Britain

Vauxhall Vivaro – built in Britain

Vauxhall built over 58,000 vans in the UK last year, making it Britain’s number one commercial vehicle manufacturer for the 11th year running.

The Luton-based company makes both the Vivaro van and the Astravan in the UK, at its Luton and Ellesmere Port factories respectively. The bulk of the 58,000 vans were Vivaros, 53,465 of which rolled off the Luton production line last year.

It’s unfortunate that there isn’t much volume manufacturing competition for Vauxhall in the UK.

With Ford winding down Transit production at Southampton and the big French and German manufacturers unlikely to ever locate factories in the UK, the only hope is that the range of bus and smaller CV manufacturers located here will continue to thrive.

Of these, the most notable is probably DAF, which continues to build lorries in Leyland and produced 14,568 in 2011, the last year for which I could find official SMMT figures.

Still, at least Vauxhall has already guaranteed that the next generation Vivaro will be built at Luton from 2014 and Ellesmere Port will be the lead European manufacturing plant for the next Astra when it starts production in 2015. It looks like the company is determined to extend its 110-year history of UK vehicle manufacturing a little longer yet.

Beware Of Fake Europcar Emails Spreading A Virus Attack

Leave a reply

A new virus is doing the rounds that is being spread by fake emails pretending to come from Europcar. Anyone who has recently booked a car or van with Europcar could easily be taken in — but these emails do not come from Europcar and should not be opened.

The virus is a ‘Trojan horse’ that will affect Windows computers and comes with a zip file attached.

We’ve received several today (16/01/2013) – they look something like this:

Subject: Europcar invoice 215223418558

The body of the email often includes text like this:
Please find your Invoice attached.
This is an automated message, please do not reply to this email.
Should you require further information, please contact Europcar UK Customer Services by emailing to CustomerServicesUK@europcar.com
<mailto:CustomerServicesUK@europcar.com>.
Best Regards,
Europcar UK Ltd

Attached file: EuropCar Invoice.zip

*These emails do not come from Europcar and are malicious. They are being sent by criminal hackers to infect your computer.*

Don’t save or open the zip file attached to the email — just delete the email.

New Pictures: Toyota Proace (Hiace replacement)

2 Replies
Toyota Proace in underground car park

The 1.94m roof height of the new Proace means that it will fit in many (but not all!) underground car parks.

Toyota has released new pictures of its upcoming Proace medium van, which will replace the discontinued Hiace.

The Proace is based on the Peugeot Expert/Citroën Dispatch and will be built at PSA Peugeot Citroën’s Sevelnord factory in northern France.

Production starts in April and the Proace will be available in two lengths and two heights, giving load capacities ranging from 5 cubic metres to 7 cubic metres and payloads from 1,000kg to 1,200kg.

The Proace will be fitted with Euro 5 engines, presumably PSA units, that will offer power outputs ranging from 89bhp to 161bhp, depending on the market and model.

Like the donor van, the Proace will be available in panel van, crew cab and window van (people carrier) versions, and a range of options will be available.

The Proace is due to go on sale in the UK in Sprin 2012, with deliveries starting during the second quarter of 2012.

British Gas Adds 138 Nissan Primastars To Fleet

1 Reply
Nissan Primastar in British Gas livery

One of British Gas’ new Nissan Primastar vans, which will be used by the company’s service engineers.

British Gas has taken delivery of 138 Nissan Primastar vans for its home and business fleets, in a vote of confidence for Nissan as a fleet van supplier 

Nissan has delivered 138 short and long-wheelbase Primastar medium vans to bolster the energy provider’s service fleet.  The British Gas home services division has taken delivery of 80 Primastars and the remaining 58 for its business services division.

All of the vans are in British Gas cyan blue and thanks to the support of Sunderland-based Nissan’s  Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) the vans were able to be equipped with internal racking to house the engineer’s tools and parts, a telematics system and an impactful livery .

Over five years of service each Primastar will cover up to 90,000 miles en route to delivering maintenance services to businesses and residential homes across the country. The deal comes after British Gas successfully trialled the Nissan e-NV200 last year as part of its ambition to switch 10% of its 14,000 LCV fleet to electric over the next three years.

British Gas general fleet manager Colin Marriott said:

“We’re delighted with the new Primastars and the conversion work to fit racking, telematics and striking liveries.  Throughout this deal the professional support from Nissan has been excellent and they are now proving to be a serious LCV fleet manufacturer.  The e-NV200 trial was a success and we’re happy to continue to build our relationship with Nissan with these new Primastars.”

Jon Pollock, Nissan’s corporate sales director said:

“This is a prestigious order that underlines our commitment to LCV growth .  The Primastar is an ideal van for British Gas and the engineers will enjoy the good levels of driver comfort and ample load space to carry all of their tools and equipment.  With SVO’s support on the conversion we were able to ensure that British Gas has taken delivery of some excellent bespoke vehicles without impacting the vehicle warranty.”

Nissan has never been a big player in the UK van fleet or van hire sector — but deals like this could help change operators’ perception of the brand, especially if it is able to deliver large number of pre-converted vans to fleet customers.

Europcar Launches New Year Sale!

2 Replies

Europcar logoSales shopping doesn’t have to mean trawling the high street for bargains. This year, Europcar has got in on the act too and is offering up to 50% off car hire and up to 20% off van hire for bookings made between 2nd and 31st January for reservations up to 31st August, excluding the Easter period.

“We’re getting in on the act in the January sales” explained Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group.  “After the expense of the festive season, we’re aiming to help our customers stay on the move for less in 2013.”

For more details, visit Europcar’s website now for full details, prices and bookings.

Ford Transit Custom Provides Clear Vision For Window Cleaner

Leave a reply
Andrew Wilkinson of H2O Cleaning Contractors takes delivery of the First Ford Transit Custom sold in the UK

Andrew Wilkinson of H2O Cleaning Contractors takes delivery of the First Ford Transit Custom sold in the UK

The first all-new Ford Transit Custom sold in the UK has been put to work by a high-tech window cleaning service.

Andrew Wilkinson, owner of H2O Cleaning Contractors in Lincoln, bought – and drove away the same day – a Ford Transit Custom from Evans Halshaw Ford dealership, making him the first customer to take delivery of Ford’s award-winning van.

The Transit Custom is well-suited to independent vehicle operators’ offering strong residual values, a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and class-leading load-carrying ability. The vehicle comes with the improved 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine available with Auto-Start-Stop, which provides class-leading fuel economy and CO2 emissions from 178g/km.*

Andrew said: “I am very impressed with how the Ford Transit Custom has been engineered and the large payload it can carry, meeting our need to carry a half-tonne water tank in the back.  It drives more like a car than a van and the fuel economy I’m getting is excellent.”

David Petts, Ford Britain Transit marketing manager, said: “The new Transit Custom offers a complete package to a wide range of customers and we are delighted to add H2O Cleaning to them. Its fresh looks, innovative design features and attention to detail, combined with its car-like interior and driving dynamics make it an attractive purchase.”

The Transit Custom is the first of several Ford commercial vehicle models to be introduced that will form a whole new line-up by 2014. It features a number of new loadspace features such as the load-through hatch in the bulkhead for extra-long items, and the integrated roof rack which can be folded away when not in use. The driver also benefits from the latest Ford technologies such as Lane Keeping Aid and Ford SYNC.

The new Transit Custom range is available from £17,495.

Mercedes-Benz Citan Now Available To Order

3 Replies
Mercedes-Benz Citan small van

The new Mercedes-Benz Citan is now available to order in the UK

Mercedes’ new Citan small van is now available to order in the UK, with prices starting from £13,095 — or £6.95 per day under the terms of a special offer the German manufacturer is currently promoting!

The Citan offers a payload of up to 735kg, load volume of up to 3.8 m3 and a choice of 75hp or 90hp engine options, including a 108CDI BlueEFFICIENCY model, which features the Stuttgart manufacturer’s latest low-emission technology and can achieve up to 65.7 mpg with emissions as low as 112 g/km CO2.

It’s also available in three lengths, Compact, Long and Extra Long with load volumes of up to 2.4 m3, 3.1 m3 and 3.8 m3 respectively.

Although the Citan’s front end is unmistakeably Mercedes, the Citan is actually a badge-engineered Renault Kangoo.

Steve Bridge, Van Sales and Marketing Director for Mercedes-Benz UK, said:

“The new Citan is certainly creating a stir within the van industry. Right from the day we released the first sketches the level of interest was and has been relentless.

We have a lot of interest across the entire Citan model range and we’re now in a position as a manufacturer to offer a compact van, capable of carrying up to 735 kg with a small footprint, which is ideal for both retail and business customers.”

Prices for the Citan start from as little as £13,095 for the 108 CDI Compact, and the Citan is available with a wide range of options, including five option packages that should cover most people’s requirements: Drivers Pack, Safety Pack, Appearance Pack, Cargo Pack and Flexibility Pack.

*Business users only.

Ford And Vauxhall Vie For UK Van Market Leadership

1 Reply
Vauxhall Vivaro - built in Britain

Vauxhall Vivaro - built in Britain

Despite the gloomy van registration statistics released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) this week, the battle between the UK’s two ‘homegrown’ van manufacturers shows no signs of letting up.

Small businesses love Vauxhalls

In 2012, Vauxhall maintained its position as the most popular van manufacturers with retail buyers; small business and private customers who buy direct from a Vauxhall dealer.

The Luton-based manufacturer sold over 11,000 vehicles to small businesses.  Market share was 16%, with Vauxhall topping the monthly retail sales charts in March, April, September and December.

Ford is fleet favourite

Ford, on the other hand, remains the most popular commercial vehicle manufacturer overall, with the Brentwood-based company accounting for one in every five commercial vehicles sold in the UK in 2012.

Although the British-built Vauxhall Vivaro was the most popular medium van in the retail segment, the Ford Transit dominated the medium van sector overall, accounting for 30% of all medium vans sold in 2012, up from 26.8% in 2011: it is a fine van, and much newer than the current Vivaro design, which is due for replacement.

It’s a pity that Transits aren’t going to be made in Southampton anymore, especially as Vauxhall has managed to keep Vivaro manufacturing at Luton .

What do you drive?

Some people get very passionate when debating the relative merits of Fords and Vauxhalls. Leaving German brands aside, which do you prefer?

Personally, I’ve owned three Fords (one car and two Transits) and one Vauxhall (car) so far in my life and there has been nothing between them in terms of reliability and running costs — although I have to admit that I’ve liked my Fords more than I liked my old Vectra…

Van Registrations Down 7.9% In 2012

1 Reply

Van registrations fell by 7.9% in 2012, according to the latest statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Van registrations slumped 14.2% in December 2012, capping off a pretty dire year which saw total UK van registrations fall by 7.9% from 260,153 to 239,641.

The latest SMMT figures reveal that the biggest falls were in registrations of vans with a maximum permitted weight of under 2.0t, which fell by 11.4% in 2012. Registrations of larger vans with a maximum permitted weight of between 2.0t and 2.5t fell by 8.5%, while those between 2.5t and 3.5t fell by 7.0%.

4x4s fared best, with new 4×4 registrations dropping by just 6.0% from 2011 levels, albeit on low volumes — just 6,279 4x4s registered as light commercial vehicles (i.e. van models) were sold in 2012.

UK van and truck registrations: 2012 and % change on 2011

December %
change		 Year-to-
date		 %
change		 Rolling
year		 %
change
Vans 15,805 -14.2% 239,641 -7.9% 239,641 -7.9%
Trucks 3,579 -22.4% 45,702 6.4% 45,702 6.4%
Total 19,384 -15.8% 285,343 -5.9% 285,343 -5.9%

This graph shows how the type mix and total volume of light commercial vehicles has changed over the last three years, falling strongly in 2012 after the start of an apparent recovery in 2011:

UK CV registrations <3.5t, the type mix from 2010 - 2012

UK CV registrations <3.5t, the type mix from 2010 - 2012 (graph courtesy of SMMT)

A gloomy picture

The big fall in vans over 2.0t is clearly shown, disappointing those who thought that 2011 marked the start of a recovery in the UK’s light commercial vehicle market. December’s year-end figures didn’t provide any indicator of a recovery this year, either, with overall van registrations falling by 14.2% in the final month of the year.

Indeed, new registrations in every single class of commercial vehicle — from light vans to heavy rigid trucks and 3-axle artices — all fell in December, dropping by an aggregate of 15.8%, to round off a year in which total commercial vehicle registrations fell by 5.9%.

Looking at the year as a whole, sales of artics fell by 7.2% last year, but the only CV category to end the year with an overall gain was rigid trucks, sales of which rose by 16.6% overall in 2012.

The biggest gains came in the 3.5t – 6.0t weight category, where new registrations rose by 28.8%. These models are often large vans, and this gain is perhaps a sign that van operators are getting serious about compliance with weight regulations.

The graph below shows how registrations of all types of CV tailed off towards the end of the year:

SMMT: van and truck registrations, rolling year Dec 2007 - Dec 2012

SMMT: van and truck registrations, rolling year Dec 2007 - Dec 2012 (graph courtesy of SMMT)

I’ll leave the final word to SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt, who is a more optimistic man than I:

“The commercial vehicle market ended 5.9% down on 2011 as business confidence wavered. Vans have struggled all year with just under 240,000 registered while truck volumes tailed-off towards the end of the year. We look forward to 2013 being a better year for the commercial vehicle market with a host of new products and innovative technologies boosting registrations.”