We’ve teamed up with vehicle hire excess insurance specialist Questor Insurance to offer vanrental.co.uk customers a great discount in April.
Questor has provided vanrental.co.uk with a 6% discount code for customers buying motor and travel policies in April.
Here are the details:
Terms and conditions may apply. See Questor website for details.
Vauxhall has unveiled two new concept vans targeting motorcycle racers. The two new vans made their debut at Donington Park race track last weekend, to mark Vauxhall’s sponsorship of the 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship.
Vauxhall Race Van concepts at Donington Park, at the opening round of the 2017 British Superbike Championship.
Both vans include workshop space suitable for a range of trade users. But the vans’ specialist appeal is that they can also be easily equipped for use as race vans — with space to transport one bike securely within the load bay.
The Vivaro Race Van Concept and the Movano Race Van Concept will be on display at all UK BSB race meetings this year.
The Vivaro Race van is based on the range-topping Vivaro Limited Edition NAV L2H1 F2900 145PS BiTurbo Start/Stop model.
Features include:
Inside the van is racked and panelled with quality equipment, based around racking that’s provided and installed by Sortimo UK. Features include:
All of this kit adds 220kg to the weight of the van, eating into its payload. But it’s probably worthwhile for the safety and utility it provides. In addition to this, the Vivaro Race Van concept is also fitted out with a number of creature comforts that are likely to be popular with anyone camped up by a race track for the weekend:
The Movano is kitted out in a similar way to the Vivaro and is based on the Movano F3300 L2H2 model, powered by a 2.3-litre CDTi 130PS BlueInjection engine. Specified with the Premium Pack, it includes NAVI50 Intellilink, rear parking sensors, air conditioning, trip computer and a perimeter alarm.
Here are the details of the racking an interior kit, which is again provided and installed by Sortimo UK:
Weight of Sortimo equipment (including fridge) = 240kg
Awning
Other Equipment
Both bike sound like cracking conversions, similar to models available from specialist converters. I suspect they’re PR projects only and unlikely to go into production, but weekend racers might hope to prove me wrong.
Harrods has made history by adding an electric van to its fleet — 100 years after the iconic London department store’s first electric vans hit the road.
Harrods’ Nissan e-NV200 electric van alongside its historic American Walker electric van
The new van is — of course — a Nissan e-NV200. But it’s incredible to realise that back in 1919, Harrods delivery drivers were motoring around London in American Walker electric vans. The company then went on to build its own fleet of 60 electric vehicles to deliver to London customers.
It was only when the petrol engine became increasingly popular that Harrods dropped electric power and switched to the internal combustion engine.
Guy Cheston, Media Sales Director at Harrods said:
“It’s wonderful to see an electric Harrods van on the roads of London again. As one of Britain’s largest established department stores, we are committed to reducing our carbon emissions and mitigating our environmental footprint. As part of our carbon and energy management policy, we have identified transportation as a key area where we can make a real impact.
Harrods Nissan e-NV200 — a single van so far — has been wrapped in the store’s unmistakable green and gold livery and fitted out inside with shelving units and refrigeration to enable it to deliver fresh groceries in perfect condition.
According to Nissan, the e-NV200 can cover up to 106 miles on a single charge, meaning that it may only need to be charged once a week by Harrods.
SsangYong has increased the towing capacity of its one-tonne Musso pickup to 3.5 tonnes. This is comparable with the best in the class and adds to the appeal of the Musso, for which prices start from just £16,395 +VAT.
The updated SsangYong Musso has a one-tonne payload and a 3.5 tonne towing capacity. (Image: SsangYong)
The Musso is powered by a 2.2-litre Euro 6 diesel engine which provides peak power of 178PS. Maximum torque of 400Nm is available from 1,400rpm all the way up to 2,800rpm. A combination of multi-link rear suspension and progressive rear coil springs is said to give a smooth, car-like ride that can still handle the weight placed on the back end by the Musso’s one-tonne payload and — potentially — a 3.5 tonne trailer.
The Musso is the best value pickup in the sector and while it may not compete with the likes of the VW Amarok in the kerb appeal stakes, it’s about 30% cheaper than the premium European and Japanese brands,
For farmers and rural workers who want a load-lugger that will get some hammer, buying a SsangYong potentially makes very good sense. The current Musso was originally launched in Autumn 2016, since when sales have “really taken off” according to Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK.
There are two models in the range. The SE includes a new-look front grille and dashboard, as well as silver finish 18” alloy wheels and hard wearing ‘leather look’ TPU seat upholstery. It is priced from just £16,395 ex VAT.
EX trim gets you black 18” alloy wheels, roof rails, front LED daytime running lights, leather with heated front seats, power operated driver’s seat, automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers, 7” touchscreen RDS radio with iPod and Bluetooth. The EX with manual transmission is priced at £18,395 ex VAT, and with a six speed Aisin automatic £19,395 ex VAT.
All new SsangYong Musso models come with a 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty that covers all major mechanical components.
UK production of commercial vehicles (CV) fell by 6.3% to 7,940 units in February, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The main reason for the decline was a 30% fall in domestic demand, which fell to 2,793 units, down from 4,019 units during the same period last year. Export demand for UK-built vans remained strong, with manufacturers rolling out 15.6% more CVs than during the same period in 2016.
UK CV manufacturing Feb 2017 – source: SMMT
According to Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, this domestic slowdown is to be expected after two years of strong growth:
“Following two years of exceptionally strong output, it comes as no surprise to see a slight decline in commercial vehicle manufacturing. Despite this, UK CV production remains broadly stable, with output for export growing for the sixth consecutive month, highlighting the importance of maintaining competitive global trading conditions to this vital sector.”
I can certainly buy into this argument up to a point. As LCV registration figures for the last five years show (scroll down for graph), CV operators have done a lot of catching up over the last two years. Many of these firms’ vehicles had been allowed to age during and after the financial crisis. But this process of renewal and expansion is now largely complete.
Some kind of ‘back to normal’ adjustment will be required. As I’ve discussed before, this could take the form of slowing new sales and/or weaker used prices. To some extent the scale of the adjustment will depend on how well the UK economy performs as we head towards Brexit over the next couple of years.
Time will tell. But for now at least, it’s comforting to see that EU export demand is helping to keep UK CV production lines busy.
The London Taxi Company has made headlines recently after opening a £300m new factory in Ansty, near Coventry. The firm’s new range-extended black cab is expected to go on sale later in 2017, but London Taxi and its Chinese parent firm Geely have their eye firmly set on a bigger prize — the van market.
The firm has announced that the second vehicle to roll off its new production line in Ansty will be a range-extended electric van. Aimed at the urban market, this model is expected to help cut running costs and reduce pollution in urban areas.
A new London Taxi Company range-extended electric tax at the opening of the firm’s new £300m plant at Ansty, Coventry.
Chris Gubbey, CEO of the London Taxi Company said:
“This is going to be the future proofed ’white van’ that people have been waiting for. Designed solely for the urban commercial sector, dedicated to the people who keep our cities working, it will be clean, competitive and ready for cities of the future.”
There’s certainly an opportunity here for the company, in my opinion. I believe van manufacturers have been slow to take advantage of the potential for petrol and range-extended van models.
The new van will be built on the same range-extended EV platform as the London Taxi. That makes sense — it doesn’t take much imagination to see how a platform built for black cab use could be converted into a van that’s comparable in size to a Ford Transit Custom, for example.
I’m pleased to announce three new additions to our branch database. Easirent operates car and van hire branches in Blackburn, Preston and Wigan.
Easirent has been in business for 25 years and prides itself on providing a high quality branch service supported by expert local staff. The company’s Preston, Wigan and Blackburn branches offer a comprehensive range of vans across the follow classes:
To get a quote or make a booking, contact Easirent directly:
If you’d like your van hire company to be listed on vanrental.co.uk, check out our advertising options here or contact us directly.
If you’re a used van dealer buying vans under two years old at auction, how do you work out how much you should pay?
In theory, you should be able to use trade guide prices. In reality, you need to pay attention to the generous discounts being offered on new vans by manufacturers.
The problem is that your one or two year old van has got to be cheaper than a new van. So the only way to work out how much to pay at auction is to start with the price of a discounted new van and work backwards.
It may sound surprising that you’re able to buy a new van for a price that’s not much higher than the price of (say) a one-year old ex-rental van. But that’s what happens when manufacturers start trying to prop up falling new van registrations.
According to Matthew Davock of Manheim Auctions, de-fleet volumes for vans less than two years old reached record levels in January and February, rising by 14% compared to the same period last year.
Davock says that “the majority is ex daily rental” stock and that “the challenge here is guide values”. He says that anecdotal evidence from buyers suggests that auction guide prices are now close to “or even in excess of the deals available on new vans”. Davock says that “buyers value this stock according to the legitimate retail deals online”. I read this as suggesting that the prices of nearly-new vans could be falling.
For older vans, aged two-six years, the problem isn’t price, it’s condition. Davock says that “demand outstrips supply of clean 40-60,000 mile vans” and that there’s been “a noticeable decline in conditions” over the last year.
Heavily discounted new van prices are putting pressure on the prices of sub two year old vans. At the same time, there’s a shortage of good quality vans in the two-to-six year age bracket.
So assuming supply and demand remain fairly steady, what seems likely to me is that used van prices will fall across the board to create a more consistent relationship between age, condition and price. Will this happen? Who knows. Used van prices have been remarkably resilient over the last few months.
Manheim’s Davock expects March to be quieter in terms of new volumes as the plate change period slows the supply of de-fleeted vans. Watch this space for more news next month.
The Royal Navy is no stranger to cutting-edge technology. So perhaps it’s not a surprise that Portsmouth Naval Base is now home to a fleet of 48 Nissan e-NV200 electric vans.
The vans — the top-selling electric van in Europe — have been deployed on the site by BAE Systems, who manage the base for the Royal Navy.
A total of 26 charging points and 28 designated parking bays have been installed, in order to ensure that the electric vans don’t go short of power or parking. The new electric vans are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 40% compared to the previous fleet.
Ian Anderton, integrated delivery director at BAE Systems, said:
“We have worked closely with Lex Autolease and Nissan to introduce this new fleet that makes a significant reduction to carbon dioxide emissions and respects our customers need for a value for money solution.
“The reduced emissions and fuel use by replacing nearly half of the fleet with Nissan electric vehicles would have a significant environmental impact on Portsmouth Naval Base.”
In total, the conversion of more than a third of BAE Systems’ vehicle fleet to Nissan’s e-NV200 Combis will save £360,000 in fuel and other costs over the duration of the contract.
The VW Bulli was the brainchild of Dutch Volkswagen import Ben Pon after a visit the firm’s Wolfsburg plant. Pon saw an in-house special known as the Plattenwagen which was used to ferry materials around the plant.
Pon’s idea became the Volkswagen Transporter, or Bulli — one of the world’s most successful and long-lived automotive models. Almost seventy years later, the VW Transporter is still going strong. To mark the occasion, Volkswagen will launch a ’70 Years of the Bulli’ special edition at the Geneva International Motor Show.
Based on a T7 Multivan Comfortline model, this exclusive special will take elements from the Multivan Highline and California models to achieve a timeless, high-class finish that’s reminiscent of the original Bulli.
Wood-look flooring taken from the VW California helps to create a stylish retro look.
Wood-look flooring, chrome trim and optional two-tone paintwork complete the look of this highly-specified van. Inside, buyers will be cosseted with special lighting, modified seat covers and a premium multifunction display and instrument panel framed in piano gloss black trim from the Highline model.
The special edition model will be available to order in Germany from the beginning of May. UK availability has yet to be confirmed, so if you’re keen, it may be worth contacting your dealer and asking them to put in a request to VW HQ.