Author Archives: Van Rental

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Premium Edition

Mercedes-Benz launches Sprinter Premium Edition

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The success of last year’s 20th anniversary edition Mercedes Sprinter has prompted the firm to produce a follow-on model for this year. The new Sprinter Premium Edition will be on sale to retail customers buying a van through a Mercedes-Benz Vans dealership.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Premium Edition

The Premium will be available Available for 2-Series (3.0t GVW) and 3-Series (3.5t GVW) panel van models across all engines. In addition to the Sprinter’s standard specification, the new model will include:

  • Integrated Becker® MAP PILOT satellite navigation
  • Chrome effect radiator grille
  • Audio 15 colour screen infotainment unit
  • TEMPMATIC air conditioning
  • Comfort driver’s seat with inner armrest
  • ‘Premium Edition’ badging on the rear of the van
  • Outside temperature indicator
  • Full wheel trims

Also includes as standard will be  Crosswind Assist, which supports the driver in strong, gusty side winds through automatic brake interventions, Adaptive brake light, to indicate a critical braking manoeuvre, Adaptive ESP®, the dynamic control system that also takes vehicle load into account, and Rescue Assist QR code stickers, which gives emergency services critical information at the scene of an accident.

Every Mercedes-Benz Vans vehicle purchase also comes with free MobiloVan 30-year free roadside assistance cover across the UK and Europe, as well as a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

For more information about the Sprinter Premium Edition, please visit: MBVans.co.uk/SprinterOffers.

Back to uni in a van

Van overloading convictions rose by 19% last year

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Heavily-loaded vanOverloading vans is a big problem. The number of convictions for overloading rose by 19% from 290 to 345 during the last financial year, according to government figures. Although this figure is pretty low, it’s worth noting that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is increasingly good at identifying and targeting overloading vans.

Of the 2,381 vans stopped and weighed by the DVSA, 88.5% were found to be overloaded, up from 84% during the previous year.

If you drive around in a swaying van with a saggy rear end (no pun intended), then expect to be stopped and perhaps fined. The average fine for van overloading during the 2014/15 tax year was £751.74. That’s a fair chunk of money.

I suspect that the van overloading is probably made worse by the fact that many van drivers and operators are not in the transport business — vans are just a means of shifting their stuff from job to job.

The SMMT estimates that implementing a HGV-style licensing regime for van operators could cost businesses £2.6bn. That’s not something any of us want to face, so as van owners and users it behoves us to make sure that we aren’t the cause of the problem.

Learn about the weight of the stuff you carry in your van, don’t carry equipment or materials that aren’t needed and think of driving a van as a serious part of your job. If you’re unsure where to start and are looking for more tips, check out this DVSA video on overloading:

(For more information, visit  www.van-smart.uk)

Van operators and drivers are not subject to any of the regulation and training requirements imposed upon HGV operators. And that’s good news — modern vans are safe, easy to drive and extremely useful.

But with a record 4m vans now in use on UK roads, we think it may now be time for drivers and employers to take a stricter approach to compliance.

Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi

Mercedes-Benz launches new Euro 6 Vito Taxi

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It’s been described as “more like a luxury car than a van“ by one taxi firm and “impressively reliable and robust” by another (whose last Vito did 250,000 miles in three years). It’s probably fair to say that the Vito minibus is popular with both drivers and operators.

So it’s no surprise that the purpose-built Vito Taxi, which is targeting the hackney cab market, is gaining a firm foothold in the market.

Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi

The original Vito Taxi was launched in 2008 and has sold 3,000 units to date, some of them into the ultra-conservative and demanding London black cab market. To put that in context, there are currently around 21,000 black cabs in London, so while the Vito Taxi still has a way to go, it is making progress.

The German marque has now launched an updated version of the Vito Taxi. The standard National specification model seats six and is fully accessible for wheelchairs. Customers can choose from the front wheel-drive 109CDI model, with an 88 hp Euro 6 engine, or the 114CDI with a 114 hp Euro 6 engine, which drives the rear wheels. Both come with manual gearboxes (optional seven-speed automatic gearbox is available for the 114CDI models) and in Compact or Long body lengths.

This model will be sold UK-wide and isn’t the special London specification model, an updated version of which will become available later in 2016. The London-spec Vito Taxi incorporates the rear steering axle that allows it to achieve a 25ft turning circle. This is one of the rules prescribed by the Public Carriage Office, so it can execute a U-turn in London’s congested streets.

The London variant is also offered with the more powerful engine as standard together, with the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox, which is now controlled using a steering column-mounted lever.

Standard equipment on both versions includes the fuel-saving BlueEFFICIENCY measures which features engine Start/Stop function for the 114CDI models, air conditioning for driver and passengers, electric folding mirrors, electrically operated sliding doors on both sides and electrical nearside step; London versions feature an additional off-side step.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, commented:

“We are passionate about supporting the UK’s taxi drivers, and are delighted to be offering the most fuel-efficient, modern, comfortable, reliable vehicle ever seen in the market.

Priced from £135 per week* for the Vito Taxi 109CDI National variant, the Vito Taxi comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty and MobiloVan back-up, which includes free, round-the-clock emergency roadside assistance. Pricing for the London variant is still to be announced.

*Business customers only

BCA LCV auction

Used van prices level out in May – BCA

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Used van prices were broadly unchanged in May, according to auctioneers BCA. The average price of a van sold by BCA last month was £5,892, down marginally from £5.966 in April.

BCA LCV auction

Falling age and mileage continued to drive year-on-year gains, however, with prices 6% higher than in May 2015:

All vans Avg Age (mnths) Avg Mileage Avg Value
May 2015 58.07 78,012 £5,558
May 2016 54.42 71,121 £5,892

Source: BCA

Interestingly, a closer look at the underlying numbers suggests that used van buyers may be getting better value for money than they were one year ago. Here’s the year-on-year price table for the Fleet & Lease sector, which accounts for the majority of volume and value in BCA’s LCV business:

Fleet/Lease Avg Age (mnths) Avg Mileage Avg Value Sale vs MRP
May 2015 42.62 70,195 £6,447 35.66%
May 2016 40.36 61,840 £6,786 35.70%

Source: BCA

The key thing to note here, in my opinion, is that the Sale vs MRP (Manufacturer’s Recommended Price) has remained virtually flat, at 35.7%. Yet average age and mileage have fallen by 5% and 12% respectively. So buyers are getting newer and lower mileage vans for the same price as last year, relative to manufacturer’s list prices.

A summer lull?

Duncan Ward, BCA’s LCV Operations Director, sounded a note of caution about the near-term outlook for the market, citing typical seasonal trends and one-off factors which could affect sales this year:

“With the summer months upon us, the market is now moving into a period when demand and values typically remain relatively flat and this year we still have the distractions of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament, the EU referendum and the Rio Olympics all to come. History tells us events such as these have notable if short-term effects on the LCV sector and this year will probably be no different.”

Despite this, Ward believes underlying market conditions remain strong, with demand being driven by the construction and civil engineering industries, as well as the home delivery market.

Are rental firms flooding the market with battered vans?

As always, when market conditions soften, condition and quality will be key. Unfortunately, Duncan Ward cites the van rental sector as a volume source of “basic specification” white vans which “are often in poor condition”. Buyers will refuse to pay top dollar for such models, he says.

Maximising residual values is a constant concern for rental companies, as it can have a big impact on their profitability. But it’s inevitable that many rental vans will be white and basic specification, because that’s what customers require and will pay for. It’s equally inevitable that some of these vans will be fairly scruffy by the time they’re defleeted.

I suppose Mr Ward’s warning to rental sellers is that they need to price realistically to ensure a prompt sale. Such is life.

Ford Transit Custom at CV Show 2016

New van registrations hit new record in May

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New van registrations rose by 1.9% to 28,480 in May, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Although down on April’s 11.8% gain, it’s nevertheless another strong result that suggests the UK economy remains in reasonable health. As it happens, last year’s strong growth also means that last month’s figure of 28,480 new van registrations is the highest ever record for the month of May.

UK van registrations May 2016

UK van registrations May 2010 – May 2016. Numbers are rolling-year totals. Graph courtesy of SMMT.

Commenting on the figures, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said:

“Although May was a record breaking month for the UK’s light commercial vehicle market, the pace of growth is easing and is indicative of the performance we anticipate this year following the very high levels of demand seen in 2015.

Providing there are no political or economic shocks to business confidence over the coming months, we expect the LCV sector’s good health to prevail during the remainder of 2016 as consumer appetite for online deliveries continues to grow.”

Mr Hawes’ comment regarding “political or economic shocks” are presumably a reference to the possbility that the UK electorate will vote for a Brexit in this month’s EU referendum.

Leaving unquantifiable political risks aside, it’s interesting to note that little has changed recently in terms of the type of vans that are selling.

Heavy vans (>2.5-3.5t) continue to dominate the market this year, enjoying the largest growth with a 13.3% increase on 2015 and LCVs in this segment making up 62.0% of total registrations. Much of the growth in this segments is thought to be due to growth in the logistics and home delivery sectors.

According to the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) recent Logistics Report 2016, 20% of non-food sales are now made online. A total of 860m parcels were delivered to homes last year, up 43% from 600m in 2012. Those are seriously big numbers.

Less obviously, pick-ups are also fuelling the overall rise in demand – 18,674 were registered in the first five months of the year, up 9.6%. It’s hard to say how much of this demand is purely down to fashion and how much is the result of operational requirements. I’m leaning towards fashion, personally!

Best sellers

Topping the best sellers list once again in May was Ford, which sold 9,022 LCVs last month. That’s 158% more than second-placed Volkswagen, which managed to shift 3,495 units. Vauxhall, Peugeot and Mercedes-Benz occupied 3rd, 4th and 5th places respectively.

Ford is by far the biggest brand for light commercial vehicles in the UK. The Blue Oval has sold 48,371 LCVs so far in 2016, 168% more than second-placed Volkswagen (18,051). The firm’s vans are among the newest and most modern models on the market after the comprehensive range renewal program of the last few years. This launch of the firm’s new EcoBlue diesel engine this summer (review here).

The quality and breadth of Ford’s range means — I suspect — that’s its domination will remain complete for some time yet. Put differently, Ford would have to really mess things up to lose such a big home advantage.

Mercedes-Benz Citan

Van drivers admit Brexit confusion: 22% remain undecided

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Mercedes-Benz CitanOne of the main complaints about the EU referendum campaign as been the amount of hot air and speculation on both sides of the debate. It’s a complex and important issue, but it’s been very hard for any of us to get to get hold of hard facts about what might happen if we leave.

According to a survey carried out by Mercedes-Benz Vans, 22% of van drivers have not yet decided how to vote. Of those questioned, 29% were concerned about whether Britain leaving the EU will have an impact on their business or the businesses they work for.

Although 58% that to some extent, the EU imposes too many rules on businesses, a fifth (19%) of van drivers flagged concerns that working hours in the UK will worsen if the UK were to vote to leave the EU. 40% were concerned that it would be harder to trade with the rest of the UK.

Just over 40% (41%) believe that Britain’s status in the world would be damaged by leaving the EU, making the country ‘less secure’. However, 46% of van drivers felt the country would have greater control of its boarders if the UK votes to leave, with nearly 70% (67%) wanting Britain to reduce the number of migrants coming to the UK to work anyway.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, commented:

“The nation’s van drivers support the foundations of this country, so their unease in knowing which way to vote is a big indicator of the uncertainties facing the UK public as a whole. Our research highlights real concerns from van drivers, which needs to be addressed by both the Vote Leave and Stronger In campaigns.

This week (11 May 2016), official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that UK industry entered recession following two successive quarters of shrinking output. The ONS measured falls of 0.4% in both the final quarter of 2015 and in the first three months of this year – a technical recession for the sector.

However, the ONS also measured growth of 0.3% between February and March, highlighting further confusion for the public as to the state of the nation. The level of confusion on all fronts is completely understandable.

As things stand at the moment, Mercedes-Benz found that 22% of van drivers haven’t yet decided which way to vote, while a third will vote to remain in and 40% have said they’ll vote to leave.

Hertz logo

Van hire from £15 per day with Hertz Van Rental [EXPIRED]

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Hertz logo largeSummer is now officially here, despite the weather!

If you need to hire a van for a house move, big DIY project or simply a trip to the tip, then there’s never been a better time.

** THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED **

Hertz Van Rental is currently offering vans from just £15 per day.

Valid from 1 June 2016 until further notice, this offer does not require a discount code.

Simply click on the big pink button below to visit the Hertz website and save:

 

 

Terms and conditions may apply. See Hertz website for details.

Protyre Renault Master

Micheldever chooses Renault Master for updated Protyre fleet

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Protyre customers are increasingly likely to have their tyres delivered in Renault Master vans from now on, thanks to a 100-van order that will replace a third of the company’s existing fleet.

Protyre Renault Master

Protyre’s parent company, Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services, has ordered the new vans to replace vehicles from another manufacturer. The Master’s generous payload, good value and comprehensive four-year, 100,000 mile warranty helped Renault to win the sale.

Malcolm Turnbull, Group Fleet Manager, Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services, said:

“Against the other LCVs we considered, the Renault Master was unrivalled when it came to its combination of price and payload. The vans we have taken delivery of have arrived with us on schedule and, now that they are starting to be operative in the field, are exceeding our expectations and generating some good feedback from our drivers.”

On the distribution side, the Masters will contribute to the delivery of tyres to the 8,000 nationwide retailers that Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services supplies from its network of 15 distribution sites.

Meanwhile the specially-equipped Master breakdown vehicles will provide private and business customers with an emergency and comprehensive mobile tyre fitting service that encompasses tyre replacement and puncture repair on virtually any car, van, truck or agricultural vehicle.

Protyre’s new Masters are long-wheelbase, high-roof format (LH35) models, with front-wheel drive. Powered by Renault’s 2.3-litre dCi turbodiesel engine, they produce 125 hp and boast an official combined fuel consumption figure of 35 mpg.

To provide the optimum level of comfort and safety for Protyre’s drivers, the new vans were ordered in Business specification. This includes DAB radio with Bluetooth, electric front windows, remote central locking, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with HSA (Hill Start Assist) and Grip Xtend; a traction control system which provides improved traction on loose surfaces such as gravel, light snow and mud.

Other options chosen by Micheldever include 270-degree opening, unglazed rear doors and a 68 mph speed limiter. The breakdown vehicles have also been equipped with onboard, engine-driven compressors and full tyre changing facilities to Micheldever’s bespoke specification.

SMMT CV Output rolling year Apr 2016

UK CV production wobbles in April as Euro demand weaknes

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I commented last month on how a drop in domestic demand for UK-built vans and trucks had caused UK commercial vehicle production to drop 13% in March.

In April it was the turn of our European customers to hesitate. An 11.2% drop in export demand pushed total UK CV production down by 0.9% to 8,548 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Weaker European demand was however offset by a 13.6% rise in UK demand, which rose to 4,047 units.

What this shows, of course, is that one month’s data does not make a trend. Large fleet orders and seasonal factors can easily push CV demand up or down by a few hundred units each month, without signifying any change in overall market conditions.

However, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive sounded a cautious note when commenting on the outlook for the rest of the year (my bolding):

“Although April saw a slight decrease in CV production, the sector continues to perform well with positive year-to-date figures. Following the substantial rise in volumes last year, we can expect production growth to ease slightly over coming months. However, with continued demand for British-built vans and trucks at home and around the world, the sector’s outlook is positive.”

At present, the overall trend remains positive — just. UK CV manufacturing output is up by 0.4% so far in 2016, as changes in home and export demand have largely offset each other:

SMMT CV production April 2016

Source: SMMT

It’s too early to get a clear idea of the trend for the year at this point, I’d suggest, although the situation certainly seems a little less clear cut than last year, as this graph shows:

SMMT CV Output rolling year Apr 2016

Source: SMMT