Author Archives: Van Rental

New Customer Receives 20 Citan Vans In Two Weeks

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A TSG Building Services Mercedes-Benz Citan van

One of TSG’s new Citan vans.

It took the team at Merc dealer Rygor’s Heathrow branch just two weeks to deliver the first 20 Mercedes-Benz Citan vans ordered by central heating contractor TSG Building Services plc after it landed two new contracts and needed extra vans fast.

A specialist supplier to local authorities and housing associations, TSG is now running 54 Citans, as well as nine larger Vito models. All are the subject of a CharterWay contract hire agreement from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services under which they will each cover 20,000 miles a year.

The new vans have been allocated to TSG service engineers who work throughout the South and South-East. They will be maintained by Rygor, Britain’s biggest Mercedes-Benz Dealer, at the operator’s headquarters in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, as well as at other locations.

Launched last year, the Citan is the smallest van ever to wear a three-pointed star. It leads the field in terms of fuel efficiency, achieving up to 65.7 mpg and producing CO2 emissions as low as 112 g/km. As I’ve documented over the last few months, it’s making steady progress in the fleet market, thanks to its high quality, fuel efficiency, and the appeal of the three-pointed star.

TSG’s Citans are all Long-bodied 109 CDIs with 66 kW (90 hp) diesel engines and optional Bluetooth telephony. Rygor fitted their Rhino roof racks and co-ordinated the application by TLC Signs, of Feltham, of TSG’s livery.

TSG Managing Director Ben Thrussell confirms:

“This is our first experience of operating Mercedes-Benz vehicles and Rygor have been extremely efficient in handling our enquiry and subsequent order.

“We required delivery of 20 vehicles within just a couple of weeks, as we had won two new contracts and needed our engineers on site with their vehicles as a matter of urgency.

“We also wanted to ensure that our fleet changes were carried out before the onset of winter and the colder weather, to avoid downtime during our busiest period. Rygor delivered the vans efficiently and effectively to a weekly schedule, causing the minimum stress to our drivers and interruption to our operation.”

Founded more than 50 years ago as a small central heating installation business, TSG now offers a broad range of services, from volume domestic and commercial boiler installations to long-term maintenance contracts. The fast-growing company operates 120 vans in total – while roughly half of its new Mercedes-Benz vehicles have replaced older vehicles, the rest represent extensions to its fleet.

New VW Caddy BlueMotion Delivers 61mpg

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Volkswagen Caddy BlueMotion interior

Inside the new Caddy BlueMotion.

Volkswagen has announced the arrival of the new Caddy BlueMotion van.

Available to order from February, the new Caddy BlueMotion is the cleanest and most fuel-efficient Caddy ever, and boasts combined cycle fuel consumption of 61.4mpg, and CO2 emissions of just 119g/km.

The new Caddy BlueMotion comes in short-wheelbase panel van form only, and is powered by a frugal 1.6-litre TDI common rail direct injection engine that develops 102 PS and 250 Nm of torque.

The Caddy BlueMotion’s 61mpg official figure is 6mpg higher than the outgoing Caddy BlueMotion model, and 11mpg better than a standard base Caddy.

These gains have been achieved through the application of Volkswagen’s standard BlueMotion Technology features – Cruise Control, Hill-Hold Assist, Start/Stop and Energy Recuperation – plus three additional new BlueMotion design and engineering advancements:

  • 15″ Reduced Rolling Resistance Tyres – tyres that reduce friction, and need less effort as they roll, minimise the energy wasted.
  • Reduced Ride Height – lowering the ride height by 27 mm reduces aerodynamic drag.
  • More efficient Engine Control– the reduced gross weight makes improved engine control and revised calibration possible.

Based on an annual mileage of 30,000 and an average diesel price of 140p per litre, the new Caddy model delivers a fuel cost saving of up to £744 over the standard 1.6-litre TDI 102 PS model, and to help the new model stand out, it boasts body-coloured side strips and a black and blue trim fabric that is only available on the BlueMotion model.

Save Up To 33% On Hertz Van Hire: Sale Extended

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Hertz has extended its 2014 Global Sale by another two weeks until 26th January 2014.

This gives you two more weeks to save up to 33% on Hertz Van Hire!

To start saving, click through to the Hertz website using the link below — and remember, you can always collect Nectar points when you hire with Hertz:

THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED

Click here to visit the Hertz website

Here are the details:

  • Valid from: 24th December 2013
  • Expires:  26th January 2014
  • Valid for hire periods before 30th June 2014
  • Code: 783530
  • Terms and conditions apply, see Hertz website for details.

 

Used Van Values Up 24% In Two Years

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Average used van values rose by 3.9% in December, according to the latest figures from vehicle auctioneers BCA, leaving them a massive 24% higher than they were two years ago, in December 2011.

The increase took the average value for all used vans to £5,311, with all-time record values achieved for dealer part-exchange and nearly-new vans.

On a yearly basis, used van values rose by 12.1% in 2013, despite a rise in both average age and average mileage, as the figures in this table show:

Year-on-year table: All vans

All vans Avg Age (mnths) Avg Mileage Avg Value Sale vs CAP
Dec 2012 55.93 78,793 £4,736 101.12%
Dec 2013 59.37 81,351 £5,311 102.07%

Data courtesy of BCA (www.british-car-auctions.co.uk)

Commenting on the results, Duncan Ward, BCA’s General Manager – Commercial Vehicles, said that he expected more of the same in 2014:

“Average values for used LCVs remained high in December as buyers competed for the limited volume of stock on offer.  Many corporate sellers held vehicles over for the New Year and dealer part-exchange stock filled the gap, resulting in a significant price rise for this sector during the month.   Supply remains the key factor driving the market and this means there is plenty of competition for the best examples reaching the market.”

“While this is good news for sellers, from the buyers’ perspective the outlook for 2014 is that supply issues could actually worsen.   Our view is that the overall shortage of used product and the issues of supply versus demand will see a continuation of high conversions and higher selling prices in 2014, effectively meaning we are going to see more of what is best described as a “sellers’ market”.

A one-way market?

As the graph below shows, prices have risen steadily since 2011 — but this situation cannot last forever:

BCA Used van values Dec 2011-13

Recent growth in new van registrations will eventually feed through to the used market and dampen price inflation. If the economic recovery continues to gather pace, demand for new vans, as opposed to used vans, could also rise.

Despite this, I’m tempted to agree with Ward’s expectations that 2014 will be another expensive year for used van buyers, as it is likely to be 18-24 months before the increase in new van registrations feeds through to the used market.

Save Up To 20% On Europcar Van Hire This January

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The January sales may be drawing to a close on the high street, but Europcar’s sale is still in full swing, and currently you can save up to 20% on Europcar UK van hire.

This cracking deal is valid until the end of January 2014, for pick-ups until 30 April 2014.

Full details:

  • Offer valid for bookings made by 31 January 2014 and pick-ups until 30th April 2014
  • Not valid from 17th – 21st April 2014
  • Valid at participating branches only
  • Subject to availability
  • See Europcar’s website for full terms and conditions (click here)

Van Registrations Up 13.1% In 2013

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Following their surge in November, van registrations rose by 13.1% in the UK last year, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The new figures show that 271,073 new vans were registered in the UK last year, including 20,949 in December, which represents a 32.5% increase over December 2012.

UK van and truck registrations: 2013 and % change on 2012

December % change Year-to-date % change Rolling year % change
Vans 20,949 32.5% 271,073 13.1% 271,073 13.1%
Trucks 11,351 217.2% 56,218 23.0% 56,218 23.0%
Total 32,300 66.6% 327,291 14.7% 327,291 14.7%

Data courtesy of SMMT (www.smmt.co.uk)

The biggest sector of the UK van market by far is the 2.5 – 3.5t sector, which accounted for 153,428 of the 271,073 vans registered in the UK last year, and 11% increase in registrations compared to the previous year. However, the sector that saw the largest growth was the next one down in size — there was a 27.7% increase in 2.0 – 2.5t van registrations in 2013, taking the total number registered to 39,613.

Commenting on the figures Mike Hawes, the SMMT’s chief executive, believes that there may be more good news to come in 2014:

“The 2013 commercial vehicle market rose 14.7%, making it the best performance in the last five years … van owners and operators responded positively to the wider economic recovery finishing the year more than 13% up on 2012.

The introduction of new Euro 6 trucks will be of key interest to the heavy end of the market in 2014, while we expect the forthcoming launches of several new light commercial vans to deliver further growth in this important sector.”

All-new Ford Transit 2-tonne model

The all-new Ford Transit 2-tonne model is now available to order.

One of the new vans referred to by Hawes in his comments is the all-new two-tonne Ford Transit, which is now available to order and is due to go on sale later this year.

The new Transit will, for the first time in many years, give Ford a large van with which to directly challenge the dominant Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, as well as other large models such as the Citroen Relay, Fiat Ducato and Volkswagen Crafter.

It’s easy to see why Ford has adopted the new format, as the 2.5t – 3.5t sector accounts for 55% of the vans sold in the UK, and the new model will also be suitable for sale in the US and Canada, in-line with Ford’s global vision.

However, it will be interesting to see how many tradesmen and small businesses miss the old jack-of-all-trades Transit format — Ford sold 47,507 of the 2007-13 Transit in 2013, giving the legacy model a 29% share of the overall UK market for one- and two-tonne vans.

The Transit Custom and forthcoming new Transit will have a lot to live up to.

Moving House In January? Don’t Forget Van Hire

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Let us show you how to move house with a hire van

Boxes need to be strong to be stacked safely – especially if they’re heavy

Christmas is over and pretty much everyone is now back to work, but the first full week in January is also significant for another reason — people start moving house again, after the Christmas lull.

If you’re moving in the next few weeks, then I’d urge you to book your van hire now (or at least do it as soon as you have a fixed date for completion).

Although availability is now considerably better than it was during the pre-Christmas rush (when courier companies hog a large proportion of hire vans), van rental companies are still busy, and your chosen combination of van size and date could soon become unavailable.

The simplest way to get started is to use our van hire comparison system, which allows you to save money by comparing prices from most of the UK’s major van hire companies on one website.

Our system displays prices for all popular types of van (e.g. Transit-size panel vans, extra-long vans and luton box vans) — so click here to give it a try. You don’t have to provide any personal data to compare prices, and your booking will be made by you, directly with your chosen hire supplier.

Of course, there’s a lot more to moving house than simply hiring a van. Here at vanrental.co.uk, we’ve been there, done that, and got the t-shirt, so we’ve produced a simple one-page DIY removals guide to cover all of the main areas.

Finally, we know that driving a van for the first time can be daunting, so we offer a free, printable guide to driving a van for the first time, too.

Good luck if you’re moving in the next few weeks!

Sky’s The Limit As VW Receives Order For 930 Caddy Vans

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Volkswagen Caddy in Sky liveryVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles has strengthened its relationship with Sky in a deal that will see the van manufacturer supply an additional 1,120 vehicles to the broadcaster’s fleet.

The agreement is for 930 Caddy Maxi Startline BlueMotion Technology (BMT) and 190 Transporter Startline BMT vehicles.  The vehicles, which will start to be delivered later this month, will boost Sky’s Volkswagen fleet to 2,500.

With more than 10 million TV and broadband customers across the country and thousands of Sky engineer home visits a day, the well-known Sky liveried Volkswagen vans have become a regular sight on British roads.

Operational benefits for Sky include class-leading residual values, and a range of frugal, fuel-efficient engines that emit low levels of CO2, helping to save on fuel costs and reduce the fleet’s impact on the environment.

Other reasons why the Sky team selected the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi include its generous load area – 4.2 m³ and a load length of 2.25 m – and high level of standard equipment, while the Transporter was also selected for its practicality and impressive fuel consumption. Sky was previously a notable fleet customer for Vauxhall’s Vivaro van, but judging from this order, the firm may be moving away from the due-for-replacement Vivaro towards the VW Transporter, for its UK fleet.

All of the new vehicles, which will start to arrive from later this month, have had racking installed and will be wrapped in Sky’s livery.

Nissan Launches Facelifted NV200 London Taxi Conversion

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Nissan NV200 London TaxiNissan’s plans to launch a London tax model based on its NV200 van (or ‘multi-purpose platform’, to use the company’s preferred description) are no secret. The company first showcased a working model back in August 2012, but things have changed a bit since then.

According to Nissan, it received feedback from the London Mayor’s office and Transport for London which sent the firm’s designers scurrying back to their drawing boards to change the way the taxi looks.

Designers at Nissan’s European design centre in Paddington have drawn on styling cues from the current TX1 cab in an effort to persuade passengers and cabbies that their vehicle belongs on London’s streets. Although the NV200 taxi is also destined for use in Barcelona, New York and Tokyo, the firm will produce a London-specific version in an effort to provide the required look.

Among the specific changes that have been made to the front of the NV200 taxi are:

  • Round headlamps and a re-modelled grille mirroring the traditional black cab ‘face’
  • LED lighting to improve visibility of the traditional taxi sign
  • Completely new front bumper panels

Design Excellence Manager at NDE, Darryl Scriven, said:

“Having already overcome the unique technical challenges presented by the development of a new Hackney Carriage for London ahead of our launch of the vehicle in August 2012, we turned our attention to making the vehicle look the part.

“The Mayor’s office and taxi drivers were very keen that we maintain the character of the Hackney Carriage, making it something that people in the city can be proud of.

“The main challenges were concerned with making sure customers can easily recognise it as a taxi. Being in London, we were able to go out and talk to cabbies about what was important to them as well as look at the vehicle from a customer’s viewpoint. It’s unusual for us to be able to work on something as bespoke as this, specifically for one location in the world and we are very proud to have been asked to do so.”

Nissan intends to put the NV200 Taxi for London on sale in the Capital in December 2014, followed by an all-electric version, the e-NV200, in 2015. From launch, the new taxi will be available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine equipped with an automatic gearbox. Compared to current diesel London taxis, this engine will be far cleaner, with lower levels of NOx and particulates.

Europcar Opens ExCeL London Mobility Centre

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Europcar ExCeL London Mobility Centure

The new Europcar Mobility Centre at ExCeL London offers car and van hire, as well as chauffeur, valet and bus transfer services.

Europcar has wasted no time in opening its first Mobility Centre at ExCeL London.

The centre, which is part of an exclusive five-year deal between the two companies announced in November, offers a full range of car and van hire services, including a chauffeur-drive service from Prestige at Europcar, a valet service and bus and coach services to and from London City Airport, where car and van hire is also available.

Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group, says that the company believes that its partner ship with ExCeL has considerable potential:

“Innovation is central to everything Europcar does, and this is the perfect example of what two leaders in their field can achieve by working in partnership. But this is just the beginning. With over 5 million visitors in 2012, across its 100,000 sqm site, ExCeL is London’s biggest venue and as Europe’s largest rental provider, we believe Europcar is the perfect partner.”

In addition to hiring vans at ExCeL London, exhibitors and suppliers can also hire vans from Europcar’s nationwide network for their trip to ExCeL, benefiting from hourly and one-way rentals, as well as delivery and collection services.

Located on ExCeL’s main boulevard, the Europcar Mobility Centre will serve the needs of exhibition visitors, exhibitors, the campus residents and employees, hotel guests and the immediate wider business and consumer communities.

Offering an all-encompassing transport solution, it will provide access to a wide range of car hire services, including a chauffeur-drive service from Prestige at Europcar, a valet service and bus and coach services to and from London City Airport.