Category Archives: Van News

News and articles about UK vans – especially information relevant to the van hire market. Coverage of new van model launches from all the major manufacturers – Ford, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Fiat and Citroen.

Moving House In The New Year? Check Out These Tips

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Europcar van hire moving houseAre you moving house in the New Year? With Christmas looming, it’s tempting to forget about 2014 until it happens, but as I write, it’s less than three weeks until the 1st January!

Even if you’re using a removals firm, you may be doing your packing yourself, and if you’re planning a DIY move with a hired van, then you need to be doubly thorough and efficient with your packing.

Car and van hire firm Europcar has put together some tips to help you pack and prepare — have a quick read. I recently move house myself, and I can confirm that this advice does make a big difference and is well worth the early effort.

  • Once you know you are going to be moving, have an initial clear out of possessions.
  • Take stock of everything that needs moving and use Europcar’s van calculator online to book the right size van
  • Book your van in advance to be sure you get the right vehicle for your needs
  • Wrap up fragile items carefully
  • Make use of pillows, blankets and duvets to pack around breakables
  • Don’t fill up large boxes, as they’ll be too heavy to move
  • Pack heavy items, like books, in smaller boxes to keep them manageable
  • Colour code the boxes to identify where they need to go in the new house. This reduces stress at the other end
  • Consider having the van delivered to you — you don’t want to have to go and collect it on the day, when you are trying to finish the last bits of packing

For more tips on DIY removals, click here for our free illustrated moving guide. Once you’re ready to book a hire van, then head on over to our van hire comparison engine to find the cheapest, closest van hire branch to your location. We can even do prices for one-way van hire, if you’re moving to a new area.

Finally, don’t forget to have a great Christmas and New Year before the move — I’m sure it will go brilliantly!

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Takes Two At Fleet Van Awards 2013

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Mercedes-Benz SprinterThe Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bagged the 2013 Fleet Van of the Year and 2013 Large Panel Van of the Year awards at least week’s Fleet Van awards.

It’s the sixth consecutive year in which the Sprinter has won the Large Panel Van award, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing Ford’s all-new two-tonne Transit, which goes on sale in the UK next year.

Earlier this year, the Sprinter range became the first van range to meet Euro VI emissions standards. The new Sprinter can deliver fuel consumption of up to 44mpg and emissions as low as 165g/km, depending on the precise model. Stephen Briers, editor-in-chief at Fleet News, says that it was simply a case of the best getting better:

The Large Panel Van was awarded to the Sprinter because it is packed with the latest technology that will appeal to safety-conscious fleets. It tops the table for residual values and also for driver appeal. Backed by Mercedes-Benz’s excellent dealer network with 24/7 response and roadside fixes, the Sprinter remains the one to beat.

In addition to class leading fuel economy the New Sprinter comes equipped with a range of new safety assistance systems, including World firsts in the van segment. These new features include Crosswind Assist, Collision Prevention Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Highbeam Assist and Lane Assist, all of which augment the standard fit ESP.

The Fleet Van Awards are judged by a panel of industry experts, including  Stephen Briers, Editor of Fleet News, Simon Harris, Deputy Editor of Fleet News, Trevor Gelken, Associate Editor of Fleet Van, Alastair Houston, Northgate Vehicle Hire, George Alexander, Glass’s Guide, Ken Brown, CAP, Steve Crawshaw, LeasePlan and Gary Banister, Lex Autolease Senior Manager, CVs.

November Sales Leave Used Van Prices Up 20.2% In 12 Months

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I’ve documented the inflation-beating rise of used van prices regularly over the last twelve months, courtesy of monthly figures from vehicle auctioneers BCA.

Used van prices paused for breath in November, according to BCA’s lates figures, leaving them 20.2% higher than they were in November 2012:

All vans Avg Age (mnths) Avg Mileage Avg Value Sale vs CAP
Nov 2012 59.74 81,408 £4,250 99.98%
Nov 2013 60.95 81,951 £5,109 103.42%

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

Average values for light commercial vehicles declined by £42 (0.8%) in November, largely as a result of a change in model mix as dealer part-exchange volumes increased during the month, increasing the flow of older, lower-priced models into the auction stream (a possible consequence of the recent rise in new van sales).

The average used van price was £5,109 in November, the third-highest value on record and the fourth consecutive month in which values have stayed above £5,000. A year-on-year increase in value of £859 means that used van price at auction have risen by 20.2% over the last twelve months, helping realised prices stay well above CAP value, at 103.4% of book price.

Duncan Ward, BCA’s General Manager, is confident that the upwards march will resume in December or early next year, and said:

While there was a small dip in the headline value in November, this was as a result of a subtle change in model mix rather than any fall in demand.  With fleet/lease LCVs in such short supply, relatively greater numbers of dealer part-exchange vehicles were sold and these are typically older, higher mileage and a lower average value.

Ward pointed out that corporate (ex-fleet) vans, which are most sought-after by used dealers, have risen in value by around 30% over the last year, thanks to a sustained shortage of supply:

Professional buyers who typically bid on corporate vans at auction are finding it harder to source these vehicles and have to pay more to secure the best retail-ready examples. November saw corporate stock rise significantly and we expect that to be maintained in December as the shorter trading month means there are fewer opportunities to buy.

Despite the decline in average used values, ex-fleet and lease vans proved continued to rise in value last month, gaining 4.6% to an average of £6,820. With fleet and rental companies taking the balance sheet strain away from would-be new van buyers, this trend may continue for sometime yet.

Van Registrations Surge Higher In November As Sales Approach 2008 Levels

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The UK’s commercial vehicle (CV) market continued to grow in November. According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new registrations have topped 300,000 over the last twelve months, for the first time since 2008.

New CV registrations rose by 22.7% in November, compared to the same period last year, with van registrations rising by 19.4% to 22,647, and truck registration surging an impressive 39.3% to 5,410. So far this year, van registrations have risen by 11.7%, while truck registrations have climbed by a more modest 6.5%:

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

November % change Year-to-date % change Rolling year % change
Vans 22,647 19.4% 250,124 11.7% 265,929 9.8%
Trucks 5,410 39.3% 44,867 6.5% 48,446 3.7%
Total 28,057 22.7% 294,991 10.9% 314,375 8.8%

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

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, says that the gains are due to a mixture of environmental, technological and economic factors:

“The November commercial vehicle market rose 22.7%, continuing the strong upward momentum we’ve seen over the past four months. With engine technology developments driving up the truck market, plus van owners and operators responding positively to this year’s economic recovery, the sector is on course for its best performance in five years.”

As the graph below shows, van and truck registrations have both trended firmly higher since the middle of this year:

New CV registrations, 12-2009 to 11-2013

With car registrations also hitting new highs in November, car and van dealers are going to be looking forward to bonus-fuelled Christmas celebrations. Let’s hope this year’s increases are sustained into 2014.

Citroën Berlingo Is ‘Small Van Of The Year’ For 3rd Time

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The 2014 Citroën Berlingo

Citroën Berlingo has been voted Fleet Van Small Van of the Year

The Citroën Berlingo was crowned Fleet Van ‘Small Van of the Year’ today, at an awards ceremony in London, making it the third time the popular van has laid claim to this prestigious award for the third time.

Recently updated for 2014, the Berlingo is Citroën’s best-selling LCV, and was the UK’s best-selling van in its sector during the first three quarters of this year, according to Scott Michael, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Centre Programme.

The Fleet Van awards judges commented that the Berlingo was in:

“A highly competitive shortlist, but new eco models, an electric vehicle derivative and Trafficmaster as standard swing it in the Berlingo’s favour. It also has low cost of ownership, good driver appeal, strong network support and a decent payload. It’s a very likeable van.”

The Berlingo range includes a wide range of models: two load lengths, a Crew Van, enhanced traction versions, choice of payloads and trims levels, as well as a platform cab for specialist conversions. All Berlingo panel vans have a Trafficmaster telematics platform (including Smartnav intelligent satellite navigation and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking), which also provides access, at low cost, to Fleet Director real time fleet management.

Already one of the most economical and lowest emissions LCVs in its sector, the Berlingo has just gained further fuel economy improvements and CO2 emissions reductions and now boasts fuel consumption of up to 62.8mpg and CO 2 emissions of as little as 118g/km.

In addition, the latest Berlingo now benefits from the availability of a new ETG6 automated six-speed manual gearbox option.

Ford Transit Custom Passes 10,000 Mark In First Year`

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Ford Transit Custom

The Ford Transit Custom has proved popular with fleets and SME buyers and sold 10,000 units within 12 months of its launch.

There are now 10,000 Ford Transit Customs circulating on the UK’s roads, despite the fact that one year ago, there were none.

Ford says it sold 10,000 Transit Customs during the first 12 months of launch, one month earlier than expected. Ford sells around 65,000 vans in the UK every year — more than in any other EU country — meaning that the Transit Custom now accounts for nearly 1-in-6 of Ford’s UK van sales.

Commenting on the figures, Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain sales director, said:

“I couldn’t be happier that we’ve reached our target to sell 10,000 Transit Customs a whole month earlier than planned. Ford is in a strong position, offering customers more choice by selling previous generation Transit alongside new Transit Custom, helping to maintain our firm grip on the UK’s medium van segment.

“As Ford continues its product onslaught, it is also investing to meet the precise needs of its business customers by introducing 100 specialist Transit Centres across the UK.”

The ‘product onslaught’ referred to by Andy Barratt is the company’s plan — now nearly complete — to completely replace its commercial vehicle range by 2014. According to Ford, all four new models – Transit Courier, Transit Connect, Transit Custom and next generation two-tonne Transit – will be launched by 2014.

The quality and modernity of the Transit Custom — whose people carrier variant recently became the first vehicle in its class to earn a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating — means that it’s a natural premium alternative to the Volkswagen Transporter and Mercedes-Benz Vito, and although the van itself isn’t built in the UK, buyers can feel confident that they are supporting British manufacturing jobs, as the Transit Custom’s 2.2-litre diesel engine is built at Ford’s plant at Dagenham, whereas the German vans are entirely built abroad.

Volkswagen Adds Crafter Conversion To UK Dealer Stock

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Volkswagen Crafter Tipper

A Volkswagen Crafter tipper from the ‘Engineered to go’ range, which are available from stock at VW Commercial Vehicle dealers.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has further invested in its Crafter Engineered to go scheme by ensuring available stock across its UK Van Centre network. This means a range of off-the-shelf Crafter dropsides and tippers is now available to drive away from Van Centres.

All Engineered to go bodies are manufactured specifically for Volkswagen by leading bodybuilder Ingimex and are recognised for their quality and durability, benefits that enhance the residual value of the vehicles and are listed within the CAP price guide.

That’s not all; all bodies are supplied with European whole vehicle type approval. All bodies come with three years manufacturer warranty offering customers complete piece of mind.

Each body is made using a galvanised steel sub-frame, resin-coated birch plywood decks and anodised aluminium side and tail panels. The Crafter range includes panel vans with load volumes of up to 17m3 and window vans with up to eight passenger seats.

As part of its on-going commitment to working with its partners, Volkswagen has launched a Bodybuilder Database to the UK conversion market. The database, which was launched in early November, provides Bodybuilders with a direct link to the factory enabling access to technical guidelines, information and CAD drawings helping them to design and develop their own products.

Andrew Waite, Head of Sales Operations for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented: ‘The Crafter chassis has always offered the ideal blend of big payloads and customisation options but – for some of our customers – an off-the-shelf model suits their business needs perfectly.

“Driving off the forecourt with one of our Engineered to go™ Crafters means customers can swiftly get the vehicles they need with the additional peace-of-mind that the accompanying body is hard-wearing, corrosion-resistant and recognised for its quality and durability.

“All of which not only enhances the day-to-day experience of using the vehicles, but also boosts their resale values, too.”

Full details of the Engineered to go™ scheme are available at www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk,or by calling 0800 717131.

Used Van Prices Expected To Rise Further In 2014

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BCA LCV auctionUsed van prices have soared to an all-time record this year, as the collapse in van sales seen in 2008/9 continues to cause a shortage supply in the used market.

According to vehicle auctioneer BCA, the average used van price has risen by 55% since 2003 and by 42.9% since 2008, despite a rise in average mileages:

All LCVs sold at BCA 2003 2008 2013
Average Sold price £3,119 £3,395 £4,854
Average Age (Months) 51.0 49.9 58.3
Average Mileage 72,787 70,876 79,847

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

Duncan Ward, BCA’s General Manager – Commercial Vehicles, says that competition for good quality used stock has been strong this year:

“Demand has been right across the board, from older higher mileage vans through to younger ex-fleet and lease vehicles, while the few late-plate light commercials on offer can make exceptional values.  The end result has been record-breaking average values for fleet/lease and dealer P/X vehicles.  As always, good condition is the key and vans with a nice specification and in an attractive retail colour are very desirable.”

The graph below shows LCV (light commercial vehicle) registrations from 2000-2015 (forecast). It’s easy to see how the current shortfall of decent used vans could continue for a couple more years yet:

UK LCV registrations 2000 - 2015

UK new LCV registrations; 2000 – 2015 and supply gap (BCA 2013 Used Car Market Report/ACEA/Buckingham)

As I reported recently, demand is particularly strong for ex-fleet vans, such as those from large corporate, lease and rental fleets, where the vans’ quality and history is assured, and condition and mileage is usually better than average.

Vans are getting older

Predictably, the result of this supply shortage is that vans are getting older. According to Ward:

“Not only are vans getting older on average when they are sold, they are higher mileage.  In fact, the average van sold in 2013 at BCA has covered 9,000 more miles than five years ago.”

According to the 2013 BCA  Used Car Market Report, the average age of LCVs on the UK’s roads has now climbed to 7.4 years, compared to 6.87 in 2007.

With new van registrations rising strongly once more, this trend will eventually come to an end, but BCA’s prediction of more of the same next year might well be accurate, as I expect it to take another year or so for increased volumes of new vans to flow through to the secondary market.

Latest Euro NCAP Results Show Van Safety Improving

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Ford Tourneo Connect crash test

The new Ford Tourneo Connect is the first compact people mover to score a maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

The safety ‘star’ ratings provided for all modern car models are awarded by safety testing organisation, Euro NCAP. For some reason, panel van models are not including in the testing programme, but the minibus/people carrier versions of current van models are tested.

Historically, despite their size and solidity, vans haven’t performed very well in safety tests, due to poor pedestrian safety and lower levels of safety assist technology. Those two trends remain a problem in the van market, but things are improving, as today’s test results show.

Volkswagen T5 Transporter (Kombi): ****

The VW T5 is a perennial favourite amongst campervan owners and small businesses and has also had some notable fleet successes, including becoming the RAC’s standard van for a period, and being chosen by some van hire companies to fill their medium van segment.

The VW T5 Kombi’s four-star rating is strong, and occupants of the vehicle certainly have nothing to worry about — the T5 scored 79% for adult occupants and 74% for child occupants.

Pedestrian may not fare so well, however, as the T5 only scored 32% for pedestrian safety. To some extent this is inevitable with vans, which are always going to have a higher bumper line and a more steeply sloping front end than cars, due to the need to maximise loadspace and payload (which requires bigger tyres and a certain amount of suspension travel, raising the vehicle).

What’s less excusable is that vans often come with lower levels of safety equipment than cars. VW scored a middling 57% in the safety assist category, as although the T5 Kombi it does come with electronic stability control as standard, there is no seatbelt reminder for passengers and no option for a factory-fit speed limiter.

Ford Tourneo Connect: *****

The Tourneo Connect is one of Ford’s brand-new commercial models and will also be sold in van format. Ford has really raised the benchmark for LCV safety since it started to roll out its revamped van range, and the Tourneo Connect has not disappointed, with a five-star rating that makes it the first the first compact people mover to be awarded a maximum Euro NCAP safety rating:

  • Adult occupant: 94%
  • Child occupant: 85%
  • Pedestrian: 62%
  • Safety assist: 70%

Ford scored more highly in the safety assist category thanks to the presence of a front seat passenger seatbelt reminder and the option of a speed limiter, as well as having Electronic Stability Control as standard.

Mercedes-Benz Citan Kombi: **** (re-tested)

Here’s an interesting one. The Citan Kombi was originally tested in April, when it scored an underwhelming three stars, which I suggested might be due to its Renault origins, and did not reflect Merc’s normally-high safety standards.

One can only imagine that the top brass at Stuttgart weren’t happy with this situation, as the Citan Kombi has now had some subtle modifications and has been re-tested and upgraded to a four-star rating. Although an improvement, it’s still one star behind its key competitor, the Tourneo Connect (above), which scored five stars — so what are the Citan’s weaknesses?

Here’s the breakdown of the Citan’s score:

  • Adult occupant: 79%
  • Child occupant: 81%
  • Pedestrian: 56%
  • Safety assist: 70%

So while the Citan ticks the same boxes as the Tourneo in the safety assist category, it didn’t fare so well in any of the others, especially in terms of pedestrian safety, where no improvements have been made.

Adult occupant safety has been improved, but Euro NCAP still pin-pointed several weakness relating to whiplash protection, chest compression protection and side impacts (for full details, click here).

You can see full details of all Euro NCAP test results on www.euroncap.com (it’s all free to access).

UK Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing Down 33.8% In October

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Commercial manufacturing in the UK fell by a further 33.8% in October, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).  The total fall so far this year is now 19.9%, thanks to a 25.9% slump in export demand and an 11.6% fall in home demand:

CV manufacturing Oct-12 Oct-13 % Change YTD-12 YTD-13 % Change
Total 11,899 7,875 -33.8% 94,214 75,484 -19.9%
Home 5,243 3,752 -28.4% 39,662 35,074 -11.6%
Export 6,656 4,123 -38.1% 54,552 40,410 -25.9%
% export 55.9% 52.4% 57.9% 53.5%

Data courtesy of SMMT

In fairness, some of this decline is what analysts like to call ‘structural’ — in this case, the closure of the Ford Transit factory at Southampton removed a chunk of production that is unlikely to be replaced, and leave Vauxhall as the only volume CV manufacturer in the UK.

This article sounds like too many that I’ve written before, but that’s because it seems to be the same story every month, at the moment. Take a look at these figures:

Despite the increase in van registrations we’ve seen over the last three months, few of these vehicles are made in the UK. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, says he expects the downtrend to continue for the rest of the year:

“The downward trend in CV production continued in October, given continually low levels of demand across the EU combined and structural and model changes in the UK,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive. “Despite some areas of good news, with UK bus and truck manufacturing growing in the month, the domestic CV manufacturing outlook remains negative for the rest of the year.”

There was better news in the car sector, however, where output rose by 17.4% in October, boosted by a 52.4% jump in domestic demand and and 11.4% rise in export demand, marking the second consecutive month of rising European demand, after a long period of decline.