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.

Used van prices fall in August on lower ex-rental volumes

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Used van prices fell slightly in August, according to the latest sales data from auction group BCA.

The average used van sale price at auction fell from £6,553 in July to £6,420 in last month. However, some or even most of this decline may have been due to a reduction in used van volumes from daily rental fleets.

The big van rental companies supply a significant proportion of used vans under three years old. Whereas many big fleets operate vans for 3-4 years, hire companies often have shorter replacement cycles. This is due in part to their relationships with vehicle manufacturers, who allocate a significant amount of supply to rental fleets each year at preferential prices.

BCA’s figures show that the average age of the vans sold rose by one month in August relative to July. Although a small difference, I’d suggest this could explain the £133 price fall seen last month:

All vans	Avg Age (mnths)	Avg Mileage	Avg Value
August 2016	53.66	70,853	£6,089
August 2017	50.48	65,273	£6,420

Source: BCA (July average age: 49.6 months, July average mileage 65,881)

Commenting in the August sale figures, BCA’s LCV Operations Director, Duncan Ward said:

“While the headline average figure declined in August, demand remained strong and sold volumes improved, month-on-month. Dealer PX values climbed sharply to a new record level, although there was some pressure on fleet & lease stock values, largely as a result of declining volumes from the daily rental sector, alongside some duplication of stock and condition issues.”

Mr Ward emphasised that as always, good condition is essential for strong pricing:

“Condition has always been the overriding factor for professional buyers and is critical to achieving first time conversion rates. What buyers want is clean condition, well maintained stock with all the relevant documentation direct from vendors who price their vehicles realistically. Taking condition out of the equation, there will always be demand for vehicles with rare and unusual specification, or those finished in a good retail colour with a high specification.”

The bulk of the used vans passing through BCA’s sales halls come from corporate and lease fleets, including rental companies. If we separate out the age, price and mileage figures for this sector of the market, we can see that average sale prices have risen slightly since last year, when measured against manufacturers’ list prices:

Fleet/Lease	Avg Age (mnths)	Avg Mileage	Avg Value	Sale vs MRP
August 2016	40.35	63,282	£6,780	34.49%
August 2017	39.27	59,073	£7,052	36.23%

Source: BCA

It seems that despite rising volumes, demand for good quality used vans remains strong. With new van registrations under pressure, it remains to be seen how the used market will fare as we head into 2018.

Volkswagen rolls out high-spec Transporter Edition van

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The Volkswagen Transporter Edition is now on sale.

Volkswagen has launched a high-specification limited edition model of the Transporter van. Fittingly named Edition, the new model is available in panel van and Kombi formats.

The Transporter Edition is available with a 2.0 TDI engine with a power output of either 150 PS or 204 PS. A choice of six-speed manual or VW’s seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox is offered.

Kerb appeal is guaranteed thanks to 17″ or 18% black alloy wheels, a gloss back roof and a choice of vibrant colours including Candy White, Grape Yellow and Cherry Red. Each van also features blacked-out tail lights and unique Edition decals.

Also on the standard spec list are front and rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera, plus LED headlights and power latching on the nearside sliding door. Drivers and passengers benefit from the Discover Media Navigation system with App-Connect.

It all adds up to a stylish formula that’s likely to appeal to the van’s core market of owner-drivers and private users. Prices start from £28,990 +VAT for the van and £30,620 for the Kombi. Order books are open now and first deliveries are expected in November.

Renault adds automatic option to Kangoo van

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The Renault Kangoo is now available with an automatic gearbox.

The Renault Kangoo van is now available with an automatic gearbox. The French firm has made its Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) automated manual transmission available on the popular small van, providing an option that’s likely to appeal to drivers who spend a lot of time in town and heavy traffic.

The EDC gearbox is available on the dCi 90 and dCi 110 version of the van, and is now available to order. Prices start from £21,805 for the dCi 90 version.

The six-speed EDC is an automatic dual dry clutch transmission, dispensing with the need for a clutch pedal. The ideal gear is selected automatically by an electronic control unit. Gearshift control is of the ‘P-R-N-D’ type, plus an ‘up/down’ shift mode. A push forward on the gear lever directs the transmission to downshift, a pull backwards to upshift.

It takes the gearbox just 290ms to change gear, so it’s a lot quicker and smoother than a human driver. But perhaps the biggest advantage is the creep function. As with a traditional torque converter automatic, the van will creep forwards when you take you foot off the brake pedal. This is very useful when driving in heavy traffic.

According to Renault, the EDC automatic transmission adds 28kg in weight compared with the manual. Official fuel consumption for the Kangoo dCi 90 EDC is 55.4mpg on the combined cycle (NEDC), with CO₂of 136g/km.

Small vans lift new LCV registrations by 1.5% in August

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UK van registrations rose by 1.5% to 15,619 units in August, as a 40% rise in small van (2.0-2.5t) registrations offset falls in most other segments.

The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that registrations of vans with a maximum gross weight of 2.0t-2.5t rose by 39.9% to 3,049 units last month. The most common cause of a large surge in registrations in this class is the delivery of a large fleet order, so I’d imagine this was the explanation.

Elsewhere, registrations were flat or lower, as these figures show:

LCV registrations August 2017 (source: SMMT)

Commenting on the figures, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

“August is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year, ahead of September’s plate change, so the moderate increase in the new van market is welcome news. While year-to-date figures show demand easing, this is in line with market expectations and overall registration volumes remain at a very high level. This stabilising of the market is indicative of what we can expect for the remainder of the year.”

Ford maintains stranglehold

Moving over to look at the mix of vans sold, it’s clear that Ford’s comprehensive and excellent range of vans continue to have a stranglehold on the UK market.

Remarkably, more than one in every four vans sold so far this year has been a Ford. The manufacturer blocked out the top three slots in the best sellers table last month, as sales of the Transit Connect picked up:

The UK’s best-selling vans in August 2017 (source: SMMT)

Ford has always been the dominant van manufacturer in the UK, but I’d guess that the firm’s French and German rivals (plus Vauxhall) may be starting to wonder what they have to do to make in-roads into the Blue Oval’s market share.

More next month.

Ex-rental vans continue to support used LCV prices

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Source: BCA

Average used van values rose by 1.4% to £6,553 in July, according to auction group BCA.

The company said that prices were particularly strong in the fleet/lease and nearly-new sectors, while values of older part-exchange vans fell.

That’s not surprising, given the high levels of ex-rental and other high quality corporate stock that’s hit the market in recent months. Why pay for an old banger when for a little more you can get a much better van?

As usual, the average age and mileage of vans sold last month was lower than that seen during the corresponding period last year:

All vans	Avg Age (mnths)	Avg Mileage	Avg Value
July 2016	53.42	69,632	£5,931
July 2017	49.60	65,881	£6,553

Source: BCA

Duncan Ward, BCA’s LCV Operations Director, said that July had been a good month with “steady demand” accross BCA’s network of locations. However, he cautioned that condition and specification remain important for sellers wanting a good result:

“While demand for larger panel vans was sometimes patchy, there was plenty of interest in any van with a good retail specification and in particular dropsides, tippers and Lutons were much sought after. The lifestyle/4×4 double cab market continues to experience price pressure, largely as a result of the increasing volumes in this sector – basic specification models are more price sensitive than the higher trim models, which the second owner much prefers. Condition and specification remain as important as ever and sellers should be aware that it is vital to appraise and value vehicles accurately to reflect current market sentiment.”

Mr Ward admitted that the growing volumes of corporate stock handled by BCA is helping to drive up the average price of vans sold by the group. Ex-corporate vans are usually from big, well-maintained fleets and are normally under four years old. They’re desirable buys for used owners as they offer good value.

For example, the ex-fleet and lease vans sold by BCA in July had an average age of 39 months and an average mileage of 59,000. The average sale price of £7,716 represented an average of 36.7% of the original manufacturer’s list price. So buyers are able to get a 3.5-year old van for little more than a third of its new cost. It’s easy to see the attraction.

Rare Mk 2 Transit ‘Purdy’ needs your help to stay on the road

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Purdy is an ex-BT Ford Transit Mk 2 — an increasingly scarce model.

Purdy is a rare ex-BT Ford Transit Mk 2 that’s owned by Penny Panagi from St Leonards-on-Sea. This van is well-known around Hastings and among the classic car community, but has fallen on hard times in recent years and is now in urgent need of some serious TLC.

As part of Ford’s celebrations of 100 years of commercial vehicles, Purdy will appear on the Ford stand at this year’s FordFest, which will take place at the Santa Pod drag strip on Sunday, 17 September.

The van is currently described as “too far gone to be economically viable to repair”, but owner Penny is determined to rescue this increasingly rare model and get it back on the road. She’s hoping that UK Transit fans will dig deep and help to fund some of the restoration work this great lady needs.

Such is Purdy’s fame that she even has her own Facebook page, where you can keep up to date with progress on the restoration and chat with other supporters or volunteer your help.

If you’d like to support Purdy’s restoration directly, she also has a crowdfunding page where you can donate: https://www.gofundme.com/23ztpmk.

FordFest event director, Phil Weeden, said:

“It’s imperative that, having survived this long, Purdy remains on the road. Most vans have a very hard life and few live to being over 30 years old, especially ex-utility vehicles such as this one. Penny adores Purdy and the van has become something of an icon among Transit fans and classic vehicle preservationists alike, so we’re hoping that her presence at FordFest will be sufficient to help raise enough funds to continue the restoration. What better way to celebrate 100 years of Ford Commercial Vehicles than to contribute towards the preservation of one so iconic?”

Apparently Purdy does still run, but she’s no flyer and won’t be taking part in the FordFest Drag Race. But visitors to the event should be rewarded with a feast of Ford delights, as more than 2,000 cars are expected to be on display.

Other highlights planned for the show are magazine cover style photo shoots from Blue Pig Photography, where showgoers can have their car modelled on the front of a mag for just £40, plus a Show and Shine sponsored by ValetPRO, entrance photography by Photography UK and stands from the leading Ford titles, Fast Ford and Classic Ford.

Petrol outpaces electric in the race to replace diesel vans

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The Volkswagen Transporter is now available with a 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine with 150 PS or 204 PS power ratings.

I’ve written quite a bit about how petrol and electric power plants can be a more suitable choice than diesel engines for van owners with urban or low-mileage operations.

Figures released today by automotive data specialist cap hpi suggests that petrol is currently winning the race. Steve Botfield, Senior Editor Commercial Vehicles & Motorcycles, said:

“EV shows a YOY growth from 2016 but petrol registrations in this sector have already overtaken the whole of last year’s numbers.

This is not surprising. A number of manufacturers — notably Volkswagen — have increased the choice and marketing of petrol-engined vans over the last year. And while electric models can make very good sense, the reality is that they are still unknown and more limited in scope.

Would-be electric van buyers may be especially concerned about resale value, which is still largely unknown.

Diesel vans remain the only sensible choice for many operators. This is reflected in sales figures, according to Steve Botfield:

Interest in alternative fuelled vehicles within the LCV sector is mainly limited to the small van sector, with both electric and petrol increasing their market share. All other sectors however rely on diesel being the fuel of choice based on pure economy.

Looking at the LCV market as a whole, cap hpi expects new registrations in 2017 to fall by around 5% compared to 2016. If this forecast is correct, it will be the first year since 2010 that LCV registrations have fallen.

We track used van prices and new LCV registration data using data issued by the SMMT and leading auction firms. Follow the vanrental.co.uk blog for regular updates on the state of the used van market.

From Model TT to Transit: Ford celebrates 100 years of vans

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The Ford Model TT van was launched in 1917 and was the company’s first purpose-built van.

Did you know that 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the first purpose-built van made by Ford? I didn’t either, but it turns out that back in 1917, Ford launched the Model TT.

The TT was a purpose-built one-tonne van, making it the direct equivalent of today’s Transit Custom. Obviously much has changed. But as these pictures from the Ford archives make clear, in some ways very little has changed. Like the Transit Custom, the TT provided a flexible and highly customisable way for businesses to transport more or less anything.

The Ford Model TT loaded with straw. Obviously wide loads weren’t such an issue then as they might be now…

The TT had solid tyres and was started with a crank handle. Operators wanting more comfort could specify air-filled rear tyres, which were something of a luxury at that time.

A Ford Model TT with a caged rear body — as used by gardeners and scrap dealers today!

I’ll leave you with this fascinating titbit. According to a study commissioned by Ford, 46% of Britons believe that a “Transit” refers to a specific size of van. Almost a quarter of those questioned used the word “Transit” to describe a typical panel van.

Like it or not, the Transit really is part of the fabric of life in the UK.

UK commercial vehicle exports drive 11.6% higher in H1 2017

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Exports of UK-built vans, trucks and buses rose by 11.6% to 27,818 units during the first half of 2017, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The industry trade body said that the EU continued to account for 94.7% of all CV exports, although noted decent demand for UK buses from Asian and Australiasian markets.

In total, 63.5% of commercial vehicles built in the UK were exported. This has obvious implications for manufacturers concerned about the detail of how Brexit will be implicated. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, says that the government needs to give due consideration to the needs of the automotive industry:

It’s positive to see such strong growth in CV exports, however, with almost every British-built van and truck destined for Europe, this reiterates the critical need to secure a new trading relationship that ensures this important sector can remain competitive.

The British and European vehicle manufacturing industries are highly integrated, and a beneficial relationship will take time to negotiate. This is why we need government to seek an interim arrangement that will maintain our place within the single market and customs union until this can be achieved.

The reality of modern manufacturing is that parts are made in many countries and brought together on a just-in-time basis at the point of final assembly. As such, it’s clear that the close integration of automotive supply chains across Europe depends on rapid, frictionless movement across multiple borders.

Whether Brexit can deliver this for UK manufacturers remains to be seen. Although I suspect the government will be aware of how much employment and inward investment is tied to automotive manufacturing.

New Nissan Navara Trek-1° takes Tekna up a notch

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Only 400 examples of the limited edition Nissan Navara Trek-1° will be available in the UK.

At the start of this year, I flagged up the impending arrival of the Nissan Navara Trek-1° pickup. It’s a well-specified limited edition model of the firm’s popular pickup truck.

The Navara Trek-1° is now on sale in the UK. Just 400 units will be available to UK buyers, so if you haven’t already put your name down you may want to do so soon. Pricing will be an extra £3,435 above the range-topping Navara Tekna model.

The Trek-1° is powered by the Navara’s usual 2.3 dCi 190 engine, which boasts a official combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 44.9mpg for the six-speed manual, and 40.1mpg for the automatic. All versions offer Nissan’s on-demand four-wheel drive.

Among the extras included in the Trek-1° specification are:

Black sport styling bars
Forward-facing LED spot lamps
Black 18-inch, six-spoke alloy wheels
A colour-coded load bed cover

Two colours are available, Black Metallic or Storm White. Both versions come with Trek-1° decals.

Inside, the Trek-1° bets the NissanConnect infotainment system, which includes sat nav and DAB radio, plus 360° Around View Monitor, rear parking sensors and LED headlights. Leather seats, heated front seats and a full-size spare wheel are also included.

It’s a loaded model that’s bound to appeal in the current market. For more details, take yourself to your local Nissan dealer.