A Midlands-based housing association has ordered more than 80 vans from Nissan – with pricing, specification and great customer service securing the deal.
The vehicles – predominantly examples of the midsize Primastar – have been acquired by Citizen, based in Birmingham.
One of the UK’s largest housing associations, the company operates a fleet of around 300 vehicles, and is in the process of upgrading 85 of them to the Nissan Primastar and its larger Interstar sibling.
The business had been using a rival provider for over a decade, but Scott Fincham, Citizen’s maintenance operations support manager, explained that he and his colleagues had looked at options available from various manufacturers when it was time to acquire some new vehicles.
Fincham said the Tekna-level Primastars in particular delivered in terms of both price and specification.
“Our early feedback is that we’re absolutely delighted,” he commented. “We’re chuffed to bits with our new Nissan vans, we really are. The spec is so good that our drivers think all their Christmases have come at once!”
The organisation has also repurposed internal racking from older vehicles, saving thousands of pounds in the process and enabling higher-spec vehicles to be chosen for future use.
The new fleet additions are being used by tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians, or members of Citizen’s estate services team, whose duties include emptying vacant properties and collecting bulky waste.
The new deal involved a number of individuals and organisations, including Citizen fleet manager David Pennell; Jonathan Keddie, national public sector manager in Nissan’s fleet sales operation; Lakhy Singh at West Way Nissan; Andy Hill at Lex Autolease; Mediafleet; TVL Security and telematics firm Masternaut.
Jonathan Keddie said: “We couldn’t be more delighted that the Citizen team are enjoying life with their new Nissan Primastar and Interstar vans. With a versatile range, robust design and smart assistance technologies, whatever the needs of your business, there’s a Nissan van to match.”
