At the event – held last Thursday 5 May at the De Vere Harben, Newport Pagnell and hosted by Mercedes-Benz – Carol Kirk, strategic account manager for vans, told delegates that the move, in advance of legislative deadlines, would help fleet operators plan vehicle replacement cycles to comply with forthcoming urban clean air zone regulations.
Highlighting that meeting European Union Euro6 legislation was one of the key challenges facing fleet operators, Kirk said: “Fleet replacement cycles need to be planned for if businesses want to avoid being charged for entry to clean air zones.”
She said the other key challenges facing fleet operators were to ensure vans were fit for purpose and that they clearly differentiated between the price of a van and the value of a vehicle.
Suggesting that calculations showed that the average cost to a business of a van being off the road was £750 a day – although some figures report it to be as much as £2,500 if contract penalties were included –Kirk said: “Our fleet customers chose Mercedes-Benz vans because they are reliable and durable and we have the right aftersales solution in place.”
Mercedes-Benz franchise dealers offer out-of-hours servicing with some providing a 24-hour option, Kirk added: “Price and cost are two very different things. It is vital to look at what a van will cost to operate over three-five years of operating life.”
