NEWS

FORD continues to lead the UK scrappage sales chart and has just recorded its 30,000th scrappage sale. Dave Quick bought a Ford Transit van, meaning Ford has now sold 1100 CVs through scrappage. Hendy Ford sales manager David Graham said ‘Dave Quick is one of a number of business people trading up to new Ford [...]

FIAT has unveiled the all-new Doblo, which will come to the UK from early next year in van and budget people carrier form. What’s more, the new model is also going to be sold in the US – as a Ram! It’s all part of the Fiat-Chrysler marriage, which will see the Dodge brand spin [...]

NEW vans sold from 2014 will have to meet tough green rules demanding a fleet average of 42.8mpg. The EC proposals are part of wider laws to reduce the environmental impact of vans. This will also cut the average CO2 from van makers’ fleet average to 175g/km – tough enough to be met with resistance [...]

VOLKSWAGEN CVs will now be headed by Matthew Bowden who moves from national fleet sales manager. Being an employee of Volkswagen financial services since 1995 has taken him, in that time, to China and three years at Shanghai Volkswagen. He’s timed joining Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles perfectly on cue to launch the new Transporter. Director of [...]

FRY-UPS, fags and fast horses are the stereotypes normally associated with White Van Man, reckons one firm. But this is wrong, says Express insurance – and it conducted a poll to show the truth of the situation. The reality is very different: •    Cereal for breakfast •    Regular gym membership •    Holidays in Latin America [...]

VAN sales are expected to rocket before Christmas, due to more people shopping for things online. Delivery and courier companies will all be taking on extra vehicles to cope with demand. It will be used van sales that could benefit the most from this. New supplies simply won’t be able to ramp up quickly enough. [...]

CAR and van body the SMMT will hold its latest online seminar next week – with the van sector as the subject. Discussions will centre on the problems in the industry, and the opportunities which exist within it. This comes after a slump in CV sales – last month’s sales figures were nearly 40 percent [...]

VOLKSWAGEN has created 20 new van dealer jobs in Kent, with the opening of its new Ashford van centre. The JCB Group dealer is based at Orbital Park, and is the result of a £1.6m investment. It joins another JCB Volkswagen van centre in Sittingboune. Kent Volkswagen Van will also offer a full service and [...]

ONE of the UK’s largest used commercial vehicle sales site has just opened in Neasden, North London. Broadway Motor Company has responded to customer demand and expanded its existing site, creating a 150-vehicle used supersite. Sales will be led there by Ian Griffiths, who offers an idea of the new site’s scale: ‘It is four [...]

LDV, the Birmingham van maker, is closer to being saved, after a Malaysian firm proposed a takeover. The Government is to encourage this with a £5 million 4-week loan, while negotiations continue. Malaysian company Weststar already collaborates with the commercial van maker, to build LDV vans in Malaysia. Now the firm wants to take over [...]

MYTHS that ‘vans always go cheap at auction’ are causing van dealers to suffer shrinking margins. Retail buyers’ attendance at auctions means prices reached can often nudge, well, retail level. Eliminating the profit margin for dealers. But while this is bad for buyers, it’s good news for vendors, who simply have to ensure their standards [...]

COMMERCIAL vehicle dealers were given a welcome boost by the inclusion of CVs in the new car scrap scheme, too. Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes will be eligible for the £2k discount, which could provide a much-needed boost to a sector facing severe pressure. Van production in the UK has declined by nearly two-thirds, and [...]