Vinci selects first Mercedes-Benz Vitos for Dixons contract 17 February 2011
Compact external dimensions yet good carrying capacity and an attractive maintenance package were the factors behind Vinci's purchase of 75 Mercedes-Benz Vitos.
Vinci Fleet Services managing director Mark Blanchard says the Vitos were due to work on its Dixons Retail contract, under which Vinci Facilities is responsible for maintaining Dixons, Currys and PC World stores nationwide.
However, the first units were so well received by the engineers who use them, that Vinci Fleet Services extended its order, and the Vitos have now been assigned to other contracts as well.
Supplied by Liverpool dealer, Road Range Commercials, with support from Mercedes-Benz UK's Fleet Van sales team, the new vans are all Long-bodied Vito 111CDI with Bluetooth phone connections and air-conditioning.
Their cargo areas have been fitted with Tevo racking and storage systems, while roof bars are used to carry ladders and piping.
Widnes-based Vinci Fleet Services manages some 3,000 vehicles, including 1,100 vans. The company has been buying 3.5- and 5.0-tonne Sprinter vans for 10 years, but this is its first experience of the 2.77-tonne Vito.
"In this case the Vito suited the work profile," explains Blanchard. "Vinci Facilities wanted a smaller, more efficient and economical van, but one which offered a reasonable payload capacity."
As well as gas bottles and metal cutting gear, the vehicles on the Dixons contract have to carry air-conditioning compressors, "and they're not the lightest pieces of kit", says Blanchard.
And he adds: "Like all operators we … focus on whole life operating costs and it was the factoring in of the Vito's long service intervals and maintenance package costs that swung the deal in favour of Mercedes-Benz."
Author
Brian Tinham
Related Companies
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd
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