Mears Group has awarded a five-year fleet contract to Ford for up to 1,000 light commercial vehicles a year, the first 100 of which – Transit Connect vans – have been delivered this month.
Gloucester-based Mears has a 4,300-strong van fleet which is used to provide maintenance services to local authorities for social housing.
"The new Ford Transit Connect's fresh styling, greater load space, better economy, emissions and whole-life costs are the factors which make it a very attractive prospect for us," says Jo Hammonds, Mears Group's asset manager.
The Transit Connect provides up to 3.6m³ of load space in long wheelbase models, and can carry up to 1,000kg of cargo. Its load-through bulkhead also accommodates load items up to 3m long, and a flexible dual front passenger seat allows three occupants to sit in the front.
The new model is offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines.
