NISSAN REPORT REVEALS CHALLENGES FACED BY FLEET MANAGERS RUNNING
A MODERN DAY LCV FLEET
- 25% of fleet managers are doing nothing to manage fuel costs
- Whole life costs and front end prices are key considerations when adding vans to their fleet
- 67% of fleet managers aren't in favour of adopting new legislative measures for vans
Managing rising fuel prices, vehicle purchase and running costs, and protecting vans from future regulation are all key priorities for the modern day van fleet manager according to the 2013 Nissan Van Report.
Surveying 252 fleet managers, the report aims to understand more of the challenges faced by running vans.
One such challenge is fuel prices. Since 2001 diesel prices have doubled to an average of 139.8p per litre and not surprisingly 75% of fleet managers surveyed were taking measures to control or reduce fuel use, although a quarter of them are still doing nothing.
One half (51%) of respondents said driver training is the most popular measure to reduce fuel use, along with technological interventions such as speed limiters (37%) and telematics (35%).
Costs are clearly a big driver for respondents adding vans to their fleet, with whole life costs (25%) and front-end prices (18%) major considerations. Contract hire monthly rates (12%) and strong residuals (8%) were also important but vehicle reliability was only listed by 7% of fleet managers.
The main appeal of running vans at below 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the lack of operating restrictions. Just 27% said they were in favour reflecting an increased focus on Duty of Care by companies, while 67% of respondents weren't in favour of further legislative measures being introduced.
Of this 27%, telematics devices (48%) were the most popular choices, while 42% supported adoption of an official driving test to allow drivers to drive a van.
When choosing features to add to their vans fleet managers unanimously chose satellite navigation systems (40%) followed by vehicle tracking (13%) and Bluetooth (11%).
Looking at how far vehicles travel on a daily basis nearly 40% of fleet managers said their drivers travel 100 miles or less per day, reinforcing they could use Nissan's eNV200 electric van on their fleets.
Just one in five (22%) cover more than 200 miles each day.
Like van drivers, fleet managers are a loyal bunch with more than half (56%) saying they had been in their current job over 11 years.
"Our research gives an insight into what fleet managers are thinking and the challenges they face running a modern van fleet," explained Jon Pollock, Nissan's corporate sales director.
"It also gives the industry a better idea of what fleets are looking for when buying and running light commercials," he added.
ends...
To obtain a full copy of the van report please contact Linda Robinson in the Nissan press office
(01923 899932 or email linda.robinson@nissan.co.uk)
For any further information please contact Steve Carman and Rick Osborn
(01628 526208 or email steve@nobull-communications.co.uk or rick@nobull-communications.co.uk)
About Nissan in the UK
- Nissan Sunderland Plant manufactures the Nissan Qashqai, the Nissan Note and the Nissan Juke and will manufacture the 100% electric Nissan LEAF from 2013
- Production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles begins this year
- Total plant volume since 1986 stands at more than 6.4 million units with 80 per cent of production exported to 97 markets worldwide
- Total investment made and announced since then is £3.3 billion
- 480,485 units were produced at Sunderland plant in 2011
- Sunderland Plant currently employs 5,400 people
- Nissan's European Design Centre is located in Paddington, London and employs around 50 people
- Nissan's European Technical Centre is based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and employs
around 500 people
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 14,500 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 695,000 vehicles including mini-MPVs, award-winning crossovers, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Nissan now offers 24 diverse and innovative products for sale in Europe today, and is positioned to become the number one Asian brand in Europe.
