Skoda UK is delighted to announce it's agreed a multi car contract with the East Coast Ambulance Service.

ŠKODA UK is delighted to announce the beginning of a new contract with South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb). The deal will result in ŠKODA Octavias being deployed as front-line rapid response vehicles across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North-East Hampshire. 

With 35 Octavias already delivered and 20 more on the way later this month, the ongoing fleet modernisation programme within SECAmb is fully under way.

The ŠKODA Octavia 2.0 TDI 4x4 Estate SE will be incorporated into the SECAmb rapid response fleet, which covers an area of 3,600 square miles and responds to more than 800,000 life-threatening incidents every year. The cars will be driven by Clinical Operations Managers and Paramedics.

The ŠKODA Octavia was unanimously chosen from a lengthy list of competitors – all five-door estate cars, with either 4x4 or all-wheel drive. The right vehicle had to be responsive, capable of holding standard clinical kit and sophisticated diagnostic equipment, as well as be able to operate reliably during inclement weather. 

The Octavia 4x4 stood out due to its cavernous interior space and extensive technology, as well as representing great value for money.  

With the operational fleet answering 800,000 calls and completing in excess of 17 million miles across the South East every year, SECAmb's staff are required to work at a speed that is often critical to saving lives.

Those driving the ŠKODA Octavia will now benefit from a car that returns a combined 61.3mpg, has up to 1,740 litres of boot space and which emits just 120g/km of CO₂.

SECAmb Head of Fleet Operations, Justin Wand, said: “It was really important to recognise the versatility we required from a vehicle fulfilling the front-line rapid response role.

"Our patients need the reassurance that we are able to get to them in their hour of need and our staff deserve to operate in a comfortable space, with all the kit they need to be clinically effective. We saw theŠKODA Octavia as the perfect match, as it is built to a high specification, is environmentally efficient and is great value for money."

Patrick McGillycuddy, Head of Fleet at ŠKODA UK, commented: “We are extremely pleased that SECAmb has chosen to supply its paramedics with ŠKODA Octavias. Spacious, functional and capable of high performance the Octavia 2.0 TDI 4x4 Estate SE is the ideal vehicle to take on the rigours of front-line ambulance service."

SECAmb Driving Standards Manager, Simon Macartney, added: "Space, good tech, value and above all 4x4 capability were the essentials for our rapid response vehicles. The ŠKODA Octavia Estate 4x4 fulfilled all of these requirements and more, but it was our relationship with ŠKODA and the excellent package they offered us helped to seal the deal."  

The ŠKODA Octavia Estate was recently honoured with the label ‘Best Estate Car’ at the annual Fleet Newsawards and is available with P11D values from just £16,230 and BIK of just 16 per cent. 

ALL VW group brands are now accepted into supplying cars to the Crown Commercial Services.

Volkswagen Group UK Ltd – which encompasses the Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles, Audi, SEAT and ŠKODA brands – has been appointed as a supplier to the public sector, police and emergency services, securing a three-year contract under the new Crown Commercial Services (CCS) vehicle supply framework agreement.

The new three-year Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM1070 Vehicle Supply Framework Agreement, which took effect in December, supersedes two agreements which treated the public sector and the police and emergency services separately, ensuring a wider audience for the Group’s extensive range of cars and vans. 

All Group brands, rather than individual models, have been appointed under the new framework, which again expands the potential reach of the contract to vehicles which until now may have been out of scope.

Behind the Volkswagen Group bid was Technical Sales Manager, Steve Cowell.  Commenting on the Group’s success he said: ‘The new CCS agreement provides us with much broader scope for supply and allows us to showcase vehicles within our range for a variety of different roles – from public sector pool cars through police ‘beat cars’ and ambulances to motorway traffic vehicles.’  He added: ‘We’re delighted to have been appointed under the framework and are committed to ensuring our vehicles and our people provide these important new customers with the service and back-up they need and deserve.’

Of 12 manufacturers who submitted tenders for commercial vehicle approval, five were awarded contracts, including Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles; for passenger cars, 12 of 18 tendering manufacturers were approved, four of which were Volkswagen Group brands.  The first orders under the new framework were taken just before Christmas.

Hyundai gets OK to continue supplying cars for Emergency Services.

• Hyundai retains its position on the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Vehicle Purchase Framework
• CCS Framework now also includes ‘blue light’ lot , meaning more Hyundai vehicles are set for emergency service and high profile police use
• New arrangement follows successful four-year period in which Hyundai supply has grown rapidly to more than 1200 vehicles a year to the public sector

Hyundai Motor UK has been awarded a place on the Crown Commercial Services (CSS) Vehicle Purchase Framework enabling continued supply to the 'blue light' sector – the emergency services – and to a whole range of public bodies. The remit follows a successful four-year tenure for Hyundai as a supplier to the previous CCS and the National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) Framework.

Under new arrangements, Hyundai has continued access to the blue light market, as well as the broader public sector: everything from central government to local authorities, health, education, defence, and not-for-profit organisations.

Martin Wilson, Fleet Director, Hyundai Motor UK said: "The emergency services are discerning and demanding customers, and rightly so, when lives may depend on vehicle reliability and flexibility. With these high-profile customers using our vehicles, it acts as a powerful recommendation to potential buyers.

"Hyundai started sales to police forces in 2010, with a modest total of 41; within a year that soared to more than 350, and now tops 600 a year. We have supplied some 2,250 cars to blue light customers during the past four years and this new agreement should see that figure rise again.”

The police forces supplied by Hyundai are spread widely across England and Wales, with the biggest customer boasting more than 600 vehicles, including 500 i30s. Hyundai’s major customers are responsible for policing a total land mass of over 8,000 square miles and a population of nearly 20 million people.

Commenting on recent success, Denis Watling, Public Sector Assistant Manager, Hyundai Motor UK, said: "We're confident that our well-known five-year/unlimited mileage warranty, dedicated fleet and aftersales teams and award winning lineup of products will continue to prove as popular with police forces and other public bodies in 2015 and beyond."

Bidders were also judged on more specific capabilities such as the ability to supply priority parts and bespoke training to emergency service workshops. Hyundai has invested heavily in a specific aftersales programme for its Emergency Service operator customers over the past 12-18 months, including the provision of training at Hyundai’s purpose-built Training Academy just off the M40.