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.