Northern Ireland Housing Executive takes delivery of 85 Renault commercial vehicles, in a large purchase order.

• Northern Ireland Housing Executive orders 85 Renault LCVs
• 33 Trafic Panel Vans, 44 Master Panel Vans and eight ‘off-the-shelf’ Master Tippers
• Low emissions and attractive costs contributed to order win through Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework
• Renault LCVs purchased outright and replace NIHE’s leased maintenance vehicles
• Vehicles come with four-year/100,000-mile warranty

Northern Ireland’s strategic housing authority has replaced its entire fleet of leased maintenance vehicles with 85 Renault LCV models.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) ordered 33 Trafic Panel Vans, 44 Master Panel Vans and eight officially-converted Master Tippers after running a tender through the Crown Commercial Service (CCS). The Renault LCVs secured the order due to their excellent value and low emissions.

The company, which offers a range of services to people living in socially rented, privately rented and owner occupied accommodation as well as supporting and working with a number of other public bodies, will use the mix of Renaults in the maintenance of the 89,000 dwellings that it is responsible for across Northern Ireland.

NIHE opted for the Trafic panel van in short wheelbase, low-roof format with the efficient dCi 115 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine, while its Master panel vans were ordered in medium wheelbase, medium-roof specification and powered by the dCi 110 2.3-litre turbo diesel engine. The Master Tippers – available to order ‘off-the-shelf’ through Renault’s dealer network and with 45-degree rear-tipping ‘Scattolini’ bodies fitted by accredited Renault supplier VFS – were ordered in front-wheel drive, medium wheelbase specification with the dCi 125 2.3-litre turbo diesel engine.  

All ordered models feature the generous Business specification, which includes DAB radio with Bluetooth, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with HSA (Hill Start Assist) and Grip Xtend, electric front windows and remote central locking.

The new Renaults also come with a four-year warranty that provides the ultimate peace of mind for this period or 100,000 miles.

The Trafic and Master Panel Vans were sourced through Charles Hurst Renault in Belfast, with the Master Tippers supplied by Shelbourne Motors in Craigavon. Unlike the vehicles that they replace, the Renault LCVs were bought outright by Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

David Roe, Fleet Manager, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, said: “We considered a number of vehicles through the tender, but none could rival the value or the emissions offered by Renault.

“Despite the large size of the order and our urgent request for the vehicles, all have arrived on schedule and now that we have the first few out in the field, we’ve had excellent feedback from our operatives."

He continued: “Fuel economy is proving to be very impressive and the teams are especially pleased with the quality feel of the vehicles, the level of equipment and the fact that they drive like a car.”

Darren Payne, Sales Director, Groupe Renault UK, said: “We are exceptionally pleased that in the face of some very strong competition and through a very extensive selection process, Renault LCVs were deemed to be the best fit for Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

“This is a particularly sizeable order for the region and is a perfect illustration of the broad appeal of our award-winning Light Commercial Vehicles, including the availability of our in-house Master conversion programme that has made it very simple for Northern Ireland Housing Executive to enhance its fleet with quality Tippers that have the official manufacturer seal of approval.”

Available with a choice of four efficient turbo diesel engines, the award-winning Renault Trafic is available in Panel Van, Crew Van and Passenger bodystyles. It is priced from £18,475 ex. VAT.

The Renault Master is available from £21,420 ex. VAT. Customers can choose from five different engines, front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive; and three bodystyles – Panel Van, Crew Van and Passenger.

Renault Master Conversions start from £23,600 ex. VAT, available directly from the factory straight to the dealer. In addition to the Master Tipper that is priced from £27,350 ex. VAT, other ‘ready-made’ Master conversions include a Dropside, Box Van and Luton Loloader.

All Renault LCV vehicles come with the reassurance of the Renault Business Quality Commitment – the manufacturer’s 13-point plan that guarantees customers will receive the very best service. Designed to keep customers moving no matter what and deliver hassle-free business motoring, the plan covers everything from an impressive warranty and transparent pricing to the availability of courtesy vehicles and a dedicated customer hotline.

Renault’s UK van sales increased significantly in 2015 to 25,458 vehicles – up 39.5 per cent compared to 2014 and significantly outpaced the UK van market which grew by of 15.5 per cent, according to official figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers.

The strong UK result contributed to Renault being the best-selling LCV brand in Europe for the 18^thconsecutive year. In a market that was up 11.4 per cent, Renault’s LCV sales rose to 16.9 per cent – equivalent to the sale of 29,000 additional vehicles across Europe