END OF YEAR UK - MERCEDES VANS - The commercial arm celebrates 7 years of growth.

• Seventh Consecutive Year Of Growth, 13 Industry Awards And 36,952 New Registrations: 2016 Adds Up To A Record Success For Mercedes-Benz Vans

Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd has continued to keep Britain’s businesses moving in 2016 with the brand reporting some seriously enviable numbers including a record 36,952 registrations, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth.

Increases can be seen across the board, from an impressive 13 industry award haul in 2016 including Fleet Van of the Year at the Motor Transport Awards and Van Manufacturer of the Year at the Commercial Fleet Awards, to a 30% rise in Citan registrations.

Mercedes-Benz Vans also celebrated record sales in March (+18% year-on-year), November (+26%), the first quarter of 2016 (+11%), the second quarter (+1%) and the last quarter (+3%), as well as best ever retail sales (+8%), leading to an increase of 7% in the number of new customers choosing Mercedes-Benz Vans.

In terms of used vehicles, the brand has seen a 9% year-on-year growth for used van sales from the Dealer Network, who have themselves, grown massively in 2016. One Mercedes-Benz Vans Dealer sold more than 4,000 vehicles last year – for context, that is more than the Mercedes-Benz Vans sales across Ireland, Hungary, Greece and Luxembourg combined.

In addition, 2016 has seen some significant Dealer investment across the 116 site nationwide Network, with two dedicated Van Centres opened last year – Euro Commercials in Cardiff and Roanza in Liverpool. Rygor Commercials also launched a new, purpose-built Van and Truck site in Gloucester, and there were site redevelopments from Mertrux Nottingham, Orwell Truck & Van Ipswich and Northside Truck & Van Sheffield.

Over 15,500 Service Plans were activated last year, representing more than a 250% increase since 2012, with 109,000 vans going through the Mercedes-Benz authorised repairer network last year.

MobiloVan, Mercedes-Benz Vans’ free UK and Europe-wide roadside assistance, continues to keep customers moving, with an attendance time of still less than an hour and a roadside fix rate of almost 80%.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS) also had another record-breaking year, funding £298m vans in 2016. More new and used vans have been funded than ever before with over 1,000 more vans financed last year than in the previous record year. MBFS continues to fund one in three Mercedes-Benz Vans in the UK.

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd, said: “Our focus to keep our customers’ businesses moving has been unrelenting this year, and it is a focus that we are very proud of; I don’t want us to be seen as another vehicle manufacturer – we are a commercial partner, working hard to support Britain’s businesses.

“Offering the best products is nothing without the service of the best team, and that is something that we have both at Head Office and across our nationwide Dealer Network. I am genuinely humbled to have received the awards and accolades that we have had this year to reflect this, with many judged by van buyers, users and operators. It makes me exceptionally proud to be considered Van Manufacturer of the Year by Commercial Fleet and as I have said before, this is an award that belongs to each individual that works for and on behalf of Mercedes-Benz Vans.

“The motivation for us remains our customers, and I thank them all for their business in 2016, from the one van purchase through to the large fleet deals and the existing van operators that continue to choose our Dealer Network for their maintenance.”