FLEET WORLD - Volkswagen is named manufacture of the year for its commercial side.

• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles claims top Van Fleet World Honours award
• Brand is named Manufacturer of the Year in 2017 awards
• New services and initiatives aimed at fleets are key to success
• Crafter wins first UK awards: named ‘Best New Van’ and ‘Best Large Van’

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has taken home the triple crown from the 2017 Van Fleet World Honours, with the brand winning the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award and the new Crafter claiming the ‘Best New Van’ and ‘Best Large Van’ accolades.

Van Fleet World judges commended Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ work over the past 12 months, with a number of initiatives piloted by the brand now being adopted by the Van Centre network.

Commenting on the win, Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World, said: “Volkswagen has worked hard over a number of years to develop an outstanding Van Centre network that delivers a dedicated service to fleet and retail customers across the UK. However in the last 12 months the brand has piloted a number of initiatives that are now being adopted by the network, all aimed at improving service for fleet customers. It seems to be working too. 

Volkswagen is number two in the UK light commercial vehicle market with sales having doubled since 2009. More importantly, the company recorded record levels of customer satisfaction in 2016, making it a worthy winner of our Van Manufacturer of the Year Award.”

Initiatives introduced include head of business development support at every Van Centre, with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles ensuring the needs of trade customers are being fully met through business experts employed at each location. An extended hours offer is also being rolled out across all Van Centres, along with Mobile Service Clinics.

The new Crafter also picked up two key awards – its first in the UK after being named International Van of the Year in September 2016. In awarding the Crafter its Best New Van and Best Large Van accolades, the Van Fleet World judges said: “It’s not often that a van manufacturer has the chance to create a new vehicle, not just from a clean sheet of paper, but with a completely new factory dedicated to its production. Volkswagen has grabbed the opportunity with both hands, to meet the needs of large van users in every sector.”

Praising its wide range of drivetrains, bodies, engines and driver assistance systems, Gilkes concluded: “Volkswagen had one chance to get new Crafter right and it seems to have hit the spot first time.”

Chris Black, head of fleet at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, collected the awards on behalf of the brand at the ceremony in London.  He said:  “We’re overjoyed to be named Manufacturer of the Year and for all of the brand’s hard work to be recognised. It’s also great for the all-new Crafter to have its first two UK awards, reinforcing the strength of the brand and quality of our products.”

Volkswagen Transporter extends winning streak at this year’s Van Fleet World Honours

• Volkswagen Transporter extends winning streak at this year’s Van Fleet World Honours
• Latest generation named ‘Best New Van’ and ‘Best Medium Van’
• Transporter’s wide range, quality ride and smooth engines key to success

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ latest generation Transporter has continued its winning streak, claiming the ‘Best Medium Van’ and ‘Best New Van’ awards at this year’s Van Fleet World Honours. 

The Transporter’s superb drivability, extensive range and smooth, economical engines gave it the edge over its rivals in the hotly contested medium van sector of the LCV market.

The sixth-generation Transporter offers two wheelbase options, three roof heights and a wide choice of load volumes and payloads. The Transporter is also available with a range of 2.0-litre engines, manual and DSG automated transmissions and two- and four-wheel drive.

Dan Gilkes, Van Fleet World editor commented: “All of the players in this market have produced incredibly strong mid-weight contenders. This is perhaps the hardest class to decide, until you get behind the wheel and drive. The T6 Transporter had this award sewn up from the moment we first turned the key in the ignition. Of all the vans that we tried last year, Volkswagen’s T6 Transporter was the one that delivered a winning drive.”

Available as a panel van, kombi, shuttle or Caravelle as well as with chassis cab and dropside variants, the Transporter comes with a comprehensive list of safety equipment which includes standard Driver Alert and Automatic Post Collision Braking Systems.  The sixth generation Transporter also boasts an impressive list of additional safety feature options including Adaptive Cruise Control, City Emergency Braking System and High Beam Assist.

Chris Black, Head of Fleet for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, collected the awards on behalf of the brand at the ceremony in London, and commented: “This is another excellent result for the Transporter and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The Transporter continues to impress judging panels across the industry with its winning blend of flexibility, reliability and drivability, and the judges’ views are also shared by our customers. This latest iteration of the iconic Transporter is proving to be the best yet.”

These latest awards join a growing number in Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ trophy cabinet. Recent wins include the prestigious ‘International Van of the Year 2016’ award, and VansA2Z’s ‘Van of the Year 2016’ accolade.