Business Van Awards - Volkswagen takes a triple win at this years awards.

• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles scoops three awards at 2017 Business Van Awards
• Transporter named overall Business Van of the Year for 2017
• Transporter awarded ‘Best Large Trades Van’
• Kombi wins ‘Best Crew Van’ third year in a row

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has scored its second hat-trick in two days, having claimed a further three trophies at the 2017 Business Van Awards earlier today. The Transporter was named ‘Best Large Trades Van’, the Transporter Kombi took the honours for ‘Best Crew Van’ for the third year running, and the Transporter was named overall Business Van of the Year.

The Transporter is renowned for its reliability, excellent build quality and efficient engines, all of which were factors in the judges’ decisions. The Business Van judges were also impressed with its size and notable load capacity, making it the ideal vehicle to claim the accolades.  

Equally as impressive was the Transporter Kombi, awarded ‘Best Crew Van’ for the third year in a row. Business Van judges noted its fresh design, host of engineering and safety features and all-new infotainment system key.

The sixth generation Transporter is available as a panel van, kombi, shuttle or Caravelle, as well as with chassis cab and dropside variants. It also comes with a comprehensive list of safety equipment, including Driver Alert and Automatic Post Collision Braking Systems.

Ralph Morton, editorial director of Business Vans, said: “The Transporter once again has shown itself to be a consistently formidable vehicle and proved to be the ideal choice for tradesmen to use across the country to progress their businesses.”

He continued: “The Transporter Kombi also remains an essential vehicle for small business and trade needs. Doubling as a dual-use vehicle, it is utilised as a working van during the day, but can accommodate the family at the weekend due to its extra seating practicality with sliding rear windows, leaving owners in the comfortable position of not needing an additional vehicle.

“The Transporter won our first Business Van of the Year Award in 2014, and the new sixth-generation version continues in the same vein. For those in the trades and small businesses, the Transporter really is an iconic van.”

Head of fleet at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Chris Black, collected the awards for the brand and said: “This is a fantastic result which builds on what has been another fantastic year for the Transporter. Backed up by our Working With You promise and fleet aftersales support, we’re really proud of the van and all it has to offer.”

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.”

Geneva - 70 years ago the Bulli was found, today, a special edition celebrates that first Transporter.

• In honour of the great classic, special edition comes with many visual and technical highlights
• Yellow-and-white two-tone paintwork; refined and modern inside

Around 70 years ago, Dutch VW importer Ben Pon visited the Wolfsburg plant and came across a curious vehicle – the 'Plattenwagen'. 

He subsequently made a sketch in his notebook of a vehicle type that did not exist at that time anywhere in the world. His sketch became the launchpad for a vehicle that would sell in the millions – the Volkswagen Transporter. 

In commemoration of this idea, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is unveiling a '70 Years of the Bulli' special edition at the Geneva International Motor Show which combines the charm of the classic retro style with technology and quality of today.

The special edition model is based on the Multivan Comfortline and has been created using a mix of different elements from the Multivan Highline and the California, for example, the chrome trim and wood-look floor. 

Just right for spring, the special edition is also optionally available in fresh two-tone paintwork of Candy White and Metallic Kurkuma Yellow.

Special identifying features: the 'Bulli' badges and anniversary sticker on the rear window underline the relationship with its cult classic predecessor. 

The '70 Years of the Bulli' special edition also features chrome trim including diverse chrome strips and chrome-look mirror housings. In addition to that, the passenger compartment has tinted windows, the tread plates feature 'Bulli' lettering and stainless steel inserts and the loading edge covers of the rear hatch are also stainless steel. 

Matt black decals around the B-pillars round off the overall look.

In addition to the standard 17-inch 'Davenport' wheels, also available as options are the popular 18-inch 'Disc' wheels in the classic look with white rims or alternatively in classic silver.

The new special edition model looks strikingly sophisticated inside as well: deluxe lighting cleverly shows off the modified 'Visitamo' seat covers, which in turn are stylistically coordinated with the refined look of the 'Dark Wood' floor covering. 

The '70 Years of the Bulli' special edition is also equipped as standard with a multifunction leather steering wheel, a 'Premium' multifunction display and an instrument panel framed in decorative 'Black Glossy' trim otherwise available only in the Highline version. 

The special edition has electrically adjustable, heated, fold-in exterior mirrors and also includes ParkPilot for front and rear as standard.

The special edition model will be available to order in Germany from the beginning of May. UK availability has yet to be confirmed.

The AA takes a further 158 VW Transporter vans over and above the 500 they took in 2016.

• Vehicles will be used across AA’s renowned recovery service fleet
• AA’s order of 500 Transporters last year is bolstered by further 158 vehicles
• New deal continues close relationship between AA and Volkswagen

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is extending its working partnership with the UK’s largest motoring organisation, The AA, with an order to supply 158 Transporters. 

The additional vehicles come on top of The AA’s order last year for around 500 Transporter vans, which were fully converted at The AA’s conversion site in Oxfordshire.

The Transporters will be used as roadside and recovery vehicles, specially-equipped with warning beacons, racking and a deployable recovery trolley. 

They will allow The AA’s engineers to provide a premier roadside breakdown repair and recovery service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Twin batteries and a higher spec driver’s seat, among other options, have been added to each vehicle. Out of the 158 Transporters, 24 have a DSG gearbox, allowing for a smoother drive and better fuel economy.

Like all Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, The AA’s new Transporters benefit from Volkswagen’s award-winning aftersales programme, and with 72 dedicated Volkswagen Van Centres and 24 Authorised Repairers across the UK, patrols will never be far away from support.

Chris Wiltshire, Fleet Engineer for The AA said: “We couldn’t be happier to continue the fantastic relationship The AA has with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. We have a vehicle that has been developed to suit our needs, and which is converted with specialist racking to accommodate The AA’s tow system, additional equipment and tools.

“The close working partnership provides services to The AA’s wider customer base and supports Volkswagen Group by providing the dedicated Volkswagen breakdown assistance service.”

The AA will continue to replace a proportion of its 2,200 strong fleet of breakdown vans, which are coming to the end of their operational life, with Transporters, which have proved to be dependable, right for the job and efficient.

Volkswagen celebrates it's commercial vehicle devision topping 50,000 registrations in the year.

• Record UK registrations for the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand
• Over 50,000* vehicles registered by the brand for the first time
• Market share up to over 12 per cent; brand retains number two position
• Substantial increase in Transporter and Caddy volumes

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles produced a fifth consecutive new UK sales record in 2016, registering over 45,000 new vans. 

The latest generation Transporter and Caddy model ranges saw significant sales increases, while the brand’s passenger carriers and campervan registrations took Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ total 2016 registrations to 50,068*, up nearly five per cent on 2015 (47,739). 

This result means the brand has more than doubled its volume since 2009.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also not only maintained but strengthened its number two position in the light commercial vehicles sector, recording a market share of 12.1 per cent.

The multi-award winning Transporter accounted for 22,872 registrations, up over 11 per cent on 2015 (50,533). 8,156 Caddys were registered, down 757 compared to 2016, though Caddy Maxi sales were up over 35 per cent to 6,377, giving total Caddy registrations of 14,533.

Both the Amarok and Crafter models saw small declines in sales as the brand prepares to relaunch the refreshed pick-up and all-new Crafter this year. (3,586 Amarok down from 3,908 in 2015; 7,137 Crafter down from 8,009 in 2015.)

Commenting on the brand’s performance, Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Carl zu Dohna, said: ‘2016 was a really successful year for the brand, with the Transporter and Caddy consolidating their positions in the market after being launched in September 2015. I’m really proud of my team and the Van Centre network for achieving this result.’

He added: ‘I’m delighted that customers are getting to know our latest products and appreciating not only their inherent strengths, but also the after sales support and complete mobility packages which we have put around them. The support we give to our customers to help them choose the right vans and minimise in-life downtime, as well as adding value to our range of products remains extremely important to us.’

*SMMT data. Includes passenger carrying models registered as ‘cars’:

• Passenger carriers include: Caravelle, Transporter Shuttle, Caddy Life, Caddy Maxi Life and Caddy Maxi Camper.
• Transporter registrations include California.
• Registrations include LCV/HCV market up to 6.0T.

A BlueMotion version of the 6th-gen Transporter panel van is available to order adding impressive economy to the award winner.

A BlueMotion version of the sixth-generation Transporter panel van is now available to order from Volkswagen Van Centres, adding impressive economy to the multi-award-winning van’s already long list of credentials.

The most frugal edition of the T6 short wheelbase panel van has at its heart the proven 2.0-litre TDI 102 PS Euro 6 common rail diesel engine. 

Even in standard Startline form with five-speed manual gearbox, this van returned impressive economy and CO₂ figures: 47.9 mpg and 153 g/km. The BlueMotion model is capable of returning 51.4 mpg on the combined cycle (a seven per cent improvement) and CO₂ emissions reduced to 145 g/km.

In order to achieve these improvements, the new BlueMotion Transporter adds aerodynamically improved wheel spoilers and lowered suspension, modified gear ratios, low friction tyres, cruise control and a speed limiter (to 62 mph) to the standard BlueMotion Technology modifications which come as standard on all T6 models. These include Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems.

The new Transporter BlueMotion has a gross vehicle weight of 2.7 tonnes, and a payload of 839 kg, which is up to 121 kg more than that of the short wheelbase T26 2.0-litre TDI 102 PS five-speed manual.

Costing £19,670 (basic price ex VAT), the Transporter BlueMotion is available to order now at all Volkswagen Van Centres. 

Basic price exc VAT	VAT	RRP inc VAT	OTR package	OTR exc VAT	OTR inc VAT
£19,670.00	£3,934.00	£23,604.00	£987.00	£20,540.00	£24,591.00

Fuel economy			CO2 emissions
Urban mpg	Extra-urban mpg	Combined mpg	145g/km
40.9	58.9	51.4

Performance
Power (PS@rpm)	Torque (Nm@rpm)	Top speed (mph)
102PS @ 3000-3750	250 @ 1,500-2,750	62

Mountjoy, the building maintenance company has placed and received it's order of 130 Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

• 110 Transporters, 10 Crafters and 10 Caddys provided to Mountjoy
• Vans wrapped, branded and racked out to offer optimum use of space
• Vehicles will be used by tradesmen delivering rapid repairs across Southern England

A leading provider of building and maintenance support services in Southern England has significantly increased its fleet by taking on 130 vehicles from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Portsmouth-based Mountjoy’s fleet now includes 110 Transporters, 10 Crafters and 10 Caddys. The vans will be used by Mountjoy tradesmen to provide a responsive repair service to housing tenants as part of its key contract with Portsmouth City Council.

The vans were chosen for their robustness, Bluetooth technology and all-round parking sensors, with Mountjoy wrapping and branding the vehicles and having them racked out to provide optimum use of space, with deadlocks also added.

The new vans see Mountjoy extending its fleet to over 300 vehicles. The large load capacity of all three Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles models helps the tradesmen with packing and unpacking equipment on-site, as well as allowing them to carry out refurbishment projects more efficiently.

Dan Carlin, Finance Director at Mountjoy, said: “The vehicles we use are as important as the work we provide and deliver. So it was an easy decision for us to turn to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for the supply of 130 vans.

“Both the design and practicality of the vans will make a real difference to our team. They look superb after being wrapped and branded, and our tradesmen have been nothing but positive about them.

“They now have hands-free technology and are able to ring into our call centre to give details of their jobs on site before they leave, which is a real benefit.”

Mountjoy has an excellent reputation for delivering flexible, tailored services across Southern England, with numerous term maintenance contracts with local government organisations, universities and housing associations. They carry out refurbishment projects for a variety of customers, and construction developments including design and build across both the public and private sectors.