The range-topping Movano

“It is becoming increasingly important for companies to empower employees and create both job satisfaction and enhanced safety”

Almost three years ago, Vauxhall made a conscious decision to relaunch its light commercial vehicle operation and since that date, the Luton-based manufacturer has not looked back as sales have rocketed.

That success, which has seen it significantly peg back the market leadership of chief rival Ford, has been built around a solid foundation of having a van for all seasons, from the car-derived Corsavan, Astravan and Combo, to the Vivaro and range-topping Movano. Add into the mix Vauxhall’s strategy of developing a two-tier franchise operation, dealing first with heavy vans and second with the light van sector, and there is a greater focus on the special needs of light commercial vehicle operators.

Vauxhall’s light commercial vehicle success, which in March saw it sell 7,929 vans – up 23.3% on March 2003 – and establishing a new single-month sales record beating a 15-year-old figure, has come as it has responded to a radically-changing market. If this year’s sales-busting trend continues, Vauxhall commercial vehicle sales will beat last year’s all-time of 49,982 units, which was a staggering 54.3% up on 2002, which itself was a 31.1% rise on 2001. With an ever-growing shortage of skilled technicians and qualified trades people in many industries, it is becomingly increasingly important for companies to use every opportunity to empower employees and create both job satisfaction – and, in the case of motor vehicles – enhanced safety.

Increasingly, choice has been a key feature of company car provision and the same trend is now developing within LCV provision. Historically, vans have been bereft of both safety and comfort features, but in today’s changing marketplace Vauxhall’s booming sales are representative of a manufacturer that understands the demands of both fleet decision-makers and van drivers.

The latest safety feature to become standard across Vauxhall’s van range is ABS brakes, following the launch late last year of the Movano. National vans sales manager Ian Hucker says: “ABS is a key feature in accident avoidance. More and more fleet operators have been raising the ABS issue with us as they see it as their top priority. Health and safety is becoming a bigger issue within the industry and with our customers.” In many fleets – although by no means all – vans are allocated to a specific driver and if the vehicle boasts safety and comfort features beloved of employees – such as airbags, ABS brakes, air conditioning and an audio system – evidence suggests it will be significantly better looked after. Vauxhall’s drive for safety across its van range has also, inevitably, been driven by an ever-increasing health and safety legislative focus on at-work driving. While car-derived vans – such as the Corsavan, Astravan and Combo – may be little different in features to the cars that inspired them, the Luton-based manufacturer’s Vivaro and Movano ensure a van is available for all job needs.

Mr Hucker says: “Health and safety issues are rapidly rising in terms of the fleet manager’s index of concern. The LCV, after all, is far more than a mere means of transport. It is potentially a mobile toolbox as well – with all of the health and safety implications that entails.” Ensuring a van is “fit for purpose” is a crucial aspect of vehicle selection. That criteria includes making sure vehicles are not only the right size for the job intended but also equipped to carry out that job. If both aspects are handled correctly it is likely that the vehicle will be “safe”. It is because of the specialist knowledge required to equip particularly larger vehicles such as the Vivaro and Movano, that Vauxhall has established two specific van dealer networks.

New Combo

“The LCV is far more than a mere means of transport, it is potentially a toolbox as well – with all the health and safety implications that entails”

“The structure is ensuring that every operator of a Vauxhall commercial vehicle, from Corsavan through to the Movano, is receiving the best possible support wherever he is in the country,” says Mr Hucker. “There is no doubt that prospective customers feel confident about a product when they know that every dealer will have someone on its staff specifically focused on vans.” The heavy van franchise is composed of a nationwide network of 117 dealers who sell and service every vehicle in the Vauxhall van range, from the Corsavan to the largest Movano. The second tier light van franchise recognises Vauxhall’s strength in the sector, and these additional 89 dealers are authorised to sell and service Corsavan, Astravan and Combo, providing the widest geographic spread of outlets.

He adds: “While our car-derived vans have all the features of the cars to which they are related, panel vans in all their guises are very different vehicles. Therefore, it is essential that they are sold and maintained by specialists. That way customers are assured that they will be buying a vehicle which is fit for the purpose they intend to use it for. “That is particularly true of Movano, the largest van in our range, where, apart from panel vans, chassis cab, crew cab and minibus conversions are available.”

In speccing a van to meet job requirements fleet decision-makers can equip a vehicle to ensure it meets their own individual needs. For example, nearside sliding door access means that van users do not have to stand in the middle of the road to access the load-carrying section. Similarly, numerous bulkhead variations depending on vehicle use can also be specified to ensure driver and passengers are protected from any load movement. Mr Hucker concludes: “Sales have doubled in just two years. Over the past four years, the share gap between market leader Ford and Vauxhall has halved to just 11 points. Vauxhall sales are more than double the number three player. We are proud of these figures. What they show is that if you are able to offer a full range of vans with full aftersales back-up, you are a winner. That is precisely what Vauxhall set out to do when we to a large extent relaunched the Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles brand.”