Vans: Not Just for Van Drivers

A recent survey by commercial vehicles manufacturer Vauxhall has found that more drivers than ever are happy to get behind the wheel of a van. 81% of those questioned who had taken advantage of van rental 'believed driver safety had been well-catered for'. 90% were happy with the level of comfort provided.

"It's really pleasing to see that attitudes about vans are changing, we've always been committed to enhancing the performance, comfort and the safety of our vehicles."

It is not clear from the press release if people's expectations had been exceeded but the results are certainly positive. Van usage seems to have crossed over to the point where those who have not previously driven a light commercial vehicle are willing to give it a try. Van rental seems to be an increasingly popular alternative to hiring a van plus driver.

Removal companies are presumably not happy about the increase in people hiring vans to transport their belongings. There is money to be saved however and in a difficult economy that means a lot.

Perhaps this is due to an increase in comfort and safety levels for commercial vehicles or perhaps it is just because more people have tried driving a van now. apparently 40% of drivers have now driven a van. We will be a nation of white van drivers before too long!

Decline in Automotive Production Slows

More slightly positive news from the automotive industry this week: the decline in production has begun to slow down according to recent figures published by the SMMT. Whilst production levels are much lower than this time last year the deficit has reduced. Last month 16% fewer cars were produced in the UK than during September 2008. The Government's scrappage scheme is thought to have increased sales of new vehicles.

Production of vans has continued to shrink with only around 9000 commercial vehicles being built in September. This is almost half as many as during the same month last year. It seems that the scrappage scheme has been more of a success for private car sales than vans for sale.

Paul Everitt of the SMMT believes that these figures show that whilst the economy is improving businesses are hesitant when it comes to buying commercial vehicles:

"The UK economy is slowly emerging from recession, but businesses remain reluctant to commit to large capital investments and this is reflected in low demand for commercial vehicles."

What Does Your Van Smell Like?

The designers of the new Mitsubishi's PX-MiEV hybrid concept have taken into consideration more than just the look and feel of the vehicle, they claim its interior is friendly on the nose as well as the behind.

Mitsubishi's new enhanced "cocochi" interior package offers an unparalleled array of technologies that both pamper the nose and use the olfactory capability as a tool. The PX-MiEV's upholstery is coated with an anti-allergen coating and visible light photocatalyst which Mitsubishi claims counteracts offensive odors, volatile organic compounds as well as ticks, pollen and other allergens.
In another layer of protection against unpleasant fragrances, each of the car's four seats are individually air-conditioned to increase air circulation.

Source: Independent

I can see the benefit of this for those who suffer from allergies but for the rest of us it might be a little over the top. Whilst this technology has gain Mitsubishi some good press it isn't the kind of technology we can expect to see in all vans and cars anytime soon.

I have often thought about selling a Van fragrance to try and capture the smell that weeks on the road and countless motorway pasties can produce. Whenever I have to use a hire van I find its cleanliness less welcoming than a good old lived in white van. The smell may be unpleasant to some but when you call a van home you learn to love it.

Volkswagen Vans Increase Market Share

It has been a difficult few years for those in the transport industry particularly when it comes to commercial vehicles. Most van companies have reported drops in sales, some are even down by 50% compared to last year. Van sales are often seen of a good indication of how small businesses are coping with financial hardship, most don't upgrade or expand their fleets unless they are comfortable financially.

Volkswagen have reported that despite reduced sales they have managed to increase their market share in the last five months. the company now has 10.65 percent market share, an improvement of 2.3 percent. Sales of VW vans actually rose by 9% in September compared to the same month last year. This is positive news for a market that is a cause for concern for anyone with vans for sale.