By Ralph Morton
Citroen’s Business Class has been something of a run(a)way success – but the firm’s airport theme took a new turn with landing strip, grass verges and air hostess welcome.
But Citroen is taking flight itself. It’s moving from its spiritual Slough home – where the car maker used to build Citroen vehicles from 1926 until 1965 – and flying up the road to Coventry to join its stablemate in the PSA Group, Peugeot.
Andy Wady, Citroen’s fleet director, told me this wouldn’t be a case of Citroen and Peugeot mixing their fleet teams. “It’s just a case of integrating the back office functions,” said Andy. “The brands will be kept entirely separate. It makes sense – other car making groups do the same thing.” Take off is scheduled for Q3.
Meanwhile, Martin Hammill, who heads up Citroen’s commercial vehicles and business sector, said that Business Class, launched at the CV Show last year had been a big success. “We wanted Citroen dealers to gear up to sell to SMEs. We were always good at vans – but not cars. That balance is changing now. But we always say that vans sell cars and cars sell vans!”
Biggest draw for small businesses has been the Citroen DS3 said Martin.
Over on the Peugeot stand, fleet boss Phil Robson was in relaxed mood, despite a hectic start to the year and was as happy to talk hybrid diesel cars as he was the van range. “I think buyers are beginning to realise how well built and designed are our interiors. I believe we’re changing a lot of perceptions, particularly with small businesses and SME fleets.”
Biggest draw at the show was the launch of the new Ford Transit Custom, though. The biggest change is the offering of two distinct weights – a one tonne model, launched yesterday (April 24) and a two tonne model to come later. The short-wheel base front-wheel drive model is on sale first
Jon Fisher, Ford’s advanced product marketing manager for CVs, explained that not only had Ford made the Transit more car-like, Ford was now able to offer the funcitionality required for those who wanted a one tonne and a two tonne van.
“We also wanted a van where the owner would be proud to have it sitting outside their house or drive.” With the new styling, Jon and the Ford team have done that.
At the other end of the scale were the micro vans launched by DFSK. These are Chinese made, incredibly cheap, and offer small businesses the ideal urban vehicle in a segment that’s no longer served by the Suzuki Carry.
Peter Seaward, DFSK’s marketing comms manager, told me: “The van is ideal for florists and gardeners, but the tipper is attracting most attention at the moment.” That seems hardly surprising. The three-way tipper costs under £10k!
If you want a micro van, but want to be green, then Tata had its two electric Ace vehicles – a tipper and van – on show. Tata’s Tony Miles said the EVs had attracted considerable interest from the public sector.
I was pleased to bump into Nissan’s new national sales manager, Matt Dale. I knew Matt from when he headed up the vans unit at Lombard Vehicle Management.
Matt showed the new fridge van conversion Nissan had on show. “We’re testing the market at the CV Show, but we think this model will have a big future with SMEs.”
Meanwhile, in other business van news, Vauxhall had its new Combo on display, effectively replacing the Astravan, which has now reached the end of the road Vauxhall announced at the Show. The Combo had been well received, said B2B sales manager Richard Collier, as had the top of the range Vivaro. But how will it compete with the new Transit Custom?
Chocks away!