New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 European Launch
Volkswagen’s Crafter has undergone a midlife makeover and gets a new front-end along with new Euro 5 engines… Read More
SME success for Citroën Business Centres
Citroën’s Business Centres (CBC) are proving pivotal to increasing sales in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector of the market. In the last 12 months the CBC network has increased its light commercial vehicle sales to SMEs by an impressive 23.3 per cent, significantly out-performing the year’s LCV market trend.“Owners of smaller businesses already have enough concerns without having to spend vast amounts of time focusing on and deciphering their business transport requirements,” said Martin Hamill, Citroën’s head of commercial vehicles and business sector. “Yet the vehicles they operate often play a crucial part in their commercial success and require careful selection.
“The specially trained staff in Citroën’s Business Centres understand the demanding nature of SME’s transport requirements. They can advise SMEs on the most suitable vehicles and specifications for their businesses. They know about any relevant local or national regulations and restrictions, and give insights into the accounting benefits of the various funding and maintenance packages available.”
Citroën currently offers the widest selection of off-the-shelf conversions of any manufacturer. These include tippers, dropsides, Lutons and refrigerated vans, and there’s a range of bespoke LCV conversions such as waste collection vehicles, glass-carriers and low-loading high cube vans. CBCs increased their sales of conversions by almost 35 per cent in 2011.
In conclusion Hamill said: “Citroën's wide range of LCVs are perfectly placed to meet the transport needs of many SME companies. This choice, when combined with the Business Centres’ expertise, provides SMEs with a very convenient one-stop-shop solution.”
We spoke to Martin Hamill and CV operations manager, Robert Handyside, at the launch of Citroën's dealer-based 'Business Class' initiative (see Launch Report) at the beginning of 2011.