Renault dominates What Van Awards 2011
Renault is enjoying some early Christmas celebrations today with the news that it has won no less than four awards in the 2011 What Van? Awards, including Van of the Year.
The key component for two of the trophy wins, Van of the Year and Large Panel Van of the Year, was the French brand’s flagship New Master range, which only launched in April this year. Available in both front- and rear-wheel drive versions, with a striking new look, improved fuel economy and class-leading storage and equipment levels, the newcomer is already proving a hit with business customers of every type and size.
Commenting on New Master’s overall title win, Paul Barker, Editor of What Van?, said, “…an excellent new addition to the light commercial vehicle market”. “The increased breadth of range, including rear-wheel drive models for the first time, and the industry-leading levels of interior functionality and practicality in particular swayed the judges’ decision.”
Acknowledging the French marque’s relentless pursuit of high levels of customer service, What Van? also handed Europe’s number-one selling LCV brand the Editor’s Choice Award in recognition of its latest customer initiatives, Renault iCare and Renault Pro+. The former, a pro-actively managed SMR package is already proving popular with van customers, while the latter is the latest element of Renault’s successful Business strategy, which has already seen the launch of 24 one-stop shops focused even further on the needs of UK business customers, with longer opening hours, greater choice of demonstrator vehicles, including conversions, as well as the ability to service vehicles in excess of 5 tonnes, regardless of make.
Completing the unprecedented awards haul, Renault received the Technology Award for its imminent Kangoo Van Z.E.* (Zero Emission), the world’s first all-electric van developed and built by a vehicle manufacturer, which is already available to pre-order ahead of its 2011 launch, priced at £16,990 and a monthly battery rental from £59, both excluding VAT.
Speaking proudly upon hearing the award news, Darren Payne, Renault UK’s Director, Fleet and Commercial Vehicle Operations, commented, “We’re delighted that our LCV product and service quality efforts have been acknowledged so wholeheartedly, particularly for New Master, which is arguably one of the best vans in the market. With a fully revised LCV range this year, we’ve already made impressive gains in the UK, with market share above 7%, so with the Kangoo Van Z.E. and short wheelbase and minibus versions of New Master, set to bolster our offering still further in early 2011, we can only go from strength to strength.”
