F&I Management & Training

Most Improved Manufacturer

Stephen Briers, Editor of Fleet News commented: ‘Last year’s winner has not rested on its laurels; it has continued to make significant improvements. Mercedes-Benz has invested in its people and services to keep pace with its rapid growth in fleet. The judges praised its outstanding customer service and highly knowledgeable staff and said that the field teams are working hard on their fleet relationships. Topped by a much improved model range, it edged Mercedes-Benz ahead of the pack for an unprecedented back-to-back category win.’

Sally Dennis, Head of Fleet at Mercedes-Benz UK, said:  ‘We are delighted that we have won Most Improved Manufacturer of the Year for a second time.  This is confirmation that our continued efforts across the board are being recognised and that we are on the right path providing customers with a great range of tax and fuel efficient cars, as well as meeting and exceeding great levels of customer service. Our continued success is thanks to the great team effort from those in our retail network and based at Mercedes-Benz UK.’

Best Premium Car and Best Executive Car

The C-Class launched in June 2014 and continues to go from strength to strength with a comprehensive engine line-up and it can now add being Best Premium Car to its list of accolades as well. 

‘The C-Class is a major step-up in class over the previous model, with excellent build quality and the use of intelligent technology. The judges said it marked a return to class-leading interior quality for Mercedes, while the attractive exterior design boosts its appeal. Low emissions, frugal on fuel, strong residual values and a good driver’s car are further helping to strengthen Mercedes-Benz’s order bank in the corporate market,’ said Stephen Briers.

When it came to Best Executive Car and the E-Class, Stephen explained: ‘The diesel hybrid option swung the judges’ decision in favour of the E-Class in a highly competitive category. It gives the car a wide choice of efficient engines, complemented by executive-car features, low running costs and a quality interior. Available in both estate and saloon versions, the E-Class is an unbeatable choice for the corporate sector.

Sally Dennis added: ‘C-Class and E-Class are two of our biggest volume fleet cars, for both to be honoured at the Fleet News Awards as Best Premium Car and Best Executive car respectively is fantastic!  We have worked hard to offer great packages and the teams in Stuttgart have delivered the goods in terms of developing cars that are competitive when it comes to CO₂, fuel consumption and ride comfort, plus they look great!’

The C-Class range is priced from £28,985 OTR for the C 200 BlueTEC SE Saloon and offers a choice of diesel and petrol engines, as well as the C 300 BlueTEC Diesel Hybrid.  June will also see the introduction of the first plug-in hybrid for the C-Class range when the C 350 e arrives.  From the June launch until the end of 2014 over 5,400 C-Class’ were registered to fleet.

The E-Class range starts from £34,270 OTR for the E 220 BlueTEC SE Saloon and like the C-Class offers a choice of petrol, diesel and a diesel hybrid and in 2014 there were over 9,403 vehicles registered to fleet customers.

DATED: 27.03.15

FEED: HA