Maestro mail shot
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• The latest fleet orders from the Post Office — one of the largest light vehicle operators in the country — have been announced, and Bedford, Ford and Austin Rover have all picked up a share of the contract for 335 vans worth around 22 million. For the first time the Post Office is buying some Japanese-designed micro vans.
The November contract is especially important for Austin Rover, which has won its first major fleet order for 100 Perkins diesel-engined Maestro vans.
Austin Rover is "delighted that this is the first big order for the diesels", although it still only represents 0.8% of the Post Office's current carderived van fleet, which numbers 12,000. It does, however, finally provide ARG with a chance to catch up on its rivals, having been without a diesel-engined van for so long.
Even so the lion's share of the November order has gone to Ford, with 200 Ford Escort Populars. This latest order follows a 23.5 million contract for 601 Ford vans awarded in September.
Bedford has made a major breakthrough with its micro van following the Post Office's order for 35 Rascals. CM understands that the Post Office is already carrying out fuel consumption and evaluation trials with two petrol-engined Rascal vans, as well as with the diesel Maestro.
Initial reactions to both vehicles appears to have been favourable, with the forwardcontrol Rascal micro van scoring particularly well.
The lack of a diesel option, on the Rascal, however, may ultimately count against it in the next Post Office contracts, which will also depend on which company is prepared to give the most attractive fleet discounts.