How are fleet manufacturers meeting the challenges of Covid-19? Mercedes-Benz Cars responds

In May and June, Fleet News surveyed all the major manufacturers to find out how they were responding to the coronavirus pandemic, how they are supporting their fleets customers and their views on the type of impact it would have on the fleet sector.

The resulting article was published in the June edition of Fleet News.

Here is Mercedes-Benz Cars response. 

Fleet News spoke to a Mercedes-Benz Cars spokesman (answers as at 12/5/20)

How are you and your team staying operational in times of Covid-19? 

The health and safety of our customers, employees and business partners is our top priority. Mercedes-Benz Cars UK under the guidance of Daimler AG is monitoring the spread of Covid-19, and continuously assessing directives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UK Government to contain the virus.

This is so we can react to the dynamically changing situation and adapt our processes accordingly.

What action are you taking to support fleets during the Covid-19 crisis?

Our fleet sales team at Mercedes-Benz Cars UK is operational and on-hand to support and cater for the wide range of customer Fleet requirements.

We have embraced virtual customer as well as virtual team meetings and explored further opportunities to support and enhance customer requirements following the Covid-19 pandemic. Customer feedback on our approach has been very positive.

What proportion of your retail network remained open for SMR business during lockdown?

Many Mercedes-Benz workshops were open and others progressively re-opened - whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Please outline your exit strategy and how you believe the way business is carried out in future might change – the so-called ‘new normal’.

With our expansive range of products, fleet team structure, digital processes and existing stock– we are well positioned to deliver our customers with their wide-ranging fleet requirements now and in the future.

Will we experience a break on the development of MaaS and fleet electrification?

By 2022, the entire Mercedes-Benz Cars product range is set to be electrified. This means that different electrified alternatives will be available in every segment - from the 48-volt electrical system (EQ Boost), plug-in hybrids (EQ Power) and more than ten all-electric vehicles (EQ).

Over the next 20 years, Mercedes-Benz Cars aims to have a carbon-neutral new passenger car fleet and aims to have plug-in hybrids or all-electric vehicles to make up more than 50% of its car sales by 2030.