The Second life of a New Actros at Nelson Distribution

Vehicle & Technology

Second life.

Since its launch three years ago the New Actros has become a firm favourite with UK operators. Now it’s set to take the used truck market by storm.


What the market demands. The first batch of Aproved Used New Actros sold like the proverbial hot cakes.


With its combination of low fuel consumption and high style, the Mercedes-Benz New Actros has been impressing operators in all sorts of applications since its UK launch at the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show. Now, for the first time, operators who prefer to buy their trucks with a few miles under their belts can also enjoy the stunning model range’s many attributes.

New Actros units have begun appearing on the market through the Mercedes-Benz Approved Used Commercial Vehicle programme, and are being snapped up by canny customers keen to take advantage of their proven performance. Among the first to do so was Nelson Distribution, a family-owned haulier from Belper, Derbyshire, which runs a Mercedes-Benz-dominated fleet of more than 30 vehicles, including a 6x2 New Actros 2545 BigSpace tractor unit purchased from new last year. It has now invested in a second 2545 BigSpace and an aerodynamic 2545 StreamSpace. Once again, they were supplied by Nelson’s local Mercedes-Benz Dealer. This time, though, both were pre-owned rather than brand new.


First registered in May 2012, the two former demonstrators had each clocked-up approximately 170.000 Kilometers and came with manufacturer’s warranties that will cover their drivelines until May 2015. Having fitted the same fuel-saving feature to its first New Actros, the operator has since equipped its used tractors with automatically adjusting ‘ActivFreddie’ air deflectors.

Managing Director Simon Nelson says: “Our first New Actros has proved exceptionally fuel-efficient, so when we learned that these two tractors were available from Mercedes-Benz we snapped them up. They were in superb condition and virtually indistinguishable from new vehicles, while the fact that they’d been maintained within the manufacturer’s dealer network meant we had no qualms from a technical point of view either. For my money an Approved Used New Actros is definitely the next-best thing to a new, New Actros.”

Adam Slater, Mercedes-Benz UK’s Director, CV Remarketing, adds: “There was a huge amount of interest in these trucks when they came onto the market, so it came as no surprise when they were sold very quickly. That’s a sure sign of the excellent reputation that New Actros has carved out for itself, and the trust that customers are prepared to place in it as a used vehicle. However, it also reflects well on the New Actros as a new purchase, because we now have concrete proof, if any were needed, that the range will have massive appeal to used truck buyers. That’s great news for owners, who can be assured when they come to sell their vehicles of attracting plenty of buyers and realising top prices. It’s also great news for contract hire customers, who benefit from extremely competitive monthly rates based on the vehicle’s high residual value.”

He concludes: “The first batch of Approved Used New Actros sold very quickly but more will be coming through soon. We’re anticipating plenty of demand once again, so would-be buyers should register an interest with their local Dealer at the first opportunity.”

www.nelsondistribution.com

Photos: Impact

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