Rental firm Europcar’s van and truck division has reported a 72% year-on-year increase in vehicle rental days during 2020.
The firm says there was a significant increase in demand, due to the increase in home delivery services associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, which it was able to meet due to a significant increase in the volume and variety of its fleet.
The average length of rental is also said to have increased by 50% year-on-year, which Europcar attributes to hire vehicles being used as an alternative to long-term leases.
LCV sales director Stuart Russell said: “Almost every type of UK business had to adapt quickly last year with the demand for home deliveries going through the roof. And Europcar played a fundamental role in helping to keep the UK economy moving, providing vital infrastructure for the logistics sector in particular.
“Through strong relationships with manufacturers we were able to mobilise large numbers of vehicles in the space of less than two months at the start of the pandemic and the first lockdown. As a result we were able to provide more businesses with the vehicles they needed – often quickly and at short notice.
“Now, as the UK’s families and businesses face the challenges of another lockdown, we continue to offer companies timely access to LCVs with less long-term financial commitment than traditional leasing agreements or outright purchase.”
