Manufacturer Gray & Adams is launching a vehicle aimed at the fast-growing home delivery sector.
The company puts the current size of the UK home delivery fleet at around 7,500 vehicles. Based on an average five-year replacement cycle, this implies potential demand for some 1,500 new vehicles each year.
Steve Rose, managing director at Gray & Adams’ Doncaster factory, said: “Until now the home delivery sector has been dominated by a single vehicle supplier.
“Given continued growth in this segment, the market badly needs another volume-based manufacturer to guarantee future supply and ensure price competitiveness. That’s where we come in.”
Based on a 3.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, the vehicle is fitted with a dual-temperature GAH refrigeration unit and capable of carrying 105 totes (crates).
Gray & Adams freed up the space for an extra tote by ‘designing out’ the wheelbox intrusion.
Other innovative features include wide radius cappings to smooth the airflow and high-gloss Kemlite floor skins, which are used externally as well as internally, to help prevent dirt and debris accumulating beneath the vehicle and thus reducing payload capacity.
Gray & Adams has also taken steps to protect the vehicle from costly accident damage by fitting plastic, high impact-resistant rear light plates, proximity sensors and reversing cameras.
Rose said: “We’ve shown our new vehicle to a number of major retailers.
“The feedback has been resoundingly positive and we’re already in detailed negotiations regarding the first volume orders.”
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