Online shopping and the trend for self-employment are among factors that are driving huge growth in the use of vans – and contributing to a multi‑billion euro injection into the European economy.
So significant is the contribution, €675 billion in 2017 alone, that it exceeds the GDP of nations that include Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland – and has shown a 19 per cent increase, from €569 billion, compared with 2012.
These are among the findings of Economics of Commercial Van Usage Across Europe, a new report compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). Ford, Europe’s No. 1 commercial vehicle brand, commissioned the report after recently announcing the new all‑electric Ford Transit van, part of an extended electrified vehicle range that will enable drivers to more easily comply with increasingly stringent emissions legislation.
“Vans offer crucial support to a world where how we live, work and get about is quickly changing. This report shows that through their contribution to the wider economy, light commercial vehicles truly are the backbone of business in Europe,” said Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe.
Vans on the rise
For the report, Cebr calculated the value of businesses made possible by vans, such as postal and courier services, as well as the fuel duty contribution of van operators to governments. The report, which focussed on seven leading European economies, identified that between 2012 and 2017, the UK showed the biggest percentage increase in contribution to the economy, from €110 billion to €145 billion (32 per cent), followed by Germany, from €139.4 billion to €182.9 billion, (31 per cent). By comparison, it is estimated that the value of football to the EU is €25.5 billion.
This contribution is being made possible by more vans travelling further than ever before. The number of vans on the road in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and the UK increased by more than 10 per cent between 2013 and 2018, from 23,250,000 to 25,690,000, with most growth shown by Turkey (31 per cent), Germany (24 per cent) and UK (20 per cent).
Altogether vans in the seven markets covered 294 billion kilometres last year – equivalent to almost 1,000 trips to the sun and back – an increase of 12 per cent compared with the 262 billion kilometres covered in 2013. Van drivers in France covered the greatest distance in total, 88 billion kilometres, while those in the Netherlands and Spain were where drivers covered the greatest average distance, 20,000 kilometres.
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SOURCE: Ford Motor Company
