Vauxhall has sold 2,700 Dualfuel vehicles this year up to July and 2003 sales of Dualfuel vehicles had already surpassed last year’s total by July. This impressive achievement is due to rising fuel costs, congestion charging, and the wide range provided by the company.
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However, Vauxhall will face increased competition from rivals keen for a slice of the action.
Vauxhall sold 435 Dualfuel cars and vans in July alone, with 90% going to fleets. The Dualfuel vehicles, which can run on regular petrol or liquid petroleum gas (LPG), are proving increasingly attractive to fleet buyers, especially as they qualify for a 100% discount on the London congestion charge and benefit from lower taxation rates.
When using LPG, the vehicles produce very low emissions by conventional standards, ideal for benefiting from recent UK company car taxation changes, which favour cleaner, more economical vehicles.
Last year, the company recorded 2,400 sales of Dualfuel vehicles, but increasing demand from the UK fleet sector has pushed the 2003 sales figure for the year up to the end of July to 2,700. With such increasing success, the company has gained a front running position in the alternative fuels sector.
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By GlobalDataVauxhall’s most popular model in this range is the Dualfuel Astra, with 1.6i and 1.8i engines. Sales of this model have topped 800 units so far in 2003.
Other popular models include Dualfuel versions of other Vauxhall staples such as the Vectra and the Zafira. A Corsa model is also being added to the line-up. In the commercial vehicles sector, Vauxhall has also had considerable successes with its 1.6i Corsa-based Combo van.
The success of Dualfuel vehicles powered by LPG/petrol can be attributed to a number of benefits compared to traditional cars, including rising conventional fuel costs, congestion charging discounts and lower taxes for cleaner company fleet vehicles. The recent gains can also be credited to an increasing level of awareness among fleet operators and the broader product range available.
Vauxhall has done well in spotting the potential of this market and providing consumers and fleet operators with a wide range of choice to rival conventional vehicles.
However, it will face increasing competition as rivals’ interest in the sector grows. Ford has already developed an LPG powered Focus and a Transit Connect van for its fleet customers and others are sure to follow.
