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Northern Ireland’s leading commercial vehicle hire specialist has demonstrated its faith in the local economy and environmental commitment by investing £1.5 million in a new fleet of 75 low-emission, fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz vans.
The 50 Sprinters and 25 Vito models were supplied to RentaMerc by sister company Mercedes-Benz Truck & Van (NI), the German manufacturer’s dealer for the province. They have joined a fleet of 500 vehicles that ranges from the compact and stylish Vito to the mighty 44-tonne Actros tractor unit.
Powered by state-of-the-art Euro 5 engines, the new arrivals were presented at a handover ceremony at Stormont Castle attended by Environment Minister Alex Attwood and representatives of the RentaMerc’s finance partner, the Bank of Ireland.
RentaMerc’s trucks and vans are available on a range of rental packages from the company’s three sites in Campsie, Dargan, Mallusk and Dungannon. As the name suggests, all wear the famous three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz.
RentaMerc Managing Director Norman McBride said: "With the arrival of these impressive new vehicles we are preparing for growth in our business in 2012 and beyond. That demonstrates our faith in the success of our own future trading prospects, and in those of our wide and varied customer base throughout Northern Ireland.
"The fact that these vans are among the ‘greenest’ and most fuel-efficient that money can buy also shows our commitment to reducing the impact of our operations on the local environment."
Commenting on the investment, Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "It is encouraging to see the introduction of these new low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles. Transport is one of the highest sources of emissions in Northern Ireland and the replacement of older vehicle stock with lower emission, fuel-efficient vans will help in our efforts to meet greenhouse gas targets."
And Pat Byrne, the Bank of Ireland’s Regional Manager for Northern Ireland, added: "We are delighted to support the growth of both RentaMerc and Mercedes-Benz Truck & Van (NI), proving that we are ‘open for business’, and to help put this new fleet of modern, fuel-efficient vans to work."
The new Sprinters are all 3.5-tonne 313CDI models in Long and Medium lengths, while the 2.8-tonne Vito vans are Long-bodied 113CDIs and 110CDIs. All offer significant increases in fuel economy and power, as well as reductions in exhaust emissions, compared to equivalent units from the previous ranges.
