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The manufacturer is to offer training for the driver CPC and warns that demand for courses will be high. Mercedes-Benz is firmly putting its foot in the door with the upcoming driver CPC by establishing itself as one of the scheme's training providers.

M-B managing director Ian Jones says: "There is a need to create adequate training capacity. M-B  wants to take an industry lead in this - we've been working on it for over 12 months."

The manufacturer will be using EU-approved and tested, five-to-seven-seat vehicles at 20 or more locations within the M-B network. It also plans to have a pool of rental vehicles for fleet customers that wish to provide training at their own premises.

The training is modular and can be tailored to customers' requirements, though certain exercises will be compulsory. M-B also aims to provide the training in different languages, making it more accessible for foreign drivers in the UK.

The training vehicles, which can also include second-hand retrofitted ones, will come with manual, semi-auto or PowerShift transmissions. Jones points out: "The CPC training can be done with any gearbox - there is no set requirement."

Existing drivers will not need their CPC until 2014, but Jones says the training should not be left to the last minute. If 500,000 drivers take it, 2.5 million  training days will be required.

Although the CPC may improve the image of the industry by promoting safer and more economic driving, it remains controversial because existing drivers will have to bear the cost of another qualification.