News

Mercedes-Benz has brought its version of scrappage to the marketplace without the tight government restrictions in place. Swappage offers the same £2,000 discount as scrappage, but whereas with scrappage this is funded equally by the government and the participating manufacturer, in the case of Swappage  Mercedes-Benz pays the entire £2,000 deposit on a new Sprinter 311CDI van and no actual part exchange is required from the customer.

Simon Neill, national dealer sales manager, says M-B realised scrappage was going to be difficult for many van users to utilise. "The Mercedes-Benz Swappage scheme, by contrast, has been designed specifically to meet the needs of light commercial vehicle operators. "It offers retail customers the chance to acquire a new Mercedes Sprinter 311CDI at a highly attractive monthly cost, and without having to put down a sizeable cash deposit at a time when for many, capital is very hard to come by."

The deal is for a Sprinter 311CDI panel van, Traveliner, or chassis-cab with standard cab or crewcab. Swappage involves three acquisition methods with Mercedes-Benz paying the customer's £2,000 deposit. They are:

• An off-balance sheet operating lease
• An affinity (contract purchase) deal
• A low-rate finance agreement using a flat rate of 1% over 12 months, 2% over two years, or 3% over three years