Mercedes-Benz has launched a new 'swappage' scheme aimed at van buyers who cannot take advantage of the government-backed £2,000 scrappage scheme.
The initiative offers customers the chance to save £2,000 on the cost of a Sprinter 311CDI.
Van buyers are disadvantaged by the scrappage scheme, says Mercedes, because qualifying vehicles have to be more than 10 years old and, as vans are working vehicles, there are few of
that age on the road.
Scrappage rules also exclude customers from benefiting from the £2,000 handout if they intend to use an off-balance-sheet finance method to fund a new acquisition.
Simon Neill, national dealer sales manager for Mercedes-Benz Vans, explains: "We quickly realised after the scrappage scheme was announced that some of the terms and conditions meant it was going to be relatively difficult for van users to benefit.
"The swappage scheme, by contrast, has been designed specifically to meet the needs of light commercial vehicle operators."
The scheme applies to three acquisition methods - an off-balance-sheet operating lease, contract purchase, and finance - with Mercedes paying the £2,000 deposit.
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