Mercedes Benz is introducing swappage to the industry. Like scrappage, there is still the £2,000 cost saving to the end user but there is no need to actually exchange a vehicle. It's simply £2,000 off the list price of a Sprinter 311CDI panel van, Traveliner, or chassis-cab with standard or crew cab.

Mercedes Benz says it is passing the saving directly to the customer. The scheme, says MB, is designed to appeal to owners of vans of all ages, and not the tight restrictions placed by the government.

Here's how it works. 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, or a low-rate finance agreement using a flat rate of 1% over 12 months, 2% over two years, or 3% over three years.

Simon Neill, national dealer sales manager, says MB 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."