End-to-end Logistics for Farizon Electric Van

Jameel Motors UK has appointed DHL to handle finished vehicle and aftermarket logistics for the all-newborn-electric Farizon SV large van in the UK. Established in 2016, Farizon is the commercial vehicle division of Geely, China’s largest private vehicle manufacturer. The Farizon SV is being introduced to the UK by Jameel Motors UK, a London-based automotive distribution business and part of Jameel Motors. The SV will be officially launched at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham from 29 April – 1 May.

The Farizon SV sets a new benchmark in the electric van market. It features a host of advanced innovations, including drive-by-wire technology, a unique b-pillarless design, and cell-to-pack battery packaging, which combine to deliver market-leading cargo capacity, payload, range and an ultra-low loading height.

DHL will provide an end-to-end solution by combining the expertise and capabilities of its Supply Chain and Forwarding divisions. DHL Global Forwarding will manage the customs clearance and management of the vehicles and parts on entry into the UK. All Farizon vehicles coming into Felixstowe will then be collected by DHL Supply Chain, taken to its container facility in Stanton for checks, then transported to its finished vehicle site in Peterborough.

DHL Supply Chain will be responsible for the Farizon press and demo fleet, preparing vehicles based on custom specifications and managing delivery. For dealership and customer orders, DHL will manage pre-delivery inspections, software updates, and white glove delivery service, applying the same expertise, speed and professionalism to the commercial vehicles market that it offers across passenger vehicle contracts.

Aftermarket support will operate out of DHL’s facility in Stanton and will serve a growing Farizon dealer network, as well as direct customers across the country. DHL’s automotive logistics expertise is increasingly benefiting manufacturers and distributors aiming to enter the UK for the first time and grow market share, through rapid vehicle accreditation and strong aftermarket support.

Kate McLaren, Head of Marketing and Sales Operations at Jameel Motors UK, said: “As a new brand to the UK and with a new benchmark for the electric van market, we recognise the imperative of leveraging the expertise and experience of the very best partners. Having DHL’s expertise, extensive network and facilities as well as its commitment to quality is crucial to the success of our launch and long-term operations.”

Paul Stone, MD Manufacturing Logistics, DHL Supply Chain, added: “Setting up an entirely new operation is a significant undertaking. By giving Farizon a ready-made network and access to the highest level of automotive logistics expertise, we’re enabling seamless market entry. It’s an exciting time for the automotive industry with more choice and innovation than we’ve seen in decades. We’re proud to be a key part of such a dynamic industry and support our customers’ ambitious growth plans.”

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Businesses Urge for Electric Van MOT Deferral

The Association of Fleet Operators (AFP) is calling for an official deferral for MOTs on 4.25 tonne electric vans as some fleets report finding tests “impossible” to book.

For MOT test purposes, this special category of vans is treated as a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), meaning that it has to be tested at one year old rather than three, and also faces a more rigorous examination.

Aaron Powell, fleet and logistics director at Speedy Hire is one AFP member being affected and reports that his company will have to potentially take a number of vehicles off the road.

“These 4.25 tonne vans require a Class 7 HGV MOT test and, between generally poor capacity for HGV testing and few test centres being able to handle electric vehicles, we’re finding it impossble on a practical level to book tests. Our lease provider has spent the last three months trying to find garages with the ability to carry out the pre-testing and source available slots for the test with limited success.

“This is going to have a serious impact on our business because we’re going to have to take these vans off the road and no doubt many other fleets are finding themselves in the same situation.”

Lorna McAtear, vice chair at the AFP, said: “As an organisation and at an individual member level, we’re very much focussed on safety and of course recognise the role that the MOT test plays in ensuring that vehicles operated by fleets are in a roadworthy condition.

“However, it’s questionable whether 4.25 tonne electric vans require HGV tests, an argument we have been making to government for some time. The whole point of this category of van when it was introduced in 2019 was to provide easy access for fleets to an electric equivalent of a 3.5 tonne panel van. These vehicles are simply 3.5 tonne vans with bigger batteries.

“The difficulties members are encountering around their inability to book MOT testing only emphasises this confusion. While the situation is being resolved, we would like to see government and the official bodies involved introduce some form of dispensation, similar to that created during the pandemic, allowing fleets to defer tests for a period of perhaps six or 12 months on 4.25 tonners for the first and second year of testing, giving them time to find and book testing facilities. It is disappointing that businesses working in good faith to electrify their light commercial vehicle operations are being affected in this manner.”

She added that despite a willingness on the part of government to try and overcome issues surrounding 4.25 tonne vans, problems remained.

“As a result of discussions between the Office for Zero Emissions, Driver Vehicle Standards Authority and Department for Transport, the operation of these vans on a practical level is often difficult for fleets due to confusion over whether they have been deregulated from all of the operator responsibilities that normally apply to vans over 3.5 tonnes.

“The government is aware of this and is trying to resolve the situation through the current consultation because there remains widespread belief that the 4.25 tonne concept remains worth pursuing as a means of speeding up van electrification. However, this process is taking time.”

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Packfleet and Who Gives A Crap ship over 9m rolls

All-electric courier Packfleet and Who Gives A Crap have ended crappy deliveries for Londoners, with over nine million toilet rolls delivered across the capital. 

It’s not just customers that are benefitting, it’s the planet too, with the brand saving approximately 54,500kg of carbon emissions thanks to Packfleet’s ultra-efficient, all-electric fleet.

These figures will only continue to increase, with Packfleet on course to ship over 10 million rolls by the end of 2024.

From working with Packfleet alone, Who Gives A Crap is set to reduce the total carbon emitted by its UK-EU region by 0.6%.

To mark the new partnership, the Who Gives A Crap team recently became Packfleet delivery drivers for the day – bringing ‘random acts of crappiness’ directly to customers’ doorsteps.

Londoners were treated to free cupcakes alongside their toilet roll, with furry friends being offered branded dog biscuits.

As a result of the partnership, Who Gives A Crap has seen a 25% drop in customer queries on the whereabouts of their orders, thanks to the introduction of Packfleet’s transparent, user-friendly recipient experience.

Packfleet’s delivery failure rate is 10x less than traditional couriers, resulting in over 98% of Who Gives A Crap customers receiving their bog roll on time – an over 4% improvement on the UK industry average – cutting down on resource-intensive redeliveries.

The two B Corp certified brands teamed up in October 2023, and have been disrupting their respective sectors together ever since.

Tristan Thomas, CEO of Packfleet, said: “We’ve achieved a lot in the short time Packfleet has been working with Who Gives A Crap, with both customers and the environment seeing the upshot. 

“Our close relationship with the Who Gives A Crap team has allowed us to do some amazing work, including letting them experience what it’s like to be a Packfleet driver first hand. 

“Whilst we can’t promise to deliver toilet rolls directly to the bathroom door, we are confident we can maintain the high standard we’ve achieved and continue to put a stop to crappy deliveries.” 

Phillipa Taylor, Head of European Supply Chain at Who Gives A Crap, added: “We chose to work with Packfleet due to their carbon neutral deliveries, tech platform and customer focus.

“Deliver and Delight is one of our core values at Who Gives A Crap. Packfleet have consistently lived up to this, with reliable and excellent service, week in, week out – driving down our customer tickets. 

“The Packfleet team continually comes to the table with proactive ideas and opportunities on how we can further improve our customer experience. 

“Surprising our customers on delivery day was a real highlight for us. We couldn’t have done this without Packfleet’s trust and cooperation. They have been great to work with and have enabled us to get closer to our customer experience. Thank you, Packfleet.”

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