Mercedes-Benz Vans highlights hidden cost of vehicle downtime

• New research reveals UK businesses lose £1,172.20 for every day a van is off the road, with downtime impacting morale, customer service and growth
• Mercedes-Benz Vans offers customers a range of services to help them reduce time off the road, from 24-hour breakdown cover to the newly launched Uptime Monitor - a digital system that highlights vehicle problems before they happen
• Rochelle Carrey, Director of Boujee Boxes Limited Floral Concepts, explained how vehicle downtime can cost her business £1,000 a month: “If we don’t have a van, we can’t fulfil our role - it’s as simple as that.”

21st May, Milton Keynes, UK.  Mercedes-Benz Vans is highlighting the operational and human impact of vehicle downtime, as new research shows how quickly a van being taken off the road can affect service delivery, teams and revenue for UK businesses.

Research conducted by Opinium among 500 senior decision makers in UK businesses, which rely on vans for their daily operations, reveals the average firm loses £1,172.20 for every day a van is out of action, at a time when vehicle reliability is becoming increasingly critical for fleet operators.

Mercedes-Benz Vans research found that, on average, UK businesses have faced six-and-a-half days of disruptions in the past 12 months.

For companies that rely on vans as core operational infrastructure - including logistics, food delivery, blue light, facilities management, construction, pharmaceutical and utilities - the research highlights how the impact of downtime quickly extends beyond the vehicle itself.

Four in 10 (41%) business leaders said downtime causes stress among staff, 33% said it disrupts workflow and 29% said it results in employees working longer hours.

The findings also show a quarter (24%) of businesses have faced customer complaints, 24% also missed performance targets, while 18% worry about losing contracts.

Additionally, nearly two in ten (17%) say they experience frustrated or abusive customers, while 16% report a loss in wages.

For SMEs in particular, where fleets are often smaller and every vehicle plays a critical role, the impact of downtime can be immediate.

“If we don’t have a van, we can’t fulfil our role - it’s as simple as that. Our entire business relies on being able to transport stock, set up activations and deliver for our clients.”

“If our van is off the road, we have to hire a replacement just to keep going. It can easily add up to around £1,000 a month… so downtime has a real financial impact on the business.”

 “On the days we needed it, Mercedes-Benz Service24 were able to come out to us for repairs. And when the van needed to go into the garage, we’ve always been given a courtesy vehicle.”

“It means we can carry on as normal - we’re not cancelling jobs, we’re not letting clients down.”
Rochelle Carrey, Director of Boujee Boxes Limited.

The research comes at a time when many businesses have recently reassessed costs, investment and hiring decisions for the new financial year, with rising labour, tax and supplier costs placing additional pressure on operational efficiency.

To help operators manage vehicle availability more effectively, Mercedes-Benz Vans is highlighting its Van Uptime Monitor, a connected service that continuously monitors a vehicle’s technical condition and alerts operators to potential issues before they develop into faults that could take a van off the road.

The system links vehicles with Mercedes-Benz workshops, enabling service teams to identify maintenance requirements early and work with operators to schedule repairs at convenient times. This proactive approach helps fleets plan maintenance more effectively and reduce unplanned downtime.

Should drivers need roadside, breakdown or minor mishap support, they are covered by the 24/7, Europe-wide MobiloVan roadside assistance cover, which resolves around 82% of call outs at the roadside, helping minimise disruption.

 “For many UK businesses, a van isn't just a van. It's the business showing up.”

“Our new research lays bare what happens when vans - which are often at the heart of our communities - go off the road. Vehicle uptime isn't something you can park in the operations folder and forget about. It shapes productivity, customer relationships, and it lands on people first.”

“The ambition at Mercedes-Benz Vans isn't just to be the best at fixing vans when they go wrong, but at stopping them going wrong in the first place using data and experience. Because prevention will always be better than cure. We know the pressures businesses are under right now, big and small, and we want them to know we have their backs.”
Simon Neill, Operations Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK

[ENDS]

Contact:
Siobhan Brown, +44 7712 507 888, Siobhan.Brown@mercedes-benz.com
Goldbug, mbv-pr@goldbug.agency

Further information about Mercedes-Benz is available at www.mercedes-benz.com and on our
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Press information and digital services for journalists can be found on our
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Notes to Editors
Research conducted by Opinium among 500 senior decision makers in UK businesses, which rely on vans for their daily operations. Full Uptime Advantage Report can be found here.

*British Chambers of Commerce research found tax concerns at 63%, labour costs the main pressure for 72%, and only 46% expect turnover to rise. FSB has also warned of an April cost crunch, saying a small employer with nine National Living Wage staff faces £25,850 in extra annual employment costs between January 2025 and April 2026.

Mercedes-Benz AG at a glance
Mercedes-Benz AG is part of the Mercedes-Benz Group AG with a total of around 164,000 employees worldwide and is responsible for the global business of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Ola Källenius is Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG. The company focuses on the development, production and sales of passenger cars, vans and vehicle-related services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be the leader in the fields of electric mobility and vehicle software. The brand portfolio of Mercedes-Benz Cars includes the Mercedes-Benz brand, as well as Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and the G-Class product brand. Mercedes-Benz AG is one of the world's largest manufacturers of high-end passenger cars. In 2025 it sold more than 2.1 million passenger cars and vans. In its two business segments, Mercedes-Benz AG is continually expanding its worldwide production network with around 30 production sites on four continents. As sustainability is the guiding principle of the Mercedes-Benz strategy and for the company itself, this means creating lasting value for all stakeholders: for customers, employees, investors, business partners and society as a whole. The basis for this is the sustainable business strategy of the Mercedes-Benz Group. The company thus takes responsibility for the economic, ecological and social effects of its business activities and looks at the entire value chain.

Mercedes-Benz Vans in the UK at a glance
Mercedes-Benz Vans has been manufacturing commercial vehicles for 130 years and today offers an award-winning range of cargo and passenger vehicles. With a dealer and authorised repairs network spanning 93 sites, the brand has built trusted customer relationships dating back to 1974 - supporting the businesses and community heroes who keep the UK moving.

Built on a commitment to reliability and partnership, Mercedes-Benz Vans delivers when it matters most, because whether you’re on or off the road, we’ve got your back.

Q&A: Mercedes-Benz Vans Aftersales and Vehicle Uptime Support

Why are Mercedes-Benz Vans highlighting the importance of Uptime?
Vehicle uptime is critical for businesses that rely on vans to deliver services, transport equipment or make deliveries. Mercedes-Benz Vans research shows that when a van goes off the road, the impact can quickly affect teams, customer relationships and revenue. With many businesses facing rising costs and operational pressures, maintaining reliable vehicles and reducing avoidable downtime is more important than ever.

What is the Mercedes-Benz Van Uptime Monitor?
The Mercedes-Benz Van Uptime Monitor is a connected service that continuously monitors a vehicle’s technical condition and can identify potential issues early. By alerting operators before faults develop into breakdowns, the system allows maintenance to be scheduled at convenient times, helping van drivers and businesses reduce unplanned downtime and keep vehicles working when they are needed most.

How does the Van Uptime Monitor work with Mercedes-Benz workshops?
When the Mercedes-Benz Van system detects a potential issue, it alerts both the operator and Mercedes-Benz service teams. The system uses a tiered notification structure, prioritising alerts based on the urgency of the issue. Some notifications provide early maintenance recommendations that can be addressed during routine servicing, while higher-priority alerts prompt workshops to contact the operator and arrange repairs before a fault leads to vehicle downtime. This helps ensure maintenance can be planned in a way that minimises disruption to daily operations.

What support is available for a Mercedes-Benz Vans customer if a breakdown does occur?
Customers benefit from MobiloVan, Mercedes-Benz Vans’ Roadside Assistance programme, which is included free for the first three years after purchasing a new van and can be extended for up to 30 years when serviced within the brand’s dealer and authorised repairs network. Through the Mercedes-Benz Vans 24-hour Service24h support network, drivers can access roadside diagnostics, repair support or recovery across Europe if required. The policy also covers minor mishaps that result in the vehicle being immobile or legally unsafe to drive. It will also assist drivers with travel or accommodation if the vehicle is unable to be fixed at roadside. More information on key benefits and exclusions can be found here. 

Mercedes-Benz Vans resolves 82% of breakdowns at the roadside, helping operators minimise disruption and return vehicles to service as quickly as possible. Please see more information here.

How else does Mercedes-Benz Vans help reduce vehicle downtime?
Mercedes-Benz Vans also offers Mobile Servicing, allowing trained technicians to diagnose and repair certain issues directly at a customer’s premises using a fully equipped mobile workshop. By carrying out maintenance and repairs on-site rather than transporting vehicles to a dealership, Mobile Servicing helps reduce time off the road and makes servicing more convenient for customers.