Iveco has been supplying vans to Tesco for over a decade, with around 900 Daily vehicles currently residing on the fleet. That fleet is being bolstered with the addition of another 600 vans throughout 2021.

Since 2010, Tesco has operated 5,144 Daily chassis cabs fitted with climate-controlled bodies.

Tesco’s new Daily vans (35S14 Hi-Matic models) feature the brand’s ubiquitous blue livery and attractive fresh produce imagery. All are powered by the heavy-duty 2.3-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 136hp and a healthy 350Nm of torque.

The eight-speed automatic gearbox keeps the engine running at optimum revs, swapping ratios in under 200 milliseconds, providing the Tesco drivers with a high level of safety and comfort on busy urban delivery routes, while minimising clutch and transmission wear.

Tesco’s Finest Option

A key consideration in the selection of the Iveco Daily was its extremely competitive Total Cost of Ownership.

For busy, time-critical missions, features such as the tyre pressure monitoring system assist with consistently strong fuel economy by ensuring tyres are always kept to the correct pressures, subsequently reducing wear and therefore replacement.

The Hi-Matic option adds up to 10% lower repair and maintenance costs to the offering, with the total package backed up by Iveco’s Assistance Non-Stop 24/7 roadside support service.

Tesco operates its vehicles for up to five years depending on their mileage, and it expects the new Daily units to clock up around 30,000 miles each year. With the vehicles’ busy schedules, dependability is key, so the Daily vans are backed with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

Tesco and Iveco Daily
Every Little Helps for Tesco Drivers

The Daily is known for its tight turning circle and manoeuvrability, featuring electric power steering with a lightweight ‘city’ mode as standard. A benefit in town and suburban cul-de-sacs, it reduces steering effort by as much as 70%.

Its heavy-duty, ladder-frame construction also helps ensure that it is capable of withstanding the tough urban multi-stop, stop/start home delivery mission.

Drivers will benefit from fitted options including the Digital Pack – this includes a reverse warning alarm, 7.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system with DAB, Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone mirroring. Iveco’s connectivity box is also fitted, allowing for a connection to Iveco’s control centre for monitoring of vehicle performance, promoting proactive maintenance with access to over-the-air updates to minimise vehicle downtime.

Sleek and Strong Bodybuilding

Before entering service, Lancashire-based Solomon Commercials will be fitting the new vehicles with their low-height, ‘Slipstream’ body for 3.5-tonne GVW vehicles, including fridge units to keep groceries at the required temperature. These aerodynamic bodies are light in weight to ensure maximum payload capacity for Tesco goods, as boosting load capacity reduces the need for returns to base.

“Supermarkets like Tesco have been especially important over the past pandemic-gripped year, adapting to meet incredible demands and Iveco are ideally placed to be able to support and continue this mission,” commented Mike Cutts, Iveco UK’s light business-line director.

Phil Huff
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