Renault shows iCare

Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010

A fully managed pay-as-you-earn service, maintenance and repair scheme targeted at its van customers under the iCare banner has been launched by Renault.

 

Operators pay for it monthly in arrears on a pence-per-mile basis with rates calculated according to how many miles the van has actually covered. A telematics system is used to monitor the mileage


Vehicles embraced by the scheme are equipped with a four-way communication button. One button gives the driver direct access to Renault Assistance. Open 24/7, the iCare call centre will immediately route the call to the appropriate service; the AA for instance if the van has broken down.


The remaining three buttons are assigned to other tasks; summoning the emergency services for example, or contacting the driver’s home depot. Communication is hands-free.


The iCare desk sends an alert when a service or an MOT test is required and will book the vehicle in at a Renault dealership.


So what’s it all cost? Covering all the routine servicing, maintenance and repairs required by, for example, the latest Master over three years/100,000 miles will set you back 3.5p a mile. Tyres can be included if you want to pay a little more, but only fair wear and tear will be addressed.


There’s a one-off fee of around £160 for the installation of the four-button communications system and the telematics package, with stolen vehicle tracking on offer for an additional £135 a year.


Renault iCare is, however, only available on Kangoo Van, Trafic and the latest Master from new, or on examples that have covered less than 12,000 miles and are under 12 months old.


Renault UK director, fleet and commercial vehicle operations Darren Payne contends that iCare will be of major benefit to customers. He also believes it will give the company a useful advantage over its competitors in what he believes is now a rising market after a grim 2009. “I think we will see the market reach 220,000 registrations this year,” he states.


At the same time as introducing iCare, Renault is busy improving the support provided by dealers to van owners in a variety of other ways says Payne. “We are trying to address any concerns an operator may have about choosing a Renault,” he states.


“We’ve now got 15 of our Pro+ dealers operational and we should have 25, possibly 30, in action by the end of the year,” he says. “They offer longer workshop opening hours to suit their local market, 7.0 tonne-capacity workshop ramps, rapid turnaround times for service customers and courtesy vans appropriate to the customer’s needs.”



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