The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association is taking on 26 new SEAT Arona models to support its high-mileage fleet.
The new fleet of Arona FRs will be integrated into the MND Association fleet as sole supplier over the coming year, helping the charity access and visit people with motor neurone disease across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Lindsay Ephgrave, Area Fleet Manager at SEAT UK and Phil Day, Facilities Manager at the MND Association
The deal for the compact SUVs underpins the charity’s wider strategy to support its duty of care to drivers, develop a greener fleet and reduce running costs, all while helping the charity stay mobile.
A combination of factors saw the Arona FR emerge as the car of choice, most notably the competitive TCO – thanks in part to its frugal 1.0 TSI engine – the raft of safety features included, and its reputation for quality which belies its price tag.
The MND Association also needed a versatile fleet vehicle to suit staff working across the entire charity, with the Arona FR’s 400-litre boot space perfect for employees with families and practical to carry around any equipment needed while at work.
Most of the MND Association’s fleet drivers are regionally based across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and act as a point of contact for people with motor neurone disease. Often visiting homes, hospitals or hospices, the reliability and smooth running of its fleet is crucial.
Achieving an impressive combined 57.6 mpg, the Arona FRs small-but-mighty 1.0 TSI 115PS engines are making sure the MND Association fleet is not just mobile, but efficient too; delivering lower running costs and greener credentials than its previous fleet of diesels.
With a keen eye on its duty of care to drivers, MND Association’s new fleet also arrives replete with safety technology, including Tiredness recognition and Front assist to keep its drivers safe behind the wheel.
Phil Day, Facilities Manager at the MND Association, explained: “As a charity helping thousands of people affected by motor neurone disease, our fleet of vehicles is crucial and has to be practical, safe and ultimately cost-effective.
“From the get-go, the SEAT Fleet team was passionate about helping support our fleet; trying to understand the charity to tailor their offering. The Arona FR is a strong proposition already, but that dedication to customer service went above and beyond to seal the deal.”
Lindsay Ephgrave, Area Fleet Manager at SEAT UK commented: “We know the quality of the SEAT range – our job is to make sure that we’re understanding our customers so we can tailor our offering to their needs, and our agreement with the MND Association is a real sign of how valued that approach is.”
“Whether it’s trying to reduce running costs, support driver duty of care or simply offer staff a practical and comfortable drive, we know – if it’s an Ibiza or Leon, Ateca, or Arona, we can cater to those needs all while remaining competitively priced. That, alongside our service levels, is why SEAT Fleet continues to strike a chord with businesses.”
For more information on SEAT fleet, see www.seat.co.uk/fleet, call 0800 975 7844 or email [email protected]
