Electrical contractors Barlows has chosen the Toyota Corolla Commercial hybrid van as its fleet vehicle. The company provides a comprehensive range of electrical and maintenance services nationwide, including installing domestic and commercial chargers for electric vehicles.
The family-run firm, which has been in business for over 70 years, has signed up for 22 Corollas — the UK's first petrol-hybrid van — to be used by its workforce.
Adam Hailes, who joined Barlows last year as its fleet operations manager, said that selecting the right model for the new van fleet was an easy choice. Within a month, he had ordered 10 of the British-built vans, and has since purchased a further 12.
Adam Hailes:
“I’d driven Corollas in my previous job and knew and liked their qualities. Barlows were in the market for some car-derived vans, and we wanted to try the Commercial version. They are great in terms of fuel economy, drive incredibly well and look unbelievably professional. They’re also big enough for our engineers’ and contract managers’ equipment – including their stepladders.“Options and accessories-wise, they’ve all been fitted with tinted windows. Eight have roof racks required for longer ladders, and all of them are fitted with a 70mph speed limiter. The safety of our drivers and other people on the road is a priority for us.
“I also really value the MyToyota app. It’s become a big part of my Corolla Commercial fleet management. It lets me track the vans and gives me accurate, live service and maintenance updates.”
John Barlow, managing director:
“Our turnover has increased from £30M to £40M in the last year, so we constantly need more staff and more vans. With the global chip shortage still affecting supply, we’re likely to keep our vehicles for a couple of years longer than we usually would. This means warranties, reliability and residual values on higher mileage vehicles are more important than ever. Toyota is a superior brand and should meet these priorities well. We are also reducing our overall mileage by employing more engineers and operating across smaller geographical areas.”
Neil Broad, general manager at One Toyota Fleet Services:
“We could not hope for better advocates than Barlows, a fast-growing business that requires vehicles and fleet services that can always be relied on. As part of our diverse Toyota Professional range of commercial vehicles, Corolla Commercial is highly capable, efficient to run and maintain and has lasting quality backed by our up-to-10 years’ warranty.”
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