Last-mile delivery services depend on reliable vehicles to deliver precious cargo all across South Africa. These vehicles must traverse bustling urban environments as well as challenging rural roads.
The Trusted Trio
3 main vehicles are favoured for last-mile delivery, two of which are from the Japanese brand, Nissan. The brand makes up 37.6% of Fastway Couriers’ delivery fleet, with the NP200 ranking first on the list of top 3 vehicles used for last-mile delivery. A 19.5% slice of the pie belongs to this workhorse while its stablemate, the NP300 gets 14.8%, followed by the Toyota Hilux in third place with 7.1%.
“Delivering parcels to their destination is the lifeblood of the last mile delivery industry, and two crucial characteristics of a delivery vehicle are its reliability and good fuel economy.” Commented Damian Velayadum, Group Financial Director at Fastway Couriers. Nissan covers both of these areas. Paired with the 1.5dCi diesel engine, the NP200 provides good fuel returns and ample pulling power for hauling cargo, while the NP300 is famous for its robust platform, apt for its industrial duties. Sadly, however, production of the NP200 ceased earlier this year.
In with the New
Last-mile delivery companies may want to also keep an eye on Renault and Suzuki for potential additions to their fleet. The French firm (Renault) will be introducing a new Oroch single-cab, estimated to hit the local market in 2024. While Suzuki, known for its reliability, has introduced its new Eeco model. At R212,900, the vehicle is aimed at businesses that desire a workhorse for efficient point-to-point deliveries. It is designed to be a cost-effective goods transporter and is available across 95 Suzuki dealerships in South Africa.
On the international front, Amazon¹ has embarked on a full-scale move to electric delivery vans, beginning in the summer of 2020. Currently, 10,000 of these vans are buzzing through the United States streets and 100,000 more are expected to hit the road by the year 2030, owing to a partnership between Amazon and Automotive brand, Rivian. While this OEM is unfamiliar to South Africans, in the U.S., Amazon vans from Rivian have delivered more than 260 million packages to customers.
The landscape of last-mile delivery is evolving rapidly as e-commerce expands its presence. With local OEMs introducing new vehicles and international brands like Amazon establishing their foothold in Africa, there’s much to anticipate. Stay tuned for exciting developments in this space!
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