Auto Trader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
The Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) announced this week the first Australasian 5-star rating for a light commercial vans – the Mercedes-Benz Vito and Viano.
ANCAP awarded the rating following crash testing and assessment.
The diesel left-hand drive models previously tested by EuroNCAP rated four stars due to the absence of head-protecting side air bags at the time. These became optional on the New Zealand Vito van from January this year.
Lauchlan McIntosh, Chair of ANCAP, says, “We have seen over the last twelve months manufacturers actively working to build safety into vans, and it is pleasing to see these improvements showing through with a number of 4 – star ratings prior to this week’s announcement of the Mercedes¬Benz five star result.
“This 5-star result demonstrates that commercial vehicles can and should be just as safe as passenger cars.”
Ken Matthews, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Australia/Pacific, says, “Van drivers have not always enjoyed the same safety technologies as car drivers, and we have acted to redress the balance.
“As a company we are proud that this 5-star result makes a safer work place available to the many thousands of van drivers who spend long working days in their vehicles all over Australia and New Zealand.”
