The average UK business loses more than £1,100 every day a van is off the road, according to new research which highlights the financial and operational pressures caused by vehicle downtime.
Research carried out by Opinium on behalf of Mercedes-Benz Vans found businesses lose an average of £1,172.20 per day when a van becomes unavailable unexpectedly.
Manufacturing firms were hardest hit, reporting average losses of £2,161 per day, followed by construction businesses at £1,464.
The study, which surveyed 500 senior decision makers at van-dependent businesses, also found UK companies experienced an average of six-and-a-half days of disruption linked to vehicle downtime over the past 12 months.
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Beyond the financial impact, the research pointed to wider operational pressures. Four in 10 business leaders said downtime increased stress among staff, while a third reported workflow disruption and almost three in 10 said employees had to work longer hours to compensate.
Healthcare operators were particularly affected by customer-facing issues, with 25% saying complaints from customers or patients were the biggest challenge caused by vehicles being unavailable. Grocery businesses reported the highest impact on employee wellbeing, with 38% citing increased staff stress.
Mercedes-Benz Vans said the findings underline the growing importance of preventative maintenance and connected vehicle technology for operators running small fleets and essential delivery services.
The manufacturer is promoting its recently launched Van Uptime Monitor system, which uses connected vehicle data to identify potential faults before they lead to breakdowns or unplanned workshop visits. The system links vehicles directly with Mercedes-Benz workshops to help fleets arrange maintenance at suitable times.
The company also highlighted its 24/7 MobiloVan roadside assistance programme, which it said resolves around 82% of breakdown call-outs at the roadside.
Simon Neill, operations director at Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, said: “For many UK businesses, a van isn’t just a van. It’s the business showing up.”
“Our new research lays bare what happens when vans - which are often at the heart of our communities - go off the road. Vehicle uptime isn't something you can park in the operations folder and forget about. It shapes productivity, customer relationships, and it lands on people first.”
“The ambition at Mercedes-Benz Vans isn't just to be the best at fixing vans when they go wrong, but at stopping them going wrong in the first place using data and experience. Because prevention will always be better than cure. We know the pressures businesses are under right now, big and small, and we want them to know we have their backs.”
