Deutsche Post has selected Iveco to be a partner for its fleet of vehicles. Some 7,500 parcel delivery vehicles are currently in use for the DHL brand in Germany. Under the terms of the agreement reached at the end of February some 4,500 vehicles are to be replaced in the next three years with new Iveco vehicles.

The new Iveco vehicles are part of a transport solution specially developed to enable Deutsche Post to deliver parcels and which represents an improved version compared to their current model. The basic model is the 3.5 tonne Iveco Daily with its Diesel engine rated at 116 cv. The vehicles have been specified with the Agile automated gearshift transmission to reduce fuel consumption and driver fatigue. This provides completely automated gear shifting from starting off, throughout the journey and to finally coming to rest again. It is very much more effective and fuel efficient compared to hydrodynamic automatic transmissions. With its standard specification oxidizing catalyst the vehicle’s 2.3 litre engine is already extremely environmentally friendly, complying with Euro 4 regulations. The vehicles specified for Deutsche Post are also fitted with a diesel particle filter, which makes them the most environmentally friendly model currently available on the market in this area. The particle filter serves to lower the particle emissions significantly below the limits currently in place. For Deutsche Post use of this vehicle is an important step within its GoGreen program, contributing to improve CO2 efficiency by 10 percent by 2012.

Key to this decision was also the fact that Iveco’s basic model is very robust, which will help prolong the life of the vehicle as a whole.  In contrast to the panel van, this special model is custom-built. The result is a particularly ergonomic, integral custom-built model, developed according to Deutsche Post requirements. The passage from the driver’s seat to the load compartment is generously proportioned and leads directly into a clearly laid out system of shelving on both sides, which meets all the requirements for securing loads. Low entry and exit access via the sliding side door makes the work of the delivery staff easier in terms of ergonomics.