Electrical contractor Barlows has added 22 Toyota Corolla Commercial hybrid vans to its fleet.

Barlows has signed up for 22 vehicles for its workforce

The family business operates nationwide and needed fuel-efficient and practical vehicles for its growing van fleet.

Fleet operations manager Adam Hailes was already a Corolla fan when he joined the company last year and within a month he had ordered 10 of the British-built vans. He’s since purchased a further 12.

Hailes explained: “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.”

Hailes is also finding the MyToyota app a godsend.

“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,” he said.

Reliability and residual values were also a key factor in the vehicle choice.

John Barlow, managing director, elaborated: “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 One Toyota Fleet Services, said: “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.”