Volkswagen puts lid on business costs

VOLKSWAGEN has added capped-price servicing across its range after announcing today that commercial vehicles will be included in its offer.

According to the German car-maker, which also made the claim that it is the first European brand to offer the program on its commercial vehicle range, all vehicles sold after January 1 will have cover for 90,000 kilometres or six years.

Crafter van owners get capped price servicing for up to 180,000km or six years.

“A scheduled service in the Volkswagen capped price service program includes the regular replacement of oil filters, engine oil and sump plug washer at each service interval, as well as the standard replacement of the air filter (at 45,000 and 90,000 km) and spark plugs (every 60,000km),” Volkswagen said in a statement announcing the program.

“Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle customers will now benefit from the security of a comprehensive aftersales package of capped price servicing, a three year, unlimited kilometre Volkswagen warranty and three-year Volkswagen Roadside Assist.” The car-maker recently established an in-house customer care centre, which former managing director Anke Koeckler said she would oversee personally.

Volkswagen has made it a priority to improve its customer service program in response to a poor showing in the 2012 customer service survey, as well as growing dissatisfaction with its outsourced customer services program.

Other commercial vehicle companies such as Renault have attempted to sweeten their products’ appeal by extending warranties to five years and 200,000km.