Cash-back offer on superseded Vito vans

MERCEDES-BENZ is offering $5000 cash-back on all remaining stock of its run-out 2010 Euro 4 Vito vans, well ahead of small business tax breaks foreshadowed in the latest federal budget.

The budget proposed a $5000 write-off for the 2012/13 tax year for the purchase of motor vehicles by businesses with turnover of $2 million or less.

Following the budget, federal treasurer Wayne Swan said: “Small business is very much at the forefront of our thoughts because not everyone is going to be in the fast lane of the economy.”

However, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific managing director of commercial vehicles Kolja Rebstock said the 2012/13 tax year was not soon enough and that his company wanted to act sooner.

“Let’s stop swanning around,” joked Dr Rebstock.

“We are offering $5000 cash back on selected EU4 Vito vans purchased and delivered before June 30, 2011.

“We support this initiative to allow small businesses to immediately write off $5000 of a vehicle purchase, but we say small business needs this help now, not after the 1st July, 2012.

“We say bugger the budget – let’s make it simple without complex formulas buy an EU4 Vito and pocket the cash now.”

The offer only applies to run-out stock powered by the superseded Euro 4-engine range, which were replaced in the updated model year 2011 Vito line-up by Euro 5-compliant diesels.

The promotion also excludes government and fleet buyers.