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Mercedes-Benz Vans UK managing director Steve Bridge is leaving the company to join eStar Truck & Van on 1 February 2021.
Bridge will work closely with high-profile transport industry entrepreneur Sid Sadique, who launched his latest venture in September. eStar Truck & Van is committed to the development of online sales channels.
It represents the three-pointed star in the North West and North Wales from headquarters in Warrington and other branches on Deeside, and in Liverpool, Manchester, and Stoke-on-Trent.
Bridge became managing director of Mercedes-Benz Vans UK in 2014 following a career in commercial vehicles.
On his watch Mercedes-Benz Vans UK’s sales volumes rose from 25,000 vehicles a year to a peak of 44,000 units in 2019.
“I’m passionate about the Mercedes-Benz brand and delighted that although I’m leaving the company with which I’ve spent the last two very happy decades, in my new position I’ll still be representing the world’s number one truck and van business,” he said. “The opportunity to oversee eStar Truck & Van during a period of exciting evolution is one I’m relishing, and which I simply couldn’t resist.”
Steve takes up his latest role at a time of unprecedented change for the road transport industry. “The pandemic has proved how much we all rely on the truck and van communities to keeping the country moving,” he explained. “Many businesses have quickly adapted their offerings to provide online solutions for customers or introduced new delivery services to ensure that their products can still reach consumers.”
eStar Truck & Van is committed to the development of online sales channels, in recognition of the increasing popularity of new methods of vehicle acquisition. Reflecting the changing landscape of the industry, it has also announced plans to establish an eEducation centre that will showcase the fully electric range of Mercedes-Benz vans and FUSO eCanter trucks, alongside zero-emission products based on low-entry Mercedes-Benz Econic chassis and built by Electra Commercial Vehicles, another of Sid Sadique’s businesses.
“Electrification and digitalisation will both be hugely significant for the UK commercial vehicle market going forward, so the fact that we’ll be able to bring them to life quickly, and in an easy-to-understand format, will allow us to provide customers with all-encompassing solutions,” said Bridge.