Sydney, Australia – September 9, 2022 – Two vehicle sector leaders – last-mile delivery specialist ANC and leading rental, leasing and fleet management company ORIX Australia Corporation Limited (ORIX) – have joined forces to celebrate World Electric Vehicle Day today, announcing a strategic partnership that’s designed to help ANC achieve zero-carbon last mile delivery. And in celebration, ANC, supported by ORIX, has added a new EV truck, nicknamed ‘BESTe’ to its fleet.
ANC is already on the road to zero-carbon last mile and BESTe, a SEA BEV (battery electric vehicle) pantech truck, will drive that ambition further with its sustainable offering. It boasts an impressive 240km range. It’s also fast-charge ready, thanks to its three-phase charging socket, making it more convenient, and removing the barrier to expensive charging equipment.
BESTe’s first mission for ANC is to deliver for Williams-Sonoma Inc. in Australia. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer. The company’s products, representing distinct merchandise strategies — Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham — are marketed through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogues and retail stores. BESTe will also help support the sustainability goals of other ANC clients, with the company making the EV truck available on a month-to-month basis to any of its clients keen to act on their goals. “Customers are thinking more and more about their contribution to a more sustainable future and we’re happy to assist in this way,” says Mo Abbas, ANC Group Executive, Marketing & Strategy.
The addition of BESTe will reinforce ANC’s commitment to breaking down the top four barriers to adoption in the last mile sector:
- data to inform a conversion strategy;
- charging infrastructure;
- cost or capital;
- access to stock.
“World EV Day is the perfect time to introduce BESTe,” Abbas says. “We’re already on the road to zero-carbon last mile thanks to some very strong partnerships – and we’re thrilled that ORIX has such an impressive solution to help us overcome these last-mile barriers.”
ORIX specialises in the rental, acquisition, financing and management of vehicles, including electric vehicles, and is committed to supporting businesses that are dedicated to decarbonising their fleet. “We’re excited to support ANC by providing sustainable, integrated fleet solutions for their transport needs,” says ORIX Rental and Mobility General Manager, Grant Harrison.
“We recognise our role is to use our expertise to assist clients in identifying solutions that reduce their environmental impact and embed more sustainable practices without compromising their business operations. BESTe is the ideal solution for ANC as it works towards offering a zero-carbon last mile.”
ANC is an early adopter of sustainable practices, with green vehicles in its fleet already sequestering more than 110 tonnes of carbon emissions. “We have committed to growing this fleet both in size and type as we seek to reimagine the last mile,” Abbas explains. “At ANC we believe this is part of our obligation to enable a more sustainable delivery option. World EV day is a global movement where companies aim to drive change, together. As we’re in the business of delivering, taking action to decarbonise our fleet is very important. This goal benefits everyone, and it’s important to partner with companies such as ORIX to create a greener and more sustainable world for future generations.”
ORIX can provide organisations with either Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV) and hybrid options for assessment for either lease or rental. “This is an excellent way for organisations to find out if electric vehicles are suitable for their business, before they make any significant commitments,” Harrison says.
“ORIX is committed to integrating sustainability into all areas of the decision-making and solutions it offers to clients and our rental option is a popular and effective one,” he says. “All our relationships, including our one with ANC, are based on an alignment of values, and on a mutual understanding of the need to act to reduce our respective footprints.”
ABOUT ANC
ANC connects Australia’s leading retail and B2B brands to Australia’s biggest capital cities and smallest towns. ANC’s fleet deliver over 5 million deliveries each year, specialising in a complex freight profile where there is a customer connection and expectation to be met, this is a prerequisite for a diverse vehicle asset class.
ANC are committed to leading their sector to a zero-carbon last mile. This commitment is backed with a bias towards action. ANC are early adopters in green fleet with green vehicles in their fleet already sequestering 110+ tonnes of carbon emissions. They have committed to growing this fleet both in size and type with a further four standard commercial vehicles due for deployment in September 2022, plus pioneering two new electrified vehicles in Australia by December 2022, as they seek to reimagine the last mile. ANC are deeply committed to fleet conversion; recycling and zero emission delivery because it helps their clients, customers and country achieve better sustainability outcomes.
ABOUT ORIX AUSTRALIA CORPORATION LIMITED (ORIX)
ORIX Australia is part of the global ORIX Group, one of the largest fleet management company in the Asia Pacific region with over 1,100 offices and 1.8 million assets under lease and management throughout the region.
ORIX Australia has a 30-year history of providing vehicle finance, novated leasing, rental vehicles and fleet management to Australian businesses. And recently introduced specialised finance products that gives clients access to new equipment, plant, technology or capital to grow to businesses.
ORIX has recognised its role to use their expertise to assist clients with identifying solutions that reduce environmental impact and embed more sustainable practices without compromising business operations. As such, ORIX look to integrate sustainability into all areas of their decision-making and solutions that are offered to clients.
For four years running, ORIX has been listed by the Australian Financial Review as being one of the top 100 most innovative organisations. Through their innovative solutions, including the award-winning ORIX OneView customer portal, vehicle pooling and telematics platforms, ORIX work with clients to get more value from their vehicles and to manage the evolving risks of a mobile workforce.
Contacts
Lorin Heah: lorin.heah@orix.com.au +61 2 9856 6136
Mo Abbas: moa@ancdelivers.com.au 0458 875 314
