Posted on: January 20, 2016
UK van buyers will get their first opportunity to see a revitalised range of LDV light commercial vehicles at the CV Show in April.
J Harris (Assemblers), a long-established, Dublin-based supplier of new and used commercial vehicles from manufacturers including Isuzu, Iveco and Hino, confirmed this month that it has secured distribution rights in the UK and Irish Republic for LDV vans made in China by SAIC Maxus. A large selection of right-hand-drive, UK-specification V80 LDV vans and chassis-cabs is expected to be unveiled at the CV Show.
There are four basic models in the initial UK line-up of the front-wheel-drive V80 range: a short-wheelbase van with low roof; two long-wheelbase vans with either medium or extended roof-height; and a chassis-cab. Claimed van load volumes are 6.4m3 with the short wheelbase, extending to 10.4 and 11.6m3 for the long-wheelbase medium- and high-roof models respectively. Gross vehicle weight (GVW) choice is between 3,200 and 3,500kg.
The power unit for all these models is a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder, Euro-5 diesel engine from VM Motori of Italy. Harris Group is understood to be planning to bring around 3,000 of these Euro-5 vans to the UK, type approved under the National Small Series scheme. A Euro-6 version is expected in 2017. One eye-catching feature of the entire V80 range is a five-year, 120,000 mile warranty.
SAIC Maxus is part of the giant Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corporation, which also owns car-maker MG and has long-standing joint ventures with Volkswagen and General Motors.
SAIC acquired LDV Maxus in 2009 from Gaz of Russia, following the collapse of Gaz-owned LDV in the UK. The Maxus was originally developed in a joint venture between what was then an independent LDV and Daewoo of Korea. But this joint venture ended when Daewoo crashed and General Motors stepped in to acquire its assets.
Liam O’Neill, Harris Group Vice-President, believes the time is now right for the new-look LDV Maxus to return to the UK and Irish Republic, with SAIC backing and new models in the pipeline. He said, “Commercial van sales were the first to go when the recession kicked in, but the market for this category has been revived with sales in Ireland growing by more than 40% in 2015, outperforming both the passenger and heavy vehicle categories.
“We anticipate significant further growth for 2016 and beyond, and this positive prediction is shared by the team at SAIC Maxus, which is showing huge support for the re-launch of the LDV brand.
“It is a great honour for the Harris Group to have won the distribution rights for LDV from SAIC. There was very stiff competition for the distribution of the LDV brand from both the UK and Irish markets but I believe our team’s focus, along with our extensive network and our long-term plan for LDV, together with our passion to bring this iconic brand back to the market was a winning combination.”