LDV announces ne MAXUS cab!

[Jerry]

LDV has announced that it will use this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC to launch its brand new MAXUS chassis cab range.

The new range will be unveiled at a press briefing at 9.30am on the first day of the show. The show will be the first time that LDV’s new owners, GAZ International will have attended and LDV will be introducing GAZ president, Eric Eberhardson at the briefing, alongside chairman Martin Leach and chief executive Steve Young.

LDV’s new chassis cab range, which includes tippers, dropsides, Lutons and boxes, will go on sale later this year. LDV’s stand will show a MAXUS short wheel base dropside and a MAXUS long wheel base tipper.

In addition to the chassis cab range, LDV will also use the show to introduce additions to its increasingly popular MAXUS minibus range. On display will be all new 17-seat and12-seat MAXUS minibuses. Two all new accessible minibuses have been developed by LDV’s in-house special vehicle operations (SVO) team and will be displayed outside of the main entrance to the NEC.

Completing LDV’s stand at this year’s show will be a 3.2 tonne MPT MAXUS ‘TITAN’ and an SVO 3.5 tonne MAXUS van.

Speaking about the line up, marketing director, Steve Miller said: “This is by far our most comprehensive display of MAXUS vehicles. 2007 is certainly the year for new products at LDV and we will be showing vehicles never seen before including our brand new chassis cab range. The commercial vehicle show is always a home-coming for LDV and we’re sure we won’t disappoint visitors this year.”

MAXUS product placement at the show includes a 3.5 tonne mobile workshop on Winton’s stand, a 2.8 tonne van on Rembitt’s stand and a 2.8 tonne van on Autosonic’s stand.

[Jerry]

LDV GROUP ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH MALAYSIA’S WESTSTAR GROUP

Light commercial vehicle specialist LDV is set to enter Far East markets with the announcement that it’s to collaborate with Malaysia’s Weststar Group.


The new British-Malaysia product partnership will see LDV and Weststar develop the light commercial vehicle market with LDV’s MAXUS range of products in 20 countries beginning in Vietnam and Indonesia, followed by other Asean countries, Australia, New Zealand and the Gulf Co-operation Council states.

Weststar LDV Sdn Bhd has secured exclusive rights as franchise holder and will market, assemble, distribute and service the full range of LDV Maxus light commercial vehicles in the 20 countries.

The announcement marks the first time a Malaysian company has acquired the rights to assemble a current world-class model and distribute it beyond Malaysia’s shores under its own brand name.

Speaking at the vehicles’ rollout, Dato’ Seri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, managing director of Weststar LDV said: “Asia’s economic rise has resulted in the over-production of passenger cars and under-investment in light commercial vehicles. Demand is at a high point across the countries we serve, and rapidly rising.

“Our entry point, with demand outpacing supply, means that we may need to ramp up production and make cross-supply arrangements to fill gaps in the supply of light commercial vehicles across the 20 countries we operate in.

“In one stroke, this British-Malaysia partnership creates a multi-country opening for us while falling in step with Malaysia’s National Automotive Policy, which is to have our auto industry footprint spanning the region.”

Steve Young, LDV’s UK chief executive said the new partnership was another positive step forward for the van maker: “When GAZ International purchased LDV in 2006, we said that our ambitions were to take the LDV MAXUS range across the globe. Our partnership with Weststar reflects this ambition.”

In Malaysia, the Weststar LDV Maxus range will be assembled in Pekan, Pahang, and undergo a post-assembly fit-out in the Klang Valley. The initial production run will be 600 units this year.

Syed Azman said: “We are off to a good start in Malaysia. To date, we have sold a good number of units and secured healthy orders for our first batch of vehicles. Government agencies, institutions and services providers have expressed keen interest to purchase our vehicles.

“Our studies have shown that demand by the public sector, businesses and institutions for specialised and high capacity carriers is set to climb dramatically over the next decade as the government continues to push for wider industrial development.”

According to research firm Frost & Sullivan, light commercial vehicles commanded half of the Malaysian commercial vehicle sales and continued to support a wide range of applications across industries.

The research firm said that the commercial vehicle market reached 50,098 units in 2005 and this would likely increase to 69,302 units in 2012 at a compound annual growth rate of 4.7 per cent.

As for immediate expansion, Weststar LDV has identified Vietnam and Indonesia as new markets, each of which has a large population base and equally fast growing economies.

“We are looking at working with assembly plant owners in these two countries and we expect to kick off initial production of 600 units in each country by the fourth quarter of the year,” said Syed Azman.

The vehicles can be fitted out with special equipment by local sub contractors skilled in customising vehicle functionality.

“Our vehicles currently have 18 per cent local content, and we intend to move this up to 40 per cent by year end. In this respect, our presence will provide a platform for Malaysia’s growing pool of automotive vendors to develop and supply specialised equipment and components which is a lucrative niche,” concluded Syed Azman.

[Jerry]

BUOYANT LDV LAUNCHES MORE NEW PRODUCT AS SALES GROW
Birmingham van manufacturer LDV is surging ahead with renewed confidence, an expanded model range and growing sales.

An investment of £100 million from Russian parent GAZ Group means the company now has the financial strength to compete globally. Speaking from the CV Show, chief executive Steve Young said that sales over the first quarter are up 76 per cent year on year, production volumes have almost doubled since last August – now 286 units per week – and productivity is up by 36 per cent. 75 extra staff have also recently been recruited.

“Today, as part of the GAZ Group, we have the financial strength and capability of a major global automotive company behind us to shape our future developments,” he commented.

“Alongside the UK, we are also focusing on export markets. In the last week we have announced a partnership with the Weststar Group of Malaysia to develop the light commercial vehicle in 20 markets, beginning in Vietnam and Indonesia.”

And closer to home, the European network is being expanded to the Benelux companies and Spain to supplement a growing presence in France and Denmark. The Maxus will also be launched in the Russian market later this year, supplied initially from Birmingham, before manufacturing is expanded to Russia next year.

“For the first time we now have a complete product range,” explains Steve Young. “We are well into our turnaround phase and we should return to profit this summer.”

The company were launching the new Maxus chassis cab range at the Show with tipper and dropside bodies, both of which are fitted on the production line. Luton and box van derivatives will be added by the end of the year. There is also a new 17-seat minibus, plus an accessible range, which join 12 and 15-seat derivatives.

The engine range has also been expanded with a new 135 Ps VM Motori unit offered on all van and mpt vehicles and a 105 Ps engine replacing the 95 Ps unit in the minibus range.

LDV has just won an order from National Car Rental for 200 15-seater minibuses which will supplement 560 Maxus vans joining the fleet this year.

[Jerry]

NEW INVESTMENT, NEW VISION, NEW DRIVE AND NEW ORDERS SAYS LDV
Less than a year on from its acquisition by Russian firm GAZ, LDV today demonstrated its new confidence on the opening day of this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show.

“We have new investment, new vision, new drive and most importantly new orders,” said Steve Young, LDV’s chief executive.

Supported by chairman, Martin Leach, and from Russia, GAZ’s president, Eric Eberhardson, Steve Young revealed a whole range of new products from a new chassis cab range, to minibuses and MPT bi-purpose models. Two new engines were also announced.

Steve Young said: “MAXUS registrations are up by 76 per cent year on year compared with last year and we’ve increased the line rate by some 80 per cent. Productivity is up by 36 per cent and we have appointed 75 new employees at our Birmingham headquarters.

“Alongside the UK, we are also focusing on export markets. In the last week we have announced a partnership with the Weststar Group of Malaysia to develop the light commercial vehicle market in 20 countries beginning in Vietnam and Indonesia, followed by other Asean countries, Australia, New Zealand and the Gulf Co-operation Council states.

“Nearer home, we have appointed 15 new dealers in the Benelux region this month alone and will be signing a number of new dealers at the show from France and Spain.”

New MAXUS chassis cab range

LDV unveiled two new chassis cab models in the expanding range – a MAXUS tipper and a MAXUS dropside.

MAXUS Tipper

Key features of the new MAXUS tipper are:


Excellent payload of up to 1330kg
Smooth, flat steel deck – no external fixings or welds
Tough, double skinned aluminium sideboards
Forged steel safety hinges
Fast tip and descent with overload safety built in
Genuine 45 degree tip
Removable powder coated corner posts
Large discharge aperture
Robust steel headboard and gantry – that exceeds industry standards for cab protection
Light but tough construction
Quick, easy repairs through all bolted assembly
Stainless steel tailboard for added durability
MAXUS Dropside


The MAXUS dropside delivers:

Excellent payload of up to 1520kg
One-piece plywood floor panel for real durability
Tough double skinned aluminium sideboards
Forged steel safety hinges
Removable powder coated corner posts
Robust steel headboard and gantry – that exceeds industry standards for cab protection
Galvanised wire mesh to protect cab
Light but tough construction
Quick, easy repairs through all bolted assembly
Both vehicles feature:

2.5 CDi common rail direction injection, turbo charged and intercooled engines – 95PS, 120PS and 135PS
Power steering
Front wheel drive to deliver excellent traction and increased carrying capacity of up to 1860kg

[Jerry]

LDV DEMONSTRATES MINIBUS LEADERSHIP WITH EXPANSION OF MAXUS RANGE

LDV is underlining its minibus market-leadership with the launch of a new 17-seat MAXUS minibus – on display for the very first time at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show.

The MAXUS minibus range now includes 12, 15 and 17 seat models as well as an accessible range including 12 and 15 seat derivatives. Designed to provide true flexibility for operators, each vehicle can be tailored by LDV’s special vehicle operations (SVO) department to meet exact requirements.

Steve Young, LDV’s chief executive, believes the addition of the new 17-seat version will provide customers with an option whatever their needs. “LDV has a fine pedigree in the minibus market. Our engineers have years of experience delivering solid and safe passenger transport solutions.

“Our aim is to build on this experience to deliver unique products for the UK and global marketplaces.”

Every MAXUS minibus in the 12, 15 and 17 seat range comes with:

All forward facing Isringhausen M-Viro seats with integral ‘all generation’ lap and diagonal seatbelts
ABS and EBD
Driver and front passenger airbags
Best in class side load door and rear door widths plus reduced step well height
Sliding side load door
First aid kit and fire extinguisher
Extra High roof for increased comfort (extra high on the 15 and 17 seat models)
Full headlining and body-side interior lining
Class-leading cost of ownership and choice of warranty packages
2.5 CDi common rail, direct injection, turbo-charged intercooled engines – 95PS and 120PS
20,000 miles service intervals
The 17-seat MAXUS minibus also has an emergency door on the driver’s side and a large four seat back row.


LDV’s 12-seat factory built MAXUS accessible bus has an internal tail lift with all nine rear single saloon seats fitted on quick release mountings for maximum flexibility. There is room for two full size wheelchairs within a VOSA defined floor spacing and six seated passengers. Other features include an Unwin Innotrax flooring system, high visibility grab handles at the entrance and on each seat head restraint and a push up translucent roof ventilator.

Significant National Car Rental Minibus Order
LDV celebrated the expansion of its MAXUS minibus range with the announcement of a new order for 200 new minibuses.

National Car Rental has placed an order for 200 15-seat MAXUS minibuses, which will be specially converted in LDV’s Birmingham factory to include a rear luggage cage.

National Car Rental is the leading provider of van rental services in the vehicle rental industry and gives businesses nationwide access to a fleet of vehicles for the time they are needed, for as long as they are needed with customisations offered for any size of fleet.

LDV has provided vehicles to National for over 10 years. Tim Bailey, vice president fleet, National Car Rental, is pleased to extend this relationship further: "National branded vans can already be seen on many high streets and motorways and this latest agreement helps us to extend our penetration of this important sector even further."

Tony Lewis, LDV's sales and marketing director, says the new order underlines LDV's market-leading minibus credentials. "Our success is built on the fact that we listen to our customers and then build vehicles to meet their exact requirements and budget. In this case, we will be adding a luggage cage to the rear of every bus."

2007 sees LDV's new MAXUS minibus range extended to now include 12, 15 and 17 seat models as well as an accessible range. Removable seats allow different seating configurations and all forward facing seats with integral 'all generation' lap and diagonal seatbelts, ABS brakes with electronic breakforce distribution and driver and front passenger airbags are all fitted as standard.

In addition to minibuses, LDV will also supply National with 560 MAXUS vans in 2007.

[Byron]

Well it look's like LDV has finally turned the corner after a tough time of it over the past couple of year's.

[glyn scothern]

good luke ldv as a previuse owner of sherpas i would have liked them to have built a new narrower version of the sherpa as the maxus is to wide for my driveway newer engines ect