Nissan NV400 Tipper

Nissan will exclusively reveal its new NV400 chassis cab range at the Birmingham CV Show in April.

This will be made up of factory dropside and tipper options plus a Good To Go range of bodybuilder conversion that will be sold through dealers as a complete vehicle, ensuring it is compliant with the forthcoming EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval requirements.

A mid and long wheelbase NV400 chassis cab in both front and rear wheel drive will be launched with two factory built vehicles and a Nissan Good To Go range of conversions.  All will be offered by Nissan dealers.

There will be two engine options of 125hp and 150hp and a total of 13 variants to choose from including a single cab and double cab. The factory-built conversions initially comprise a dropside and tipper which are built on the production line and will be delivered to the operator ready for action.

The Good To Go range will include a box van, Luton and fridge van, plus a combi and minibus option that will be built by UK converters handpicked by Nissan and sold by dealers to operators as a complete vehicle.

“The CV Show is a great platform to launch our new NV400 chassis cab and remind operators that Nissan has one of the widest LCV ranges on offer in the UK,” explained James Douglas, Nissan Motor GB’s corporate sales director.

“With the NV400 semi forward van based chassis cab and the Cabstar truck chassis cab Nissan has two base vehicles that operators can use to build virtually any size or shape of conversion to match their business requirements. We believe this will help further grow our LCV sales in 2012,” he added.

Nissan is focused on promoting the NV400 (which is a rebadged Renault Master) as part of its plan to build on last year’s record LCV sales.

For more information, visit www.nissan.co.uk or the CV Show website.

Slough-based IT services firm Logistics International plc and its subsidiary Wildfield Ltd. have just completed a major van and car fleet deal with Citroën Slough.

As part of a fleet replacement programme, the specialist IT engineering service companies have taken delivery of 43 new Citroën vehicles, including 26 Berlingo HDi 75 manual L1 625 Enterprise vans.

Leatherhead-based Logistics International plc offers its UK and European customers a wide range of IT engineering services as well as printer support, managed print services and field mobility solutions. The company’s new Citroëns will be used by its highly trained IT software engineers, who provide its blue chip customer base with skilled, specialist support.

George Kyle, Logistics International’s Fleet Manager, explains: “Our new Citroëns replace a mixed fleet with a single make. We already run some Citroëns and, in acquiring these latest vehicles, we have enjoyed an excellent level of service from the Citroën Slough Business Centre, both in achieving the correct vehicle specification for each user and in selecting the right contract hire deal through Citroën Contract Motoring. Since these new Citroën cars and vans have entered service, our engineers have been very impressed with their new vehicles.”

Logistics International’s 43 new Citroëns are being operated on 36 month, with maintenance, contract hire agreements with Citroën Contract Motoring. Dependent on application and location, Logistics International’s vehicles will cover between 90,000 and 105,000 miles, both in the UK and Europe, during their service life with the company.

Volkswagen has announced record results for 2011. The group, which includes the Škoda, Seat, Volkswagen, Audi and Crewe-based Bentley brands as well as truckmakers Scania and MAN, recorded 14.7% to a record 8.3 million vehicle deliveries in 2011.

Car deliveries totalled 5.1m, while Volkswagen delivered 529,000 vans globally, up 21.4% on last year’s figure of 436,000.

Vans generated more profit for the Group, too, with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles‘ operating profit rising by €217 million to €449 million (2010: €232 million). VW says that this was due to higher sales and lower materials costs.

As I have reported recently, UK truck sales have been strong over the last year and VW reports that its Swedish truck manufacturer, Scania, increased deliveries by 25.7 per cent to 80,100 trucks and buses in 2011. Truckmaker MAN, in which VW has a 57.33% stake, delivered 24,750 trucks and buses in the period from November to December 2011.

Used LCV values fell by £211 in February to £4,272 according to BCA’s latest figures, a 4.7% drop from the 20-month high recorded in January.

BCA’s Pulse data shows average LCV values fell in all three sectors of fleet/lease, dealer part-exchange and nearly-new thanks to a combination of softer demand and changing model mix as supply pressures continued.

The February average figure of £4,272 was the lowest recorded in the past six months and performance against Guide Prices fell by one and three-quarter points to 98.23%.

However, year-on-year, February 2012 was £126 ahead of the same month in 2011, equivalent to a 3% improvement – despite the average age and mileage rising by four months and over 6,000 miles respectively in the same period.

Duncan Ward, BCA’s General Manager – Commercial Vehicles said:

“However, values remain at a much higher level than they were a year ago, despite both mileage and age rising by around 8% in that time.  This is in line with our expectations – shared by Professor Peter Cooke at the Centre for Automotive Management, Buckingham University – that the market will continue to experience a relative shortage of units under five-years old in the short- to medium-term.   As a result of the lower new van sales since 2008 and the trend for larger businesses to hold on to vans for longer, it may become increasingly difficult to source good quality used LCV stock and this means values are likely to remain reasonably firm as a result.”

As I discussed in Wednesday’s post about new van registrations, it seems that the market for vans is taking longer to recover than for trucks.

Figures much worse than January.

New van registrations fell by 26.4% in February, compared to February 2011, according to the latest SMMT figures. The February figures are disappointing but not surprising – new van registrations also fell in January.

Van registrations for the year to date were down by 20.3%, although registrations on a rolling year basis – the last twelve months – were up by 10.3% compared to the same period a year before.

Stronger Demand For Bigger Vans

Van registration numbers for February were closely correlated with weight, with larger vans seeing a smaller fall in registrations than smaller models:

Truckin’ Great

As we saw in January, truck registrations are proving far more robust than van sales, suggesting that the fundamentals of the economy are not in such bad shape as consumer demand would have you think.

Truck sales rose by 26.4% in February compared to last year, generating a 36.7% rise in truck sales for the year to date and a 23.7% improvement over the last 12 months.

Artic registrations were largely unchanged from the same period last year, falling by 1.5%. However, this figure conceals a big divide between 2-axle units (up 134.7%) and 3-axle units (down 13.8%).

Once again, rigid registrations recorded the biggest increases, rising by 46.5% overall, with strong increases across all weight categories.

Bad Year For Van Manufacturers?

So far, new van registrations in 2012 are lower than any other year since 1998, except for recession-hit 2009.

Hopefully the remainder of the year will bring good economic news (such as Nissan’s announcement about the future of its Sunderland plant) that will give business owners the confidence to continue with their usual fleet replacement cycles. In the meantime, van hire businesses look set to profit from their ability to provide vans on a flexible, short-term basis.

Ford has released the first pictures of its all-new Ford Transit, which will be unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The new Transit is first being shown in Tourneo people carrier form but will also be made with a panel van body, as at present.

According to Ford, the Tourneo Custom Concept (i.e. the new Transit) “adopts the same Kinetic Design language as Ford’s latest passenger cars to take a fresh approach to space, style and functionality.”

It certainly looks stunning and should combine very well with Ford’s current Euro 5 engine line-up.

The Tourneo Custom Concept is based on a new Ford global platform which has been engineered to deliver car-like dynamics, including agile, responsive handling, enhanced ride comfort and reduced noise-levels.

The new models will use the latest Ford ECOnetic technologies to reduce emissions and fuel consumption and will have a car-like interior quite different to current medium-sized vans.

The Tourneo model pictured is technically a concept vehicle but is expected to form the basis of Ford’s new commercial vehicle range, set to be introduced later this year. Given how close the launch date is, the production models should look very similar to the van we’ve pictured.

New Generation of Ford Commercial Vehicles

The debut of the Tourneo Custom Concept has added significance in heralding the arrival of a completely new generation of Ford commercial vehicles. The full range of models will be revealed during 2012.

Kicking off this major series of introductions, the Tourneo Custom Concept itself highlights a new family of Ford people movers and one-tonne vans which will be launched in Europe and other global markets, but will not be sold in North America.

This new range will be powered by enhanced versions of the new 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, which was initially introduced in 2011; with Auto-Stop-Start technology fitted as standard, Ford is targeting best-in-class fuel economy.

Three power ratings will be available: 100 PS, 125 PS and 155 PS.  All versions are paired with a six-speed manual transmission and feature front-wheel drive.

The model range will include a wide choice of body styles and two wheelbases (SWB and LWB) allowing for extra luggage or goods capability where required.

For more information, visit www.ford.co.uk.

The last few years have seen most European light commercial vehicle manufacturers introduce ready-built conversion options to their van ranges.

Common conversion, such as lutons, dropsides, tippers, minibuses and even refrigerated vans are increasingly available direct from the factory – or else via a factory-approved converter with the conversion included in the original sale.

This offers manufacturers and customers a number of advantages in terms of quality, consistence and simplicity – and may even have been good news for some larger bodybuilders who have managed to secure OEM contracts. On the other hand, it probably has not been good news for smaller independent bodybuilders who have lost some of their bread and butter work

Introducing EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval

What is more certain is that the latest EU rules are not going to be good news for independent bodybuilders. From 29th April 2012, manufacturers, converters and bodybuilders of Special Purpose Vehicles (category M₁) will have to seek Type Approval to register vehicles across Europe. No type approval will mean that the vehicle cannot be registered.

 Bodybuilders making all sorts of products from motor-caravans, ambulances and hearses to armoured vehicles and wheelchair accessible vehicles (up to eight seats) will have to adhere to the new rules.

Whole Vehicle Type Approval means that the whole of the finished vehicle must be approved – not just parts of it. For example, a manufacturer chassis cab will already have type approval, and until now, an independent bodybuilder could fit a suitable body to it without requiring the whole vehicle to be recertified. That will no longer be the case.

All vehicles sold will need to have whole vehicle type approval and will need either a certificate of conformity (for production models) or an Individual Vehicle Approval Certificate (for one-off models) to prove it. From 29th October 2012, these rules will also apply to trailers.

The SMMT has put together a guide to the approval process that is probably a good starting point for anyone who feels that they might be affected: senta.smmt.co.uk.

The MINI Clubvan concept van

MINI is to reveal a new van concept – the Clubvan – at the Geneva International Motor Show 2012.

Update: The MINI Clubvan will go into production, according to Autocar. Production should start later this year.

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More than fifty years ago, the first Morris Mini Van rolled off BMC’s Birmingham and Oxford production lines. Today, MINIs are still being made at Cowley and BMW is set to add a new variant to the mix – the MINI Clubvan.

Currently only a concept, the MINI Clubvan is based on the MINI Clubman, the current estate car version of the MINI.

Although I am not too keen on the standard MINI, I am a big fan of the Clubman shape, which lends itself superbly to becoming a small van and to other customisation options, as BMW points out in its press release…

Premium Van Would Be Promotional Gem

BMW says that the MINI Clubvan would be “a compact van for business and leisure, and the first premium model in the small car-based van segment.” That’s certainly true – although it says something about my powers of foresight when less a month after I questioned the future of car-derived small vans, the sexiest car-derived van of all time arrives on the scene.

There is no doubt that a van like this would create an excellent promotional effect for certain types of business – whether used as a delivery or work vehicle or simply as a promotional tool.

The Clubvan might also be the ultimate company car for a van hire company owner.

Practical Too

To criticise the Clubvan for not being as practical as a Citroen Berlingo would be to miss the point. Despite that, the Clubvan is more practical than you might think, offering a flat load area from behind the front seats to the rear doors, with an integral bulkhead and attachment loops for strapping loads down.

The Clubvan also retains the Clubman’s rear-opening rear side doors and van-style rear doors, providing good rear and side access to the load compartment.

The sides of the van provide a surprisingly large expanse of flat space for signwriting and graphics and the rear windows are dark-tinted for security and style.

Will The Clubvan Go Into Production?

At this stage the Clubvan is just a concept, but I have a strong feeling that it will go into production: it is just too practical and desirable not too.

Besides, can you imagine jut how much fun a Cooper model would be?

Scroll down for more pictures, or visit www.mini.co.uk for more information.

2012 Euro 5 Citroen Relay

All three of the new models use Citroën’s new Euro 5 HDi 150 diesel engine, supplementing the existing choice of HDi 110 and HDi 130 engines:

• Relay 35 Heavy L3 HDi 150 6-speed manual Chassis Cab
• Relay 35 Heavy L4 HDi 150 6-speed manual Chassis Cab
• Relay 35 Heavy L4 HDi 150 6-speed manual Luton van

These latest additions mean that the Citroën Relay range now includes the following models, which are available with a choice of up to four Euro 5 engines: HDi 110, HDi 130, HDi 150 and the HDi 180:

• Panel vans (8.0 – 17.0cu.m load volume & 3.0 – 4.05 tonne gvw)
• 3.5 tonne gvw chassis cabs, with a choice of  in three wheelbase lengths
• 3.5 tonne gvw chassis crew cabs
• 3.5 tonne gvw back to back cabs
• 3.5 tonne gvw Relay Specialist Luton vans
• 3.5 tonne gvw Relay Specialist dropsides
• 3.5 tonne gvw Relay Specialist tippers
• Ready to Run minibuses, glass carriers, temperature controlled vans, tippers, dropsides and lutons

Scott Michael, Citroën’s Commercial Vehicle Operations Manager comments:

“The recently introduced Euro 5 150 engine provides a useful power and torque boost over the already impressive HDi 130 engine for those operators requiring additional performance. By now having Relay chassis cabs powered by the HDi 150 engine, we can offer an optimum combination of performance and economy for those customers wanting vehicles fitted with special bodywork.”

The Relay model range certainly seems to cover all the bases and should provide a suitable option for most operators’ requirements.

You will be able to see all of Citroën’s updated van models at the Birmingham NEC CV Show 2012

Do you operate Citroën vans? If so, leave us a comment below with your thoughts on them.

Nissan had a very successful 2011, which included the launch of a replacement model for Interstar, the NV400. It has now launched a new advertising campaign to promote the NV400 by vinyl-wrapping fifteen HGV trailers with promotional images of the NV400.

The trailers collectively cover 150,000 miles a month, which Nissan reckons will expose them to around 18 million pairs of eyeballs.

Big Ad, Big Van

Like the Interstar, the NV400 is based on the Renault Master – in this case, the latest Renault Master, which was launched in 2010.

The NV400 is a genuinely big van and comes in a choice of four load lengths and three load heights, with load volumes of between eight and 17 cubic metres and a choice of four gross vehicle weights ranging from 2.8 tonnes to  4.5 tonnes.

It is available in both front and rear wheel drive and can be specified with 100PS, 125PS or 150PS diesel engines driving through a six speed manual or automatic transmission.

To find out more, visit www.nissan.co.uk.