LDV Maxus Luton Van

The West Midlands factory of van maker LDV, which produces the Maxus range of vans, has been closed since 12th December 2008. LDV employs around 900 people at its Washwood Heath, Birmingham plant and produces 13,000 vans per year.

Due to reopen on the 12th January, it remains closed today due to plummeting demand in both the UK and its eastern European and Russian markets. LDV have now arranged a meeting with the government to discuss the possibility of state support for the struggling company.

Like Ford (and most other vehicle manufacturers), LDV has been hit hard by a sudden drop in demand. According to LDV Marketing Director Guy Jones, “LDV is producing the vans of tomorrow today and we hope the UK Government recognises and supports such UK innovation”.

The latest figures show that new van registrations (of all makes) were down 26% in December and down 14% on the year as a whole. In a company statement, LDV said that it “is struggling to forecast when sustained demand for new vehicles will recommence and losses are presently being incurred due to little or no production and reduced sales.”