The recent fortunes of our industry’s commercial vehicle show have reflected the state of the economy with cancelations and cutbacks. This year’s show has a renewed vigour that signals a turnaround in our industry and UK plc. as a whole.
View of last year’s CV Operators show |
A relief for the organisers and a bonus for show visitors comes as key truck makers have returned to Birmingham’s CV Show for the first time since 2008. A total cancellation in 2009 and a cut-down show last year has meant that the UK’s truck buying public should be keen to visit this year’s show to see what’s on offer from the 350+ exhibitors.
Although not all truck makers have retuned, market leaders DAF are leading the way with their ‘usual’ stand. DAF Trucks’ MD, Ray Ashworth was equally enthusiastic. “We have already said that we can see signs of the long-awaited recovery in the UK truck market so it is wholly appropriate, given our central position in the business, that we commit ourselves to the CV Show now it is returning to the NEC. We’re looking forward to welcoming all of our customers at what is a core date in the truck industry’s calendar.”
MAN and Mercedes-Benz will also take part with Hino taking the opportunity to get their trucks in front of the public. Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles’ MD, Ian Jones commented, “We plan to return to the 2011 Commercial Vehicle Show NEC with a full range of products and services. Our decision to attend is part of an ongoing commitment to meeting our customers and contacts around the country.” “MAN Truck and Bus UK is delighted to be back at the CV Show,” says CEO Des Evans, “and will be using the event to launch a number of new initiatives, one of which will focus on providing operators with an innovative total cost of ownership package utilising MAN’s EcoStyle Fleet Management System.” Hino’s Ken Grindrod, added, “Most customers I have spoken to have greatly missed a manufacturer-supported CV Show. Hino’s presence at the 2011 Show is a statement of its commitment to the UK truck market.
Iveco have decided to do what we suggested back in 2009 – support the local dealers to put together a dealership stand at the show. To this end, Iveco will be showing their product under the banner of its West Midlands dealership, Guest Trucks.
The notable missing truckmakers Scania, Isuzu, Volvo and Renault Trucks may be saving themselves some money in not attending, but is it sending out the correct signal to their customers regarding their levels of commitment to the UK market? It is certainly not cheap to exhibit at the CV Show, but the added column inches the truckmakers receive in magazine coverage should help to offset the hundreds of thousands of pounds it takes to put together a well-run stand.
The van makers are at the show in greater numbers than their heavyweight counterparts. Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault represent the mainstream manufacturers. Key players who have decided to pass on this year’s show include Vauxhall, who hold second place in the UK market share stakes. The main pickup manufacturers have stayed away – no Mitsubishi or Toyota, leaving the market open for Nissan’s Navara, the Isuzu Rodeo and Volkswagen’s new Amarok.
The Green Scene
There will be plenty available for the greener operator. Ashwoods Automotive are exhibiting their retrofit hybrid Transit for the first time at the show. The company claims fuel savings of up to 20% for a system that can pay for itself inside three years.
There will be a CV Show debut for Ashwood’s innovative hybrid drive system on stand 4D10. The firm’s Hybrid Transit offers operators a retrofit system meaning that they can green their fleets without the need to buy new vehicles. The system can cut fuel use and emissions by 15-20% and pay for itself in as little as three years.
Fitted to the prop shaft of a standard rear-wheel drive Ford Transit, Ashwoods Hybrid Drive recovers the kinetic energy usually lost through braking or deceleration. A lithium-ion battery stores the recovered energy and a high efficiency electric motor delivers it to the rear wheels. The makers claim that there is no impact on residuals or warranties.
 Ashwood’s aftermarket Hybrid for the Transit |
Ford will also show the Transit Connect Electric. This is an all-electric version of the Transit Connect and is making its UK debut. Power comes from a 28kWh lithium ion battery pack and 55kW eclectic motor. With a range of up to 80 miles and top speed of 75 mph, the vehicle is developed by Ford’s US-based electric vehicles partners Azure Dynamics. It is already collecting orders with deliveries due to start in the summer.
Mercedes-Benz is bringing along their new Vito E-Cell which is made on the production line, rather than being retrofitted. There are plenty of these Vitos running around Europe, but none as yet on UK roads.
The Kangoo ZE on charge |
Power comes from a 36 kWh capacity lithium ion battery pack driving through a 70kW electric motor. The vehicle has a range of around 130 km, can carry a payload of up to 900 kg and its top speed is limited to 80 km/h. The firm will also show two Sprinter vans, a natural gas powered model and a Blue Efficiency model, which comes with lots of clever ideas to cut fuel use.
Renault’s factory-built Kangoo ZE van will be on show and available to order for autumn delivery using the company’s ingenious leasing scheme from £16,990 (Kangoo Van), £17,990 (two-seat Maxi) and £18,690 (five-seat Maxi) excluding VAT, plus £59 monthly battery lease over 4 years/9,000 miles per year.
Smiths, on stand 5C60, will use the Show for the debut of its crew-cab electric Transit van, the latest addition to its all-electric van and light truck range. The new model comes with a 40 or 51kwh battery pack to give ranges of 80 to 100 miles. There are panel van, chassis-cab and minibus models available, from 3.5 to 4.6t.
The Tata Ace is the most popular light commercial vehicle in India and a full electric vehicle derivative is to be launched on stand 4F140 at the CV Show. The Tata Ace EV offers the practicality of a small half-tonne chassis cab, with the benefits of a low-cost, highly efficient all-electric drivetrain. The vehicle has been developed in the UK by a team of technicians and engineers from Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc. It will be assembled in the Midlands, complying with UK Construction and Use Regulations and allowing full registration as EU Category N1.
No sign of Modec this year, as the company has gone into administration and is in the process of being bought from the administrators.
TRUCKS on Show
Visitors to DAF’s stand (J90 and J100 in Hall 5) can expect to see a full line-up of DAF’s range including the new LF Hybrid, which has recently entered production. Tony Pain, DAF Trucks Marketing Director, said: “DAF Trucks will be back at its traditional stand position in Hall 5 with a comprehensive range of products on display. The return of the Commercial Vehicle Show is tremendously positive for the truck industry and DAF is looking forward to welcoming all customers, industry contacts and visitors to the stand in April”.
Amongst the DAFs on show will be a 16 tonne LF55.220 put together with refuse collection in mind, and an XF105.460 Super Space Cab. Production hybrid aside, the most interesting exhibit for the technology nut will be the EPA10 12.9 litre engine which combines EGR and SCR in Paccar’s Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks across the pond. PACCAR Parts will have their own stand – 5J100 adjacent to the DAF stand – with a full range of TRP offers as well as promoting the MAX card discount programme.
Iveco have applied some sound logic in still being represented at the show, but with the legwork carried out by their Midlands dealer, Guests Trucks. No stranger to the CV Show, as they took advantage of the lack of competition in the cut down CV Operator’s show in 2010, Guests have increased the size of their stand. Rob Spittle, Managing Director of Guest’s Truck Operations, says that the Show was successful for the company last year when it had a Daily on display. This year it will show a Stralis tractor unit, as they believe that the truck market is set to get moving this year. Guests are marching forward with their four new Iveco dealerships that it took over from Sherwoods at the beginning of this year.
MAN is breaking with tradition at this year’s show. For the first time, customer vehicles will take pride of place on the MAN stand. A 7.5 tonne TGL, 8×4 TGS and two TGX tractor units are shown courtesy of MAN customers. An MAN TopUsed quality used truck is also represented by a TGX 26.440 6×2 tractor.
Outside, MAN is showing off two further tractor units and a 4×4 TGM middleweight, again all in customer liveries.
‘Total Cost of Ownership’ is a major theme at the NEC for MAN. The company’s portfolio of services in this arena have been refined in recent years, and aftersales tools such as MAN Fleet Management (online VOSA compliance), MAN EcoStyle (driver performance monitoring) and MAN’s UpTime Principle (MoT first-time pass rates, PMI slippage and other dealer KPI monitoring).
VANS on Show
| VW Amarok in UK Spec on show |
At last, after much hype in the trade press the first UK spec double cab Amarok pickup will appear in the UK at the show. VW will be using this headline act to draw visitors onto their stand to view nine other VW commercial vehicles. These will include the Caddy and Caddy Maxi panel vans, Transporter in panel van and kombi form as well as examples of the Crafter panel van and chassis cabs will be joined by the Transporter shuttle and Caravelle people carriers.
In addition to these models there will be a fully restored 1954 split-screen ‘barn-door’ Transporter and the premiere of a new Caddy Racer. Simon Elliott commented: ‘We are extremely excited to finally introduce the Amarok to the UK buyers, showcase the diversity, versatility and competitiveness of our vans and people carriers, and I also cannot wait to see my new Caddy Racer for the first time!’
The Amarok and new Caddy Racer will be unveiled on the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stand, Hall 5 on Tuesday 12 April at 9:30 am, and will be followed by the opportunity to meet two world class darts players – James Wade and Mark Webster – who are sponsored by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
| Euro 5 Nemo on show |
Citroen will be showing off their recently launched Euro 5 Nemo which makes its public debut as part of Citroën’s Top 10 ‘Business Class’ display. Included in the display will be the Stop & Start Nemo, a Crew van version of the Berlingo and the Dispatch, the offroad version of the Berlingo plus a tipper and a Luton from Citroen’s Ready to Run range. Citroën will also show a Supertruck-bodied 22m3 panel, van on a Citroën Relay 35 chassis with a back-to-back cab. This is bound to be one of the biggest capacity 3.5 tonne panel vans in the Show and will be a must see for anyone moving light, bulky goods and keen to keep clear of Operator Licence bureaucracy. The new model has optional rear air suspension that drops the floor height to 370 mm.
Robert Handyside, Citroën’s outgoing Commercial Vehicle Operations Manager, said; “Citroën’s Top 10 ‘Business Class’ theme is designed to highlight the strength and depth of the company’s award-winning LCV range. Already the UK’s most economical van, the Euro 5 Nemo now offers even better fuel economy, lower emissions, more power, higher payload and greater loadspace.”
| The new NV400 |
Nissan’s new large van, the NV400 will be making its UK premiere and will be joined by a plenty of vehicles from Nissan’s commercial vehicle range including a small van, a 4×4, a pickup and a three-tonne truck. In addition Nissan will be bringing along a special car – the electric Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s LCV sales and marketing director, Francis Bleasdale comments: “The NV400 adds the finishing touch to the top of our ever-increasing commercial vehicle range and the LEAF, Nissan’s purpose-built 100% electric family car is expected to prove a real talking point at the show.”
 Hyundai iLoad |
Hyundai are taking to the show for the first time with the Euro 5 versions of the iLoad. The company will be showing the iLoad in Panel and Crew van format. Also making an appearance will be the first working Police converted version of the iLoad. This is in recognition of Hyundai Motor UK becoming a preferred supplier to the UK Police Authorities.
Mark Baxter, Hyundai UK’s product manager commented: “Hyundai is committed to increasing the awareness of the iLoad and sees the CV show as an ideal opportunity to demonstrate the iLoad’s capabilities to the wider light commercial vehicle user audience.”
Renault are making loud noises about the exhibits on their stand, claiming no fewer than seven UK debuts amongst the 14-van display, including the Kangoo electric ZE.
There will be several new additions to the Master range. Namely, four factory-built products – a Box Van, Dropside, Tipper and 17 Seat minibus, plus two locally converted products – Luton Van and Curtainsider. Fleet and Commercial Vehicle Operations Director, Darren Payne, said, “We’ve made no bones about our ambitious plans to increase our share of the UK conversions market to 8% in the months ahead. Our wealth of new models on show underlines that message.”
Isuzu will be on stand 4E50 and says that its Rodeo pick-up relies on its truck-based origins to deliver reliable hard work, backed by an aftersales network that offers support when you need it rather than when it’s convenient for the dealer. Isuzu’s recent tie-up with JCB dealers is an example of this approach at work, helping to keep the wheels turning.
Fiat will be pushing their International van of the year – the Doblo and focusing on the newly introduced Euro 5 Fiorino with a new standard 95hp 1.3 MultiJet diesel unit with Start&Stop, and a DPF. Also on show is the new Punto Evo Van, with the 1.3 16v MultiJet Diesel engine and ‘start & stop’ technology. A converted low loader plant-bodied Ducato and a handful of Scudos shows the breadth of the Fiat range.
 2011 International Van of the Year on Show |
Fiat have also launched a new range called Adventure to highlight the benefits of Traction+, an electronic differential lock system for improved grip and control when driving in low-grip conditions, but with no impact on fuel economy or maintenance costs. The Fiorino Adventure comes as standard with higher ground clearance, increased payload, 15-inch alloy wheels, under-engine, lower front bumper and side protection, and roof bars.
Gerry Clarke, Director of Fiat Professional UK, comments: “The Fiat Professional range of award-winning vehicles has been enjoying a high level of interest from customers and the media, and this is set to continue with the introduction of new environmentally friendly Euro 5 engines in the Fiorino, Scudo and Punto Evo Van.”
Ford’s new Ranger pick-up will make its UK debut on stand 4C20, although customers will have to wait until November to get their hands on one. The firm says this important new model has exceptional towing capacity of up to 3.3 tonne. It also has a host of other clever ideas, including Adaptive Load Control and Trailer Sway Control and a rear-view camera system. The new Ranger will be on sale in the late autumn.
 Ford’s smart-looking Ranger |
Steve Clary, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain, said: “Despite the recent economic turbulence, Ford has continued to heavily invest in exciting and technologically advanced vehicles for the CV industry.”
Sharing the new Dagenham-built 2.2-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi 150PS engine with the Ranger will be the Euro 5 Transits which will all have Euro 5 engines as standard later this year. These engines include a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) with vaporiser technology that collects over 95 per cent of all engine soot emissions and a Variable Nozzle Turbo (VNT) which boosts low end torque, improves driveability and also reduces emissions.
Visitors to the Ford stand can take a break with free waffles and coffee and enter its UEFA Champions League football game.
What else is on show?
As well as the vans, there will be a huge range of supporting products and services on show, from Ratcliff Palfinger’s new range of light van tail lifts and a new ‘top of the range’ 1500kg capacity twin-fold Tukaway, with a double-folding aluminium platform.
On stand 5B110, spray-on linings for vans and pick-ups from Linex (stand 4C90) and an all-makes van parts range from Multipart on stand 5G120. Polybilt, stand 4D84, will show the plastic bodies whose 20% weight saving is helping the firm break into the weight-conscious supermarket home delivery market while Eminox will take bookings for its LEZ clinics on stand 5H80, where it will help truck and van dealers and operators to plan for the next and toughest yet round of London Low Emission Zone restrictions.
Snap-On enter the truck diagnostic market on Stand 4H76 The new hand-held touch screen tool provides manufacturer specific guided diagnostics. The Company is targeting independent dealers, fleets, bus and coach companies and franchised dealers.
They are not alone, as Eclipse Diagnostics are showing their Jaltest truck diagnostic tools as well which, they say, covers an extensive range of vehicles. Jaltest looks set to attract the interest of independent CV workshops as well as vehicle recovery specialists which may be called out to rescue a wide range of vehicles at any time to fix problems involving ECU programming, ABS/EBS brake, suspension and clutch calibration, Euro 5 adblue, and diesel fuel injection.
Penny Hydraulics will be demonstrating its range of aftermarket load handling solutions with four vans on their stand – including a new Amarok, which will be fitted with a compact Swing Lift crane and an Easy Loader tail lift.
Fuel management company Merridale will be holding fuel management clinics on their stand covering any concerns visitors have about depot fuelling, storage tanks, security and dispensing pumps.
Safetytrimworldwide are showing their unique wheel nut management system which both indicates that a nut is loose and holds it in place.
Haweka UK will also be helping truck workshops with wheel problems – they manufacture the fast and accurate wheel alignment system. The company will be showing their complete range of commercial vehicle alignment equipment including the all-new Axis 4000 on stand 4K50.
Of course there will be an opportunity to grab your free copy of Trucklocator, Plantlocator and Vanlocator magazines and take the opportunity to meet some of the salesteam. Demonstrations of the www.trucklocator.co.uk www.vanlocator.co.uk and www.plantlocator.co.uk websites will be taking place.
Information
The Shows’ website – carries all information about the Shows, exhibitors with their stand numbers and how to get to the NEC, as well as all the latest news. The CV Show at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, will be open from 08:30 to 17:30 on Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 April inclusive. Entry, as always, is free.
Tags: CV Show, Ford transit, hybrid vans, VW Amarok