Maxus Chinese-made vans to be LDV in Australia
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18th July, 2012
Sydney-based vehicle importer WMC, has changed the name of its proposed
range of European-designed, Chinese-manufactured vans from Maxus to LDV for the Australian market.
In consultation with SAIC the change has been made by WMC to avoid a clash of trademarks with an Australian company
which owns the name "Maxus" for a range of truck and trailer components and consumables.
According to Jason Pecotic, CEO of WMC Group, who indicated it is disappointing that the vans will not be marketed in
Australia under its global name. The LDV was the name originally used for the range when it was manufactured and marketed
in Europe, prior to the Chinese acquisition of the brand.
"The vans are manufactured by SAIC in China and sold around the world under the Maxus name. Whilst we didn't believe
there would have been any confusion (in using the Maxus brand), we are excited to be using the LDV name with the new
range in Australia," said Mr Pecotic.
"LDV reflects the European heritage and design of the vans and we believe Australian buyers will embrace the brand
because of the excellent value, engineering quality and equipment levels they will offer," said Jason Pecotic.
The new generation of LDV V80 vans are based on a front-drive platform developed in Britain as the LDV, using the
latest generation common rail turbo diesel power plants by Italian maker VM Motori.
SAIC purchased the British commercial vehicle operation and intellectual rights to the van from the company in 2009
and has invested in further R&D and engineering to ensure it meets the latest European standards.
WMC is planning to launch a seven model range of LDV V80 vans from the fourth quarter of 2012 with three cargo
versions and four passenger models.
The line-up will include a short wheelbase and long wheel base cargo van both with standard roof height as well as a
high roof version of the long wheelbase model. The range will feature load capacity of between nine and 14 cubic metres
and a payload of up to 1.8 tonnes.
The four passenger van variants will include the 11-passenger short wheelbase with standard roof as well as a
15-passenger long wheelbase variant in either standard roof or high roof configuration and an 11-passenger long wheelbase
luxury model.
The LDV vehicles will also come with a high level of standard features.
These standard features include rear barn doors, tyre pressure monitoring, 16" alloy wheels, dual sliding doors and
door integrated electric entry steps.
Further details of the LDV range and specification will be revealed close to the launch date.
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