Van Guard News

Troubled LDV has agreed an eleventh-hour rescue deal with American private equity group Sun Capital Partners after a week which has seen the future of the Birmingham-based company placed in doubt.

It might not be your standard white-van form of commercial transport, but it’s Christmas, and sometimes we all need to take a look at something impractical yet attractive…

Cash-in-transit giant Group 4 Securicor has bought 164 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters through Hatfield Mercedes dealership S & B Commercials.

The majority (92) are 308CDI 3.5-tonners with Sprintshift automated manual transmissions. The same system is fitted to the 30 411CDI 4.6-tonners that have also been delivered, while the remaining 42 616CDI 6.0-tonners are equipped with conventional automatic transmissions.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ latest automotive industry survey shows that the Academy is establishing itself as a vital organisation in raising skills, competitiveness and productivity in the sector. In the SMMT survey – ‘Automotive manufacturing – the industry perspective’ – 66 per cent of companies knew about the Academy – an increase of 34 per cent in the last 12 months.

Retail customers who acquire an Iveco Daily DriveAway tipper or dropside registered between now and the end of this year will be able to choose between two special packages. They can opt for either SmartNav satellite navigation installed free-of-charge, or free servicing on vehicles that cover up to 100,000 miles over the following three years.

In a surprise move Volkswagen has revealed details of its LT replacement, due to be launched internationally at next April’s British Commercial Vehicle Show. For reasons best-known to itself VW is calling it the Crafter, and its unusual looks represent a marked departure from the German manufacturer’s styling policy of evolution rather than revolution.