Van Guard News

Tata Motors has finally launched the reworked version of the Renault Trafic Panel van, a new people mover that will join the company’s fleet of passenger vehicles. The new Winger, as Tata Motors calls it, is being offered with two different roof heights and two different wheelbase lengths, just like the French company’s original.

Production at General Motors’ Manufacturing Luton plant has reached a significant milestone, with the plant’s half-millionth van rolling off the production line.

The bright red Vauxhall Vivaro SWB panel van was the 500,000th vehicle produced at the GMM Luton plant under a joint manufacturing agreement established in 2001, which sees GM building all European specification low-roof versions of the Vivaro in both Vauxhall and Opel guise, as well as for the Renault and Nissan brands.

The first bespoke conversion of a new Crafter into a Race Home for motorcycle racing has been developed by the Volkswagen Van Centre, Cardiff.

The Volkswagen Crafter Race Home not only offers facilities for transporting up to two motorcycles or a quad bike, but also provides an extremely comfortable and well-appointed base for weekend race meetings with hand-built furniture, leather upholstery, four-berths, double glazed windows throughout, blinds and flyscreens, and a heating system.

Van drivers have been shown in a different light thanks to recent findings by car insurance firm Budget.

The motor insurance provider found that the majority of men who drive vans are conscious of their weight and looks and enjoy spending free time relaxing with family.

An attractive and flexible, finance lease offer for business users, which includes free servicing for three years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), is currently available with all new Volkswagen Caddy, Transporter and Crafter vans.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VCV) is taking on market leaders Ford and Vauxhall with a new strategy that aims to move VCV away from the main VW brand.

The company is launching an outdoor, press, direct marketing and online campaign created by RLA Group in an attempt to recapture the “mass premium” market that is dominated by Ford.

Drivers now have more options for mounting the RearSight back-up camera system from Rostra Precision Controls, thanks to the company’s new 5-in. mounting stem. The new stem means the in-vehicle monitor can be mounted to a vehicle’s windshield, making it ideal for trucks, vans and vehicles that are not equipped with rearview mirrors.

By 2009 each of Renault’s diesel engines will be capable of running on a 30% blend of bio-diesel (B30), although whether or not European customers will be readily able to get hold of the fuel is another matter.

VW’s head of sales worldwide Hans-Heiner Tueting had a busy day last week, when he came to the UK to open two new Volkswagen Van Centres.