LDV Maxus
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| Manufacturer | LDV Limited |
|---|---|
| Also called | Fargo Fora (Turkey)[1] Maxus Datong (China) Weststar LDV Maxus (Malaysia)[2] |
| Production | 2004–2009 2011– (planned) |
| Assembly | Washwood Heath, United Kingdom Pekan, Malaysia (DRB-HICOM) Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (GAZ) Istanbul, Turkey (Askam Otomotiv) |
| Predecessor | LDV Pilot LDV Convoy |
| Class | Van |
| Body style | SWB and LWB |
| Engine | 120 PS (88 kW; 118 hp) 2500 cc Diesel engine |
The Maxus is a van model, originally produced by LDV Limited. It was launched in late 2004. The model was jointly developed by LDV and Daewoo Motor, prior to Daewoo entering receivership in 2000, in a five year, £500 million development programme. Following General Motors' acquisition of Daewoo, LDV secured the exclusive rights to the vehicle, purchased the tooling and moved it from Daewoo's plant in Lublin, Poland to the LDV site in Birmingham. A version of the Maxus is manufactured by GAZ.
In 2011, the Chinese company Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) launched a new commercial vehicle marque called Maxus, following its acquisition of the intellectual property of LDV in 2010.[3][4] The LDV Maxus model is being relaunched by SAIC as the V80.[3]
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[edit] History
Since its launch, the Maxus received good reviews and sold well across the UK. The van is being used on fleet basis by companies such as Transco, Royal Mail and various UK police services. Not long after its launch the LDV Maxus was awarded the Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine "Van of the Year 2005" and has since won several further awards including "Van of the Year", "Minibus of the Year" and "Combi of the Year".[citation needed]
LDV was acquired in 2006 by the Russian automotive giant GAZ and there are plans to start production of the Maxus in one of GAZ's Russian factories by 2010 but the LDV factory went into administration in June 2009, due to lack of funds from Russian owner GAZ. Some 800 workers were laid off during this period leaving the whole van building operation in question.[5] It had been hoped that the Malaysian company Weststar LDV, which distributed the Maxus under licence in Asia and the Middle East, would acquire LDV, but the deal fell through the week before LDV entered administration.[6]
In 2008 LDV manufactured 10,000 vans, generating sales of about £150m, but lost £54m in 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 before the failure of the company.[7]
In August 2010, China's SAIC, which bought most of the LDV assets, planned to launch the Chinese version of Maxus in 2011[8] and in April 2011 announced the Maxus would be called the Datong (meaning big wisdom and smooth in Chinese) under its new Maxus brand.[9]
[edit] Variants
The MAXUS is available in two wheelbases, three roof heights and a choice of 2.8t, 3.2t and 3.5t GVW. The vehicle is also available in these roles:
- A multi-purpose role, mixing seats and space for transport of goods
- A minibus version providing 10, 12, 15 or 17 seats
- A Chassis Cab version with Dropsides, Tippers, Lutons and Box Vans
[edit] References
- ^ "Fargo Fora". Askam. http://www.fargofora.com.tr/. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^ "Weststar LDV Sdn Bhd - MAXUS - Built for Professionals". Weststarldv.com. http://www.weststarldv.com/news/20070409_partner.html. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ a b "SAIC launched new brand Maxus for vans". China Car Times. 3 March 2011. http://www.chinacartimes.com/2011/03/03/saic-launched-new-brand-maxus-for-vans/. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ "SAIC plans to sell MAXUS van globally in H2". Reuters. 1 March 2011. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/saic-idUSTOE72002C20110301. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ "LDV administrator axes 810 staff at vanmaker". The Telegraph. 9 June 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/5478584/LDV-administrator-axes-810-staff-at-vanmaker.html.
- ^ "Weststar pulls out of LDV rescue". BBC.co.uk. 2 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8078919.stm.
- ^ "Van maker LDV collapses into administration". The Guardian. 8 June 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jun/08/ldv-vans-administration.
- ^ "SAIC to Resurrect LDV Maxus". ChinaAutoWeb.com. http://chinaautoweb.com/2010/08/saic-to-resurrect-ldv-maxus/.
- ^ "SAIC to make MAXUS vans". Global Times. 1 March 2011. http://auto.globaltimes.cn/auto-china/industry/2011-03/628577.html.
