Australian automotive distributor WMC Group will market its new range of vans as LDV rather than Maxus to avoid a clash of trademarks with an Australian component company which uses the Maxus brand for a range of truck and trailer components.
While disappointed the range will not be marketed in Australia under its global name, Jason Pecotic, chief executive of WMC Group, said he is confident the LDV brand will be well received by Australian van customers.
“The vans are manufactured by SAIC in China and sold around the world under the Maxus name,” he explained. “Whilst we didn’t believe there would have been any confusion, we are excited to be using the LDV name with the new range in Australia.”
The LDV V80 vans are based on a front-drive platform developed in Great Britain using 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 range in 2009 and has invested in further engineering research and development to ensure it meets the latest European standards.
WMC is planning to launch a seven model range of LDV V80 vans comprising three cargo and four passenger variants from the fourth quarter of 2012. The line-up will include short and long wheelbase cargo vans with the latter available in standard or high roof configurations. Cargo volumes will vary between nine and 14 cubic metres with payload capacities of up to 1.8 tonnes.
The four people mover models will include an 11-passenger short wheelbase and 15-passenger long wheelbase, the latter available in either standard or high roof guises, and an 11-passenger long wheelbase luxury version.
Standard features include rear barn doors, tyre pressure monitoring, 16 inch alloy
wheels, dual sliding doors and door integrated electric entry steps.
LDV vans meet European crash and safety standards and the 2.5 litre VM Motori diesel which produces 100 kW of power and 330 Nm of torque is Euro 5 compliant.
Further details and specifications of the LDV range will be revealed closer to the launch date.