Vauxhall has revealed its new Vivaro van at the CV Show in Birmingham and emphasised the importance of the vehicle to UK vehicle production.
The new Vivaro, which is based on Groupe PSA’s EMP2 platform, will help secure 1,250 jobs at Vauxhall’s manufacturing plant in Luton, the UK’s biggest commercial vehicle manufacturer.
Unveiling the new Vivaro range, Vauxhall managing director Steve Norman highlighted a 20% increase in payload and a 25% better towing weight of 2.5 tonnes compared to the outgoing model.
He also pointed out the improved efficiency – claiming that the 1.5-litre 100hp model returns 22% lower emissions than a comparable Ford Transit and 20% lower than a comparable Volkswagen Transporter. The 120hp models offer 27% fewer emissions than a comparable Ford, he added.
Meanwhile the new Vivaro’s payloads in standard form of up to 1460kg are equivalent to the Transit and 15% better than the Transporter, Norman said.
The Vivaro has been produced at Luton for 18 years with 1.8 million examples currently sold. According to Norman, the new model is set to be the class leader in the second-largest van market in Europe after Germany.
Electric version on the way
In 2020 a fully battery-electric version will join the Vivaro range – Vauxhall’s now partners in PSA Group, Peugeot and Citroën, unveiled electric versions of the Boxer and Relay at the show.
Norman emphasised the importance of LCV sales to Vauxhall, and not just via the Vivaro. The smaller Combo has been named International Van of the Year and seen a 70% increase in sales.
Last month Vauxhall announced an increase in its LCV presence with the launch of a network of van business centres. So far 63 have been set up offering sales, after sales and serving focused on needs of business users.
Norman reminded CV show visitors that Vauxhall has been building vans in Luton for close to a century, adding that the brand effectively created the light commercial sector. He described the Bedford CA, launched in 1952 and built until 1969, as the first purpose-built van of its type.