In a speech delivered at this year's IAA Commercial Vehicle Show, the chief executive officer of LDV Group, Evgeniy Vereshchagin, said the business was now focused on global expansion.
Mr Vereshchagin, who has overall responsibility for the design, manufacture and marketing of the MAXUS product range outside of Russia, said that while other manufacturers are cutting production, the company will increase its by seven per cent by the end of this year to meet global demand.
“We have transformed the MAXUS product range from just a van, to a full range of panel vans, window and crew vans, chassis cabs and also minibuses,” he said. “The latest product to come off the MAXUS production line is our extended frame chassis. It is available direct from the factory with both Aero Luton and dropside bodies that are covered by our full manufacturer's warranty. The factory built dropside delivers a load bed length of 4.2 metres with a class leading maximum payload of 1448kg, which is up to 200kg above key competitors.
“We have invested in new products, improved product design and features and installed world class manufacturing processes and systems to improve manufacturing efficiency by some 40 per cent.”
Since its acquisition of LDV, GAZ Group has employed a further 218 people within the Birmingham-based MAXUS headquarters and manufacturing plant. A second factory will be opened in Russia in 2010 which is expected to produce around 45,000 vehicles per year. The UK factory will support the expansion of sales outside of the CIS and the combined volume from both plants will increase the global competitiveness of the MAXUS brand.
Speaking about the company's latest acquisition, Mr Vereshchagin said: “We are investing in the latest technology for both our production systems and vehicle range. The joint acquisition of VM Motori with GM gives us access to the latest diesel engine technology, but with the pressures to reduce the environmental impact and cost of diesel engines, we are also investing in alternative fuels.
“Today on the stand we have the MAXUS ECV1, an advanced prototype electric powered vehicle, which is already in testing with key fleet customers. This vehicle has been designed to maximise safety and optimise loadspace and payload, with batteries ideally packaged between the chassis rails. At the request of major fleet customers, the driver interface has the minimum level of change from a diesel vehicle, so driver training is minimised. The vehicle can also be offered with different options of payload, range and top speed.”
In order to deliver new products to market, the company is transforming its distribution network and developing further partnerships with dealers and importers across the world.
Mr Vereshchagin said: “Since the last time we were at Hanover, we have launched in Russia, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey and Malaysia. By the end of this year we will have added Poland and the Czech Republic with plans for another 10 markets in the next 12 months.
“We are now actively looking for partners in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. We are building a network of specialist commercial vehicle dealers offering market leading aftersales, parts and service support, reducing cost of ownership and vehicle downtime.
“This has resulted in our sales outside of the UK have growing from just over 1,000 units last year to over 6,000 this year and we are only just launching in many key markets.”
For LDV, as part of the GAZ Group, the future is an extremely exciting one, with eyes firmly on new markets and an expanding product range.
For further information on the MAXUS range visit www.maxus.com.
