Kiwi-owned Great Lake Motor Distributors (GLMD) has launched three new LDV models in the large van segment with two battery electric versions set to arrive next year.
The Deliver 9 (V90) range, known as ‘Big, Bigger and Biggest’, is LDV’s third commercial vehicle offering in New Zealand since the smaller V80 was launched in 2013.
Prices for the new models range from $41,990 to $48,490 plus GST with the line-up set to complement the V80 range rather than replace it by adding additional safety features along with more cargo capacity.
The Deliver 9 ‘Big’ includes 9.7m3 of space with a mid-wheelbase and roof, ‘Bigger’ provides 11m3 with a long wheelbase and mid-roof and ‘Biggest’ offers 12.3m3 with a long wheelbase and high roof.
A battery electric eDeliver 9 will also be arriving in 2021 along with a smaller eDeliver 3 which already has an evaluation unit on the road.
GLMD general manager Andrew Bayliss says LDV has gained a reputation for being “a good reliable workhorse in New Zealand” and the new models take the brand into a new market sector.
Since hitting the road in 2013, LDV has sold 5685 vehicles, mostly on the back of the G10 and V80 range.
In the year to date, LDV sits in third place in the New Zealand light van market with a market share of 12.7%, behind Ford with 23.2% market share and Toyota with 30.3% market share.
Although Ford has been strong in recent years with the Transit model, Bayliss points to some weaknesses in Toyota’s number one position which has been dominant with models such as the Hiace.
He says LDV is now well placed to knock the leader off its perch.
“Toyota is the clear leader but they don’t actually have a wide range of product that can necessarily keep them in that position … We believe that we’ve got a wide enough product range,” he says.
LDV is also set to take advantage of new March 1 regulations banning the import of vehicles that aren’t equipped with electronic stability control (ECS) which is the death knell for much of the once popular used Hiace import market.
Vehicles statistics for the year to date show 46% of used Hiaces entering New Zealand have done over 125,000km, 38% between 75,000km and 125,000km and 48% are between eight and 16 years old.
“Why would you want a van that’s done over 75,000kms when you can buy a new one with factory warranty? We have a new van starting at $29,990 plus GST,” Bayliss says.
And in terms of cost per square metre of cargo area, he points out that LDV leads the pack across its range.
For example, the Deliver 9 Bigger model offers 6.1m2 space at a cost of $7916 per square metre.
This compares to the Hiace ZX with 6m2 space at a cost of around $8748 per spare metre or the Transit 350L with 6.2m2 space at a cost of around $10,321 per square metre.
GLMD managing director Rick Cooper believes the future is “very rosy” for his company and the LDV brand.
He says he always preaches the “three P’s principle” to his salespeople which is “price, presentation and product”.
“When you’ve got those three things in business you will survive and that’s what I believe we have,” Copper says.
He says vans are also a great market to be in with all the add-on costs associated with a sale.
“When you sell vans you sell all the accessories to go with it … And vans do high mileages … some of the couriers are doing 15,000kms every two months and you see those vans in the workshop getting serviced and a new set of tyres,” he says.
Copper is also excited about the arrival of the new battery electric models and reckons the eDeliver 3 is “world-beating”.
“I can see this thing whipping around Auckland doing courier work,” he says.
Deliver 9
The Deliver 9 range includes a 2.0L turbo diesel intercooled engine which delivers 110kW at 3500rpm and 375Nm at 1500-2400 rpm available in six-speed manual and six-speed auto.
Safety features include anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ECS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), brake assist (BAS), autonomous emergency braking (AEBS), hill hold assist (HHA), adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane departure warning (LDW) and driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags.
Cargo space features include non-slip hard rubber flooring, wheel arch protection, eight tie down points, LED illuminated cargo space, 180 degree opening cargo doors, integrated rear step and left-hand sliding cargo door.
eDeliver 3
The eDeliver 3 comes in short wheel base (4555mm) and long wheel base (5142mm) versions.
Short wheel base offers 4.8 cubic metres and up to 905kg of payload while long wheel base offers 6.3 cubic metres and just over one tonne of payload.
The model also has two battery capacities with 35kWh offering a 280km range and 52.5kW/h at 400km range. Peak power is rated at 90kW and peak torque at 125Nm.
At this stage no pricing has been offered on the model but LDV promises it will be “realistic and competitive”.
