Kiwi-owned distribution company, Great Lake Motor Distributors (GLMD), is now the official New Zealand distributor of LDV vans.
Chairman
Rick Cooper says: “GLMD has taken on the rights to distribute LDV vans
in NZ. We are very excited to be introducing this high quality van range
to the Kiwi market, which will complement our current SsangYong model
range.”
GLMD has been very successful with the Korean brand,
increasing sales by 60% or more year-on-year since taking over the brand
in 2010 – and recently winning SsangYong Motor Company’s ‘fastest
growing market award’.
“The LDV brand
was born and raised in Europe, has won many international excellence
awards. The brand has history behind it, and it is proven,” says Cooper.
“Now assembled by giant Chinese auto manufacturer SAIC, LDV is going to be NZ’s most reliable and best value van,” he claims.
“LDV
vans have been designed to drive and handle like passenger vehicles,
yet they have class-leading cargo features including low floor clearance
increasing interior space and payload, wide-angle double sliding side
doors, and rear barn doors for easier loading.
“They have the
lowest vehicle incidence rate in their class and have been designed to
prioritise passenger safety,” adds Cooper. “The European vans are
powered by a powerful Euro 4 compliant, 2.5-litre common rail turbo
diesel from respected Italian engine maker VM Motori, with 100kw power
and 330Nm torque outputs.
“LDV vans are assembled by SAIC – a
Fortune 500 company and China’s largest vehicle manufacturer – which
also assembles 800,000 vehicles for General Motors and 1.4m vehicles for
Volkswagen,” says Cooper.
GLMD will be importing three models – a
short wheelbase (3100mm) low roof and a long wheelbase (3850mm) with a
mid and high roof.
Payloads vary from 1448kg to 1616kg and up to
1800kg, dependent on model, with cubic metre load spaces ranging from 7
to 10.3, and 11.6 cubic metres.
Some of the standard features of
these vans include ABS disc brakes, emergency brake assist, electronic
brakeforce distribution and dual airbags, reversing sensors, alloy
wheels and contemporary daytime running lights.
“Despite not
cutting corners with its list of features, the unique selling point of
these vans in New Zealand will be the value proposition with the base
model V80 short wheel base retailing for $29,990 + gst, backed up with a
three-year/100,000km warranty.
“There is a 16-strong network of
service agents already in place for LDV, but new dealers are currently
being recruited,” says Cooper.
Footnote: SAIC Motor Corporation Limited (informally SAIC, formerly Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) is a Chinese state-owned automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Shanghai, China with multinational operations.
