The Commercial Vehicle Show took place from 30 April to 2 May and once more saw the crowds flocking to the NEC in Birmingham in a display of confidence in the UK’s commercial vehicle market despite the continuing uncertainy of the economic backdrop.
The organisers reported the event had sold out for the fifth consecutive year with close to 500 exhibitors’ stands attracting upwards of 20,000 people to the halls.
Highlights included Vauxhall’s unveiling of its new Vivaro medium van, the first built under PSA ownership, Toyota marking its entry into the light van sector by taking the wraps off its Proace City model, and Paneltex displaying an all-electric refrigerated vehicle based around a Fiat Professional Ducato converted to battery power by BD Automotive.
Electric vehicle technology makes its presence felt increasingly every year at the show and this time around Peugeot and Citroen revealed their respective Boxer Electric and Relay Electric vans, LDV debuted its second plug-in LCV, the EV30 medium van, and Ford showcased its Transit Custom PHEV line-up, following a successful series of trials, before the hybrid electric vans arrive in showrooms in September.
James Dallas is the Editor of What Van?
