MAN Truck & Bus will re-enter the European van market with the MAN TGE van. The German manufacturer will sell a rebadged version of the VW Crafter that will be built at a new factory in Wrzesnia, Poland.
MAN hasn’t sold a light commercial vehicle before, although the VW LT cabs were used on a number of MAN light trucks. The new MAN TGE van will be sold through the MAN dealer network, and opens the vehicle up to the haulage and distribution markets.
Simon Elliott is the current managing director of MAN Truck & Bus UK, but used to be the head of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK. He thinks the MAN TGE van will work well with a truck brand, with its ethos being “van people, talking van language to van customers.’
“Customers have repeatedly asked me about the possibility of a MAN van, so it’s great to be able to confirm that we are in the market,” explained Mr Elliot.
“This new addition to our range puts another building block in place for our future. We are keen to offer the HGV approach to repair and maintenance for our customers by reducing operator downtime.
“Having the right product with the right strategy, backed by a great dealer network who understand what customers want, will be key to the success of the MAN TGE range. I am confident that our new product will do very well in a competitive market. The next few years are going to be very exciting.”
The new vehicle will be available in a wide range of bodystyles, with conversions taking place on the Wrzesnia production line. Gross vehicle weights are expected to range from around three tonnes to five tonnes.
Under the bonnet will be Volkswagen’s famed 2.0-litre engine. This has already achieved Euro-6 emissions compliance in the current generation of the Volkswagen Crafter, although power ratings and fuel economy have yet to be announced.
The new model will be previewed at the 2016 IAA Show in Hannover and the first deliveries are expected to be made in around January 2017.
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