The IAA Commercial Vehicles show takes place in Hannover, Germany every two years, and claims to be the most important trade show for vans, pickups, trucks and buses – in the world.
This is our report live from the 2018 event, with links to full stories on all the latest van and pickup news where you can read even more.
World debuts from the 2018 IAA include Volkswagen’s all-electric ID Buzz Cargo concept as well as electric production versions of the Transporter and Caddy, a heavily revised Ford Transit and production-ready Transit Custom PHEV plug-in hybrid, brand new small vans from Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall, and a whole host of other wild concepts and stories.
Keep reading for our full IAA show report, but if you’re interested in the news from a particular manufacturer you can click the links below to jump straight to more info:
- Citroen at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Fiat at the IAA Commerical Vehicles Show 2018
- Ford at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Hyundai at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Iveco at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- LDV / Maxxus at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- MAN at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Mercedes-Benz at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Mitusbishi at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Nissan at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Peugeot at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Renault at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Toyota at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Vauxhall / Opel at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
- Volkswagen at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018
We also have the following general show info available if you need it:
Van and pickup news by manufacturer from the IAA Commercial Vehicles show 2018
CITROEN
Big news from Citroen is the world debut of the all-new Berlingo small van, sister vehicle to the Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo – both of which are also appearing at the show.
The trio has won the International Van of the Year 2019, with the award being announced at the IAA.
>> 2018 Citroen Berlingo – official details and pictures on Parkers Vans and Pickups
FIAT
As ususal, Fiat has a large stand here at the IAA, but there are not really any exciting new product announcements. It has got a Fiat Fullback modified by Garage Italia and this unusual Ducato on display, though, which possibly brings a new meaning to ‘backseat driver’…
>> Read a Fiat review on Parkers Vans and Pickups
FORD
Ford’s major debut is the updated Ford Transit, which appears in public for the first time at the show. On sale in 2019, this new model promises improved payload and more technology than ever before – including mild hybrid power, more efficient EcoBlue engines with up to 185hp, and built-in connectivity.
This Ford Transit Connect Sport was new for the IAA, too. Complete with racing stripes and bodykit, it becomes the fourth Sportvan in Ford’s LCV line-up and tops a revised Transiit Connect range that made its debut alongside the facelifted Transit Courier at the UK CV Show in April 2018.
After a lengthy wait, the Ford Transit Custom PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) is on display at the IAA in its final production form. Again this will be on sale in 2019.
Ford also suprised us with an update to the regular Transit Custom range, which gets the same upgraded engines as its big brother – including the new mild-hybrid diesel.
Tucked into a corner, the Ranger Raptor high-performance pickup recently confirmed for sale in Europe, making its major van show debut.
Finally, Ford chose the IAA to announce some new telematics and connectivity services as well.
>> Ford Transit 2019 facelift – official details and pictures on Parkers Vans
>> Ford Transit Connect and Courier 2018 facelift including new Connect Sport
>> Ford Transit Custom PHEV – everything you need to know
>> New engines for Ford Transit Custom in 2019
>> Ford Ranger Raptor – official details and pictures on Parkers Vans
HYUNDAI
Hyundai has no vehicles at the IAA this year, but has announced its future plans to build a hydrogen fuel cell powered electric truck – that’s an official render of the FCEV Cargo Truck above.
So no van news. Despite a facelifted iLoad medium van appearing in other parts of the world.
>> Hyundai iLoad full review on Parkers Vans and Pickups
IVECO
Iveco failed to show the facelifted Daily we’ve seen spy shots of already, but every vehicle on display is powered by alternative fuels – so either natural gas or electricity, rather than conventional diesel. An impressive statement, but no real van news.
>> Iveco Daily set to receive facelift – first spy shots reveal updates for 2019
LDV / MAXUS
Chinese firm SAIC, which builds the Maxus van range marketed as LDV in the UK, is showing a facelifted version of the its EV80 electric van. The exterior’s not much different, but the dashboard has received an update that includes an integrated touchscreen display. No news yet on when this will appear in the UK
>> 2019 LDV EV80 electric van details
MAN
MAN has a new electric version of the TGE large van on show in Hannover. Called the eTGE it’s a rebadged version of the e-Crafter – which is hardly a surprise, since the rest of the TGE range is as well.
>> MAN TGE full review on Parkers Vans and Pickups
MERCEDES
Mercedes always has an enormous presence at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show, and this year is no exception. And competing for overall star of the show will be the new Mercedes Vision Urbanetic concept, a self-driving zero-emissions urban transport solution.
Interested in the less far-fetched? The X-Class V6 pickup and the all-new Sprinter – both of which we’ve already driven – are likely to still be a highlight for many as it’s their first time at the event.
>> Mercedes Vision Urbanetic – a self-driving electric urban delivery van of the future
>> Mercedes X-Class V6 UK pricing and specification details
>> Mercedes Sprinter (2018-on) full review on Parkers Vans and Pickups
MITSUBISHI
No news from Mitsubishi at the 2018 IAA event, so enjoy these spyshots of the forthcoming L200 pickup facelift instead.
>> Mitsubishi L200 spy shots – first look at 2019 facelift for popular pickup
NISSAN
Nissan likes to make a splash at the IAA and hasn’t disappointed with this Navara Dark Sky Concept – which has been specially designed to tow a mobile astronomy observatory to remote locations in order bettr view the stars. There’s even a matching trailer with a powerful telescope.
Hannover is the also first chance to see the new Navara N-Guard special edition production model, which appears on the stand in full Off-Roader AT32 specification.
>> New Nissan Navara N-Guard – full details on Parkers Vans and Pickups
PEUGEOT
Peugeot is showing its all-new Partner small van, successor to one of the most successful vehicles in its segment and sister vehicle to the Citroen Berlingo and Vauxhall Combo, which are also appearing at the show.
The three have been collectively voted International Van of the Year 2019.
>> 2018 Peugeot Partner – full details on Parkers Vans and Pickups
RENAULT
Strong candidate for our winner of the wacky concept war at the 2018 IAA show is this Renault EZ-Pro concept, which imagines a future of parcel deliveries where the vans drive themselves while the human ‘concierge’ on board handles the all-important customer service issues.
A vision that’s similar to, but perhaps slightly better thought-out than the Mercedes Urbanetic concept also on display in Hannover.
>> Renault EZ-Pro concept – self-driving robo-vans with a human touch
TOYOTA
Toyota doesn’t have an official stand at the IAA show. The brand has already made its major debuts for 2018 in the form of the Hilux Invincible X, Hilux AT35 and Land Cruiser Commercial, which all appeared at the UK CV Show in April.
>> Read a Toyota review on Parkers Vans and Pickups
VAUXHALL / OPEL
Now fully integrated into the family of new owners PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Vauxhall – in the form of its European guise Opel – is showing the all-new Combo small van.
Now based on the same platform as the Berlingo and Partner (rather than the Fiat Doblo Cargo), the new Combo is packed with technology yet still cheaper than the old one.
It’s also just won the International Van of the Year award 2019.
>> 2018 Vauxhall Combo – full details including UK pricing, specification and engine details
VOLKSWAGEN
VW has absolutely monstered the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles show with no less that five world debuts. Okay, so one of them is an electric tricycle – the Volkswagen Cargo e-Bike (above, obviously) – but the others are properly exciting developments for this popular LCV brand.
Contender for overall star of the event is this ID Buzz Cargo concept, which previews a retro-modern design of all-electric van that VW plans to put into production around 2021. It will sit in the range alongside the Transporter, so isn’t its direct replacement.
Thinking probably even further ahead, the Crafter HyMotion is a working proof-of-concept for a large van powered by hydrogen fuel cell. It’s based on the same electric drivetrain as the e-Crafter (on display here in production form), but is fuelled by hydrogen tanks instead of batteries giving it a much longer driving range.
Bringing things back to the present, VW also has e-Transporter and e-Caddy electric vans on display that go on sale next. Finally!
Volkswagen also showed off a mild-hybrid version of the Transporter, which comes equipped with a 48V battery that is designed to provide assistance to the engine rather than take over and power the van on its own.
Thoughout Volkswagen’s show space there are also vast numbers of other VW van conversions (over 50 in all) including emergency vehicles and a novel diesel-electric hybrid Transporter.
>> VW ID Buzz Cargo concept – full details
>> VW Crafter HyMotion – full details
>> VW eTransporter and eCaddy electric vans – full details
>> VW Cargo e-Bike – full details
IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 show dates and opening times
The 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles show runs from Thursday 20 September until Thursday 27 September, with a preview day for the press on Wednesday 19 September – which Parkers Vans and Pickups will be attending and reporting from.
The show is open from 9am until 6pm every day.
IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 show venue address
The show takes place at the Hannover – or Hannover – Exhibition Center in Germany.
The full street address is:
Fairgrounds of Deutsche Messe
Hermesallee
D-30521
Hannover
IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 show ticket info and prices
You can buy tickets for the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles show online or at the venue box office before or during the event.
Pricing is as follows:
- Weekday tickets: €22 (approx. £20)
- Weekend tickets: €13 (approx. £12)
- Concessions (students, trainees, etc): €7 (approx. £6)
- Afternoon ticket (entry after 1pm): €10 (approx. £9)
- Family ticket (two adults and up to three under 18s, only available at weekends): €24 (approx. £22)
- Children under seven: free
- People with disabilities: free
ALSO READ:
>> A-Z of the UK CV Show 2018 on Parkers Vans and Pickups
