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This year’s Commercial Vehicle Show will reflect increased social and commercial interest in EVs, featuring more exhibitors showing fuel variants vehicles. This rise is driven by environmental, societal and legislative changes such as ULEZ.
The show will take place at the NEC Birmingham on 30 April to 2 May. The UK’s largest automotive showcase, operators can meet and network with a mix of product, equipment, technical and service providers.
The event gives fleet operators the ability to meet suppliers, see what they have to offer and find the solutions that will help them run a fleet more effectively. For exhibitors, the show is a chance to reveal product changes as well as new products directly
to the people doing the buying.
The UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market saw a decline of -1.3% in registrations in 2018 to hit 357,325, according to SMMT figures. This was still enough to make 2018 the fourth best year on record, beating industry forecasts.
“We have a strong and competitive commercial vehicle market in the UK, one that can flourish in the right economic climate,” said SMMT chief executive
Mike Hawes.
The UK commercial vehicle industry is continuing to grow in demand and output in both the UK and abroad. UK CV manufacturing grew 49.1% in January comprising 9,182 units, the best January performance for seven years.
This is reflected in the show’s attendance, with organisers anticipating more than 450 exhibitors and 21,000 visitors this year, which is an increase over 2018 despite political uncertainty.
Manufacturers include Ford, Fiat Professional, Mitsubishi, Peugeot Citroen, SsangYong, Toyota, Volkswagen, Vauxhall, LEV and Isuzu.
The 2019 show will see Vauxhall unveil its all-new Vivaro van as part of its return to the event.It will be offered in two wheelbase lengths, with the 4.95m “medium” and the 5.30m “large” vans.
The new Vivaro will be built at the Vauxhall plant in Luton and, with the plant’s capacity due to increase to 100,000 units per year. The factory has been safeguarded until 2025.
Derek Wilson, Vauxhall’s LCV director, said: “As a British brand since 1903 and the UK’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, we’re delighted to reveal the all-new Luton-built Vivaro.
“Practical, comfortable, economical and packed with all latest driver assistance and connectivity technology, the all-new new Vivaro is the vehicle that sits at the heart of our commercial vehicle range.”
Vauxhall has also said it will offer a fully electric version of the van in 2020.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will have 12 vehicles on its stand, the largest number since the brand returned to the show four years ago.
Bringing EVs to the floor now, Volkswagen will be exhibiting all-electric versions of the Caddy, Transporter and eCrafter at the show.
A number of these will be customer vehicles, demonstrating the brand’s “Working With You” promise in action through real-world examples of conversions and personalisation.
The manufacturer will be using its inside the “house” concept to take show-goers away from the hustle and bustle. Visitors will have the chance to talk to brand staff and discuss their commercial vehicle requirements.
Head of marketing Sarah Cox said: “Our ‘home’ concept has proved popular with visitors over the past three years.
“We’ll have exciting new vehicles for people to see, but also the right environment in which to discuss our entire brand proposition from finance and conversions through used vehicles and servicing to telematics, because we know it takes more than just a great van to form a great customer partnership.”
As well as manufacturers, the show will also be attended by exhibitors in the automotive aftermarket and CV maintenance sector, forming the Workshop segment of the show. This include original equipment components and replacement parts to the very latest in maintenance management systems, garage and bodyshop equipment.
Leading exhibitors in this area include AC Hydraulic, Bowmonk, Bradmac, Butts, Carbon Clean and Eclipse Diagnostics. The event represents a microcosm of what’s happening in the ever-changing world of road transport, and will give operators the chance to come face-to-face with the latest technologies available to their fleets.