Rod Chapman•11 Nov 2014
NEWS
Ateco relaunches LDV vans
Ateco Automotive recently reintroduced the LDV range to the Australia market, after taking the reins from White Motor Corporation last JulyIndependent auto importer and distributor Ateco Automotive has relaunched the LDV range of light commercials, with its line-up of V80 van models presented to dealers both new and old at a recent function at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse.
While the range is essentially unchanged from that offered by the previous distributor, White Motor Corporation (WMC), it now features keener pricing and the choice of a six-speed automatic transmission, in addition to the standard five-speed manual.
The three basic V80 variants comprise a short-wheelbase model with a low roof and two long-wheelbase models, one with a low roof and one with a high roof.
Ateco has shaved a significant amount from the V80's prices, with the short-wheelbase van now starting from $29,990 drive away. The long-wheelbase mid-roof starts from $34,990 drive away while the long-wheelbase high-roof model is priced from $36,990 drive away. All these prices are specific to ABN holders, reflecting the commercial nature of the vehicle and Ateco's focus on fleet buyers.
The new pricing should stir up some interest in Australia's fiercely competitive light commercial scene: when WMC first launched the range at the start of 2013 the vans were priced at $32,990, $37,990 and $39,990 respectively, plus on-roads. The price of the entry-level model was later dropped to $30,800.
By way of comparison, Australia's top-selling medium-capacity LCV – Toyota's HiAce – is priced from $39,490 plus on-roads.
The six-speed auto is available across the three models and adds $2000 to the purchase price.
All three V80 models are powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel from Italian supplier VM Motori. Good for a claimed 100kW and 330Nm, the engine is Euro 4 compliant and features a Bosch common rail electronic fuel injection system. LDV quotes a combined fuel economy figure of 8.9L/100km.
The LDV V80 itself is produced in China by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), an automotive behemoth that reportedly produced around 4.5 million vehicles in 2012.
The smallest model on offer here has a 3100mm wheelbase, a 3200kg GVM, an 1160kg payload and a cargo volume of 6.4 cubic metres. The two long-wheelbase models see these figures grow to 5700mm, 3500kg and 1480kg, with cargo volumes of 10.4 and 11.6 cubic metres.
As commercial vehicles there is no requirement for these vehicle to be rated by ANCAP, however they do come standard with anti-lock brakes and a driver and passenger airbag (but no stability control or additional airbags).
The specification is largely unchanged across the three models. Features include four-wheel disc brakes, 16-inch alloys, air-conditioning, cruise control, power mirrors and windows, dual sliding side doors, reverse parking sensors, seating for three and remote central locking, among others.
The LDV range is covered by a three-year, 100,000-kilometre factory warranty, with roadside assistance and the back-up of a rapidly expanding dealer network.
Ateco representative Daniel Cotterill says the current network is a mixture of older WMC-era LDV dealers and new Ateco dealers.
"There are a number of existing dealers who have come across on 180-day agreements, just to give them and us time to have a look at each other," he says.
"As we launched the other day we had 35 signed up but the nature of the paperwork is such that we'll have 40 by the end of the year and we hope to have 60 by the end of the 2015."
While Ateco will limit the LDV range to the V80 van for now, Mr Cotterill says there are plans to bring 11- and 14-seater LDV buses here in the first half of 2015 while LDV's G10 people mover should be here towards the end of next year. Other products will follow.
"They [LDV] have a ute and potentially an SUV in mind for a couple of years down the track," he says.
Mr Cotterill says the LDV range represents a great opportunity for Ateco and its expanding portfolio of brands.
"There's quite good potential here," he says.
"It's very competitive, this offering. The quality is good, the pricing is good, and it's $2000 to go to auto. We're not better than everyone on everything – we beat some on price, for others we've got better cargo and so on. Like anything, we expect this to be hard work at the start and we just hope to build it sustainably over time."
LDV V80 pricing (drive away, ABN holders):
SWB (low roof) manual – $29,990
SWB (low roof) auto – $31,990
LWB (mid roof) manual – $34,990
LWB (mid roof) auto – $36,990
LWB (high roof) manual – $36,990
LWB (high roof) auto – $38,990
Tags
LDV
V80
Car News
Van
Tradie Cars
Written byRod Chapman
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
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