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Native name | Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge |
|---|---|
| Company type | Division,brand |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Volkswagen Passenger Cars commercial vehicle operation |
| Founded | 1995; 30 years ago (1995)[citation needed] |
| Headquarters | Hanover, Germany |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Carsten Intra (CEO) |
| Products | Light commercial vehicles |
Number of employees | 19,400 (2006)[citation needed] |
| Parent | Volkswagen Group |
| Website | www |
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV;German:Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge[ˈfɔlksˌvaːɡn̩ˈnʊtsˌfaːɐ̯tsɔʏɡə], abbreviatedVWN[ˌfaʊveːˈʔɛn]) is a Germanmarque oflight commercial vehicles, owned byVolkswagen Group. It is headquartered inHannover,Lower Saxony, Germany. Originally part of Volkswagen Passenger Cars (business area), it has operated as a separate marque since 1995.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is a marque, not a legal entity. Its activities are within Volkswagen'sCommercial Vehicles Business Area, which also includes the activities of the Scania and MAN marques. The Scania and MAN marques are managed byTraton. Accordingly, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is an associate partner of Traton.
In 1947, Volkswagen Dutch importerBen Pon sketched a van based on Beetle components which became the legendaryType 2 Transporter range after seeing theVolkswagen Beetle-basedPlattenwagen.[1]In 1949, Volkswagen General DirectorHeinrich Nordhoff approved Ben Pon's sketch for production.[1]In 1949, the first prototype was unveiled inWolfsburg christened "Bulli"; on November 12 the production of Bulli was launched officially to the public.In 1950, full production began, and Bulli was renamedType 2 Transporter due to "Bulli" being trademarked by another company.[1]In 1954, Volkswagen celebrated production of 100,000th Type 2 Transporter at the Wolfsburg plant.[1]In 1956, the firstType 2 Transporter rolled off theHanover plant.[1]
In 1962, the 1,000,000th Transporter left the production line in Hanover.[1] In 1967, the second-generationType 2 Transporter (T2) was released.[1]In 1968, the 2,000,000th Transporter left the production line in Hanover.[1]In 1975, the first generation of the "LastenTransporter"LT was released which opened the door to Volkswagen in the light truck sector.[1]In 1977, the 4.5 millionthTransporter was produced.In 1978, asix cylinderdiesel engine was introduced for theLT range in August expanding the range with the LT 40 and LT 45.In 1979, the third-generationType 2 Transporter (T3) was released.[1]
In 1980, adiesel engine was added to the Type 2 Transporter (T3) range.[1]In 1981, Hanover celebrated 25 years of producing the Transporter range. In March, the 5 millionth unit was produced.[1] Also in 1981, Volkswagen Caminhoes Ltd started building medium-sized trucks inBrazil. In 1982,Watercooledpetrol engines (wasserboxer) were added to the GermanTransporter (T3) range. TheCaddy Ute, which was based on the Golf, was launched to the public.[1] In 1983, the luxuriousCaravelle MPV was launched into the T3 range.[1]In 1985, VWCV launched thefour-wheel drivesyncroTransporter T3. Volkswagenwerk GmbH also changed its name toVOLKSWAGEN AG.[1]In 1986, the 6 millionthTransporter was produced.In 1987, theVolkswagen California motorhome was introduced into the range.In 1989, the firstVolkswagen Taro left the Hanover assembly lines.
In 1990, the fourth-generationTransporter/Multivan (T4) was released and VWCV celebrated 40 years of the Transporter, with 6 million produced since its 1950 introduction.[1]In 1992, a joint venture with Ching Chung Motor Co. Ltd. was founded inTaipei, Taiwan. At that time, Volkswagen AG had 1/3 capital in the company, and from 1993 theT4 Transporter was produced there.In 1994, the 500,000thTransporter/Multivan (T4) left the production line inHanover.[1]Also in 1994, theVolkswagen L80 was launched onto the German market.In 1995, Dr. Bernd Wiedemann, Chairman of the Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, announced the formation of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as an independentVolkswagen Group marque.[1]In 1996, the Type 9KCaddy Panel Van[1] and Type 9UCaddy were released on the market. The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles andMercedes-Benz commercial vehicle unit launched a joint venture to replace their aging large vans, and the jointly developedVolkswagen LT andMercedes-Benz Sprinter were launched onto the market with success.[1]
In 2000, VWCV celebrated 50 years of building the legendaryTransporter/Multivan (T4) range.[1] VWCV also took charge of theVolkswagen Trucks and Buses operation. In 2003, the fifth generationT5 Transporter and passenger-orientedCaravelle / Multivan MPV were released.[1]In 2004, theT5 Transporter range won UK'sWhat Van? "Van of the Year Award", and the all new Type 2KCaddy was released, with theCaddy now havingGolf Mk5 front suspension.[1]In 2005, the 7-seat passenger-orientedCaddy Life was released.[2]In 2006, the replacement to theVolkswagen LT, theVolkswagen Crafter, was revealed;[3] this time it was built alongside its joint venture twin theMercedes-Benz Sprinter at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Ludwigsfelde, Germany. Also in 2006, theVolkswagen Crafter andMercedes-Benz Sprinter won theWhat Van? "Van of the Year Award"[4] andWhat Van? "Large Panel Van of the Year",[4] along with VWCV winning theWhat Van? "Technology Award"[4] for its DSG transmission in theCaddy van.In 2007, Stephan Schaller replaced Dr. Bernd Wiedemann as the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Managing Director,[5] and the LWBCaddy called Caddy Maxi was released.Also in 2007, theCaddy andVolkswagen Crafter wonProfessional Van and Light Truck Magazine's Small and Large Van of the Year Awards.[6]In November 2007, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles built their 10 millionth Transporter.[7]In 2008,Volkswagen AG soldVolkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus toMAN SE. At the IAA in Hanover, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles revealed various new models including the new fourth global line in the guise of aConcept Pickup,Caddy 4Motion,Caddy PanAmericana Study andCrafter BlueMotion Study. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK revealed theCaddy Sportline range.In 2009, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles operations in Brazil revealed the new fifth-generationSaveiro utility for emerging markets. VWCV revealed at IAA Frankfurt theT5 Transporter facelift which included new engines and technology to benefit the class.In December 2009,Volkswagen Amarok was launched at an event inGeneral Pacheco, Argentina, with the President ofArgentina,Cristina Kirchner, attending.[8] Following the Launch in Argentina, Volkswagen Amarok was a key support vehicle in the 2010Dakar Rally with 45 vehicles participating.[9] Lastly in 2009, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles established its Latin American offices in Miami, Florida, to cater to the Central and South Americas region.[10]
In February 2010, Wolfgang Schreiber was appointed the new chief of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, but the title was renamed Speaker of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.[11] In September 2010, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles revealed the Transporter Rockton with 4Motion, an AWD van for tough situations and marketed towards emergency services in tough climates.Also in 2010, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles revealed the Amarok SingleCab study at IAA in Hanover, VWVC revealed Multivan Edition25 for the 25th Anniversary of the Multivan nameplate, and VWVC revealed the Transporter with BlueMotion Technology. In April 2011, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles released a revised Crafter with three new redesigned TDI engines,[12]and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles showed their electric Caddy prototype at the Hanover Trade Fair.[13]In September 2011, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles released the Caddy Edition30 for the 30th Anniversary of the nameplate.[14] Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also revealed the Amarok with 8 speed transmission and a new 132 kW/180os engine with 420 Nm and a towing capacity of 3.2 tonnes.[15]In November 2011, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles released the ultra luxurious Multivan Business.[16]In December 2011, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles scooped threeWhat Van? awards for Amarok 'Pickup of the Year', Caddy 4Motion '4x4 Van of the Year' and Transporter Sportline 'Editors Choice'.[17]In January 2012, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles releasedBlueMotion versions of the Volkswagen Transporter and Volkswagen Crafter, with both vehicles having improved fuel consumption thanks toBlueMotion Technologies.[18]In June 2012, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' small van, the Caddy, became available with Park Assist.[19]In August 2012, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles started production of the Amarok inHannover.[20]In September 2012, Dr. Eckhard Scholz was appointed Speaker for the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.[21] In September 2016, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles released the new version of the Crafter, in the newly built factory inWrześnia,Poland. The cost of the new plant was about 800 millionEUR.[22]
Volkswagen's first joint venture into trucks outside of their ownLT range was withMAN Nutzfahrzeuge (Commercial Vehicles) from 1977 to 1993. Truck production started in 1979 and ended in 1993 with 72,000 units produced. It was available with four engines and fourwheelbases over its lifetime; there was also a 4X4 version called 8.150 FAE. FAE means "forward control" cab, all-wheel drive, single tyres so the F nomenclature means "forward control" cab. This series is usually referred to as theG90, from the most common model, but also as the "G"-series. In the United Kingdom it was originally marketed as the "MAN MT" series. The original lineup in the UK consisted of the 6.90 and the 8.90 (the first digit denoting the GVW in tonnes, the second for power in metric horsepower) and the 8.136 and 9.136.[23]
MAN AG supplied engines which were available ininline-four andinline-six cylinderengine configurations, withDIN rated motivepower outputs of:
MAN AG replaced the G series (as it was known internally) with the L2000 and M2000 ranges.
VWCV and MAN shared the project development in accordance with the collaboration agreement as follows:
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles took care of:
theVW LT Mk 1 cabin was used for the MAN-VW range, the cabins are wider than the standardLT cabins so they can fit the truck chassis
MAN was responsible for:
MAN-VWCVs were built in Volkswagen'sHanover factory until other Volkswagen models took priority; they were then made at MAN AG's Salzgitter-Watenstedt factory.
MAN-VWCV range 6.90, 8.90, 6.100, 8.136, 8.100, 8.150, 9.136, 9.150 and 10.136."F" and "FAE" are sometimes on the end of some of these model numbers.
Several models of the MAN-VWCV and the VWCV LT ranges were marketed in Spain byEnasa asPegaso Ekus, in a typicalbadge engineering operation.Peterbilt also offered this model with their badging, as the 200 or 265 model.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have manufactured some unique commercial vehicles in its 50 plus years of producing light commercial vehicles. One of them was a small postal van which was built at the request of theGerman Postal Services. By 1964 theType 147 or Kleinlieferwagen was in production. In popular culture it has also been christened the nickname of Fridolin.
From 1975 to 1979, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles produced for developing countries a small air-cooled FWD truck called theVolkswagen EA489 Basistransporter, with a rudimentary chassis and basic metal sheeting. It was easily manufactured from semi knocked down kits into a light truck.[24]
In 1989 Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles partnered with Japanese firm Toyota to build theToyota Hilux pick-up truck rebadged as aVolkswagen Taro. This partnership was to help Toyota build sales in Europe and give VW a vehicle in the 1 tonne pick-up segment. The venture was not a huge success and it split in the late 1990s.[25]
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Volkswagen self parking system "park assist" which is featured on such models as theTouran,Tiguan andPassat is being developed for implementation on the next Caddy and Crafter.[26]
TheWall Street Journal has reported Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and MAN SE were to develop a range of light trucks in the 3.5 tonne to 7.5 tonne gross vehicle mass range.[27]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is studying the Indian commercial and bus markets.[when?] Interest was shown by prospective customers at the VW display at India's 2008 Auto Expo and VW is considering entering the market with a joint venture initiative.[28][29]
In September 2008, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles was reported to be studying the viability of establishing vehicle assembly operations in China.[30]
Some of this article contains excerpts from MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG article dated Munich, April 2005.MAN-VW History Article[dead link].
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