Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge
Subsidiary
Industry Automotive
Founded 1995
Headquarters Hannover, Germany
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Dr. Eckhard Scholz (CEO)
Products Commercial vehicles
Number of employees
 19,400 (2006)
Parent Volkswagen Group
Website Volkswagen-Commercial-Vehicles.com

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) (German: Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, pronounced [ˈfɔlksˌvaːgən ˈnʊt͡sˌfaːɐ̯t͡sɔʏ̯ɡə]; German abbreviation: VWN, pronounced [faʊ̯ veː ʔɛn]) is a German multinational commercial vehicles manufacturer headquartered in Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group. Originally part of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, it has operated as a separate marque and company since 1995.

History

1947 to 1960

1947
Volkswagen Dutch importer Ben Pon sketches a van based on Beetle components which becomes the legendary Type 2 Transporter range after seeing the Volkswagen Beetle-based Plattenwagen.[1]
1949
Volkswagen General Director Heinrich Nordhoff approves Ben Pon's sketch for production.[1]
1949
The first prototype was unveiled in Wolfsburg christened "Bulli"; On November 12 the production Bulli was launched officially to the public.
1950
Full production began, Bulli was renamed Type 2 Transporter due to "Bulli" being trademarked by another company.[1]
1954
Volkswagen celebrates production of 100,000th Type 2 Transporter at Wolfsburg plant.[1]
1956
The first Type 2 Transporter rolls off the Hanover plant.[1]

1960 to 1980

1962
1,000,000th Transporter leaves production line in Hanover.[1]
1967
The second-generation Type 2 Transporter (T2) is released.[1]
1968
The 2,000,000th Transporter leaves production line in Hanover.[1]
1975
The first generation of the "LastenTransporter" LT is released which opens the door to Volkswagen in the light truck sector.[1]
1977
The 4.5 millionth Transporter is produced.
1978
A six cylinder diesel engine is introduced for the LT range in August expanding the range with the LT 40 and LT 45.
1979
The third-generation Type 2 Transporter (T3) is released.[1]

1980 to 1990

1980
A diesel engine is added to the Type 2 Transporter (T3) range.[1]
1981
Hanover celebrates 25 years of producing the Transporter range. In March the 5 millionth unit is produced.[1]
Volkswagen Caminhoes Ltd starts building medium sized trucks in Brazil.
1982
Watercooled petrol engines (wasserboxer) are added to the German Transporter (T3) range.
The Caddy Ute, which is based on the Golf, is launched to the public.[1]
1983
The luxurious Caravelle MPV is launched into the T3 range.[1]
1985
VWCV launch the four-wheel drive syncro Transporter T3
Volkswagenwerk GmbH changes its name to VOLKSWAGEN AG.[1]
1986
The 6 millionth Transporter is produced.
1987
The Volkswagen California motorhome is introduced into the range.
1989
The first Volkswagen Taro leaves the Hanover assembly lines.

1990 to 2000

1990
The fourth-generation Transporter/Multivan (T4) is released, VWCV celebrates 40 years of the Transporter, 6 million have been produced since its 1950 introduction.[1]
1992
A joint venture with Ching Chung Motor Co. Ltd. is founded in Taipei, Taiwan.
Volkswagen AG has 1/3 capital in the company and from 1993 the T4 Transporter is produced there.
1994
The 500,000th Transporter/Multivan (T4) leaves production line in Hanover.[1]
The Volkswagen L80 is launched onto the German market.
1995
Dr Bernd Wiedemann, Chairman of the Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, announces the formation of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as an independent Volkswagen Group marque.[1]
1996
The Type 9K Caddy Panel Van[1] and Type 9U Caddy are released on the market.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle unit launch a joint venture to replace their aging large vans, the jointly developed Volkswagen LT and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are launched onto the market with success.[1]

2000 to 2010

The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles assembly plant in Hannover, Germany
2000
VWCV celebrate 50 years of building the legendary Transporter/Multivan (T4) range.[1]
VWCV takes charge of the Volkswagen Trucks and Buses operation.
2003
The fifth generation T5 Transporter and passenger-oriented Caravelle / Multivan MPV are released.[1]
2004
The T5 Transporter range wins UK's What Van? Van of the Year, the all new Type 2K Caddy is released, Caddy now has Golf Mk5 front suspension.[1]
2005
The 7-seat passenger-oriented Caddy Life is released.[2]
2006
The replacement to the Volkswagen LT the Volkswagen Crafter is revealed;[3] this time it is built alongside its joint venture twin the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Ludwigsfelde, Germany.
The Volkswagen Crafter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter wins the What Van? "Van of the Year Award"[4] and What Van? "Large Panel Van of the Year",[4] also VWCV wins the What Van? "Technology Award"[4] for its DSG transmission in the Caddy van.
2007
Stephan Schaller replaced Dr. Bernd Wiedemann as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Managing Director,[5] also an LWB Caddy called Caddy Maxi will be released.
The Caddy and Volkswagen Crafter win Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine's Small and Large Van of the Year Awards.[6]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles builds its 10 millionth Transporter in the month of November.[7]
2008
Volkswagen AG sells Volkswagen Trucks and Buses to MAN SE.
At the IAA in Hanover Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles revealed various new models including the new fourth global line in the guise of a Concept Pickup, Caddy 4Motion, Caddy PanAmericana Study and Crafter BlueMotion Study.[8]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK revealed the Caddy Sportline range.[9]
2009
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles operations in Brazil revealed the new fifth-generation Saveiro utility for emerging markets.[10]
VWCV reveal at IAA Frankfurt the T5 Transporter facelift which includes new engines and technology to benefit the class.[11]
Volkswagen Amarok is launched in December at an event in General Pacheco, Argentina with the President of Argentina Cristina Kirchner attending.[12]
Following the Launch in Argentina; Volkswagen Amarok was a key support vehicle in the 2010 Dakar Rally with 45 vehicles participating.[13]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles establishes its Latin American offices in Miami, Florida to cater for Central and South Americas region.[14]

2010 to present

2010
February Wolfgang Schreiber is appointed the new chief of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles but the title is renamed Speaker of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.[15]
September Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal the Transporter Rockton with 4Motion, an AWD van for tough situations and marketed towards emergency services in tough climates.[16]

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal the Amarok SingleCab study at IAA 2010 in Hanover.[17] Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal Multivan Edition25 for the 25th Anniversary of the Multivan namplate.[18] Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal the Transporter with BlueMotion Technology [19]

2011
April Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles release a revised Crafter with three new TDI engines and redesigned [20]

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles show at the Hanover Trade Fair their electric Caddy prototype.[21]

September Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles releases the Caddy Edition30 for the 30th Anniversary of the nameplate.[22]

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal the Amarok with 8 speed transmission and a new 132 kW/180os engine with 420Nm and a towing cpacity of 3.2 tonnes.[23]

November Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles releases the ultra luxurious Multivan Business.[24]
December Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles scoop three What Van? awards for Amarok 'Pickup of the Year', Caddy 4Motion '4x4 Van of the Year' and Transporter Sportline 'Editors Choice'.[25]
2012
January Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles release BlueMotion versions of the Volkswagen Transporter and Volkswagen Crafter, both vehicles have improved fuel consumption thanks to BlueMotion Technologies.[26]
June Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles small van the Caddy comes available with Park Assist.[27]
August Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles starts production of the Amarok in Hannover[28]
September Dr. Eckhard Scholz is appointed Speaker for the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.[29]

MAN / Volkswagen joint venture 1977–93

Volkswagen's first joint venture into trucks outside of their own LT range was with MAN Nutzfahrzeuge (Commercial Vehicles) from 1977–1993. Truck production started in 1979 and ended in 1993 with 72,000 units produced. It was available with four engines and four wheelbases 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 the G90, 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.[30]

MAN AG supplied engines which were available in inline-four and inline-six cylinder engine configurations, with DIN rated motive power 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:

NOTE the VW LT Mk 1 cabin was used for the MAN-VW range, the cabins are wider than the standard LT cabins so they can fit the truck chassis

MAN was responsible for:

MAN-VWCVs were built in Volkswagen's Hanover 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 & 10.136. F & 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 by Enasa as Pegaso Ekus, in a typical badge engineering operation. Peterbilt also offered this model with their badging, as the 200 or 265 model.

Products

Current

Car-derived

Vans

Campervans

Pickup trucks

see also Volkswagen Trucks and Buses

Unique Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

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 the German Postal Services. By 1964 the Type 147 or Kleinlieferwagen was in production. In popular culture it has also been christened the nickname of Fridolin.

From 1975–1979, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles produced for developing countries a small air-cooled FWD truck called the Volkswagen EA489 Basistransporter, with a rudimentary chassis and basic metal sheeting. It was easily manufactured from semi knocked down kits into a light truck.[31]

In 1989 Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles partnered with Japanese firm Toyota to build the Toyota Hilux pick-up truck rebadged as a Volkswagen 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.[32]

Planned developments

Park Assist

Volkswagen self parking system Park Assist which is featured on such models as the Touran, Tiguan and Passat is being developed for implementation on the next Caddy and Crafter.[33]

MAN SE Light Truck Venture

Wall Street Journal have reported Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and MAN SE are to develop a range of Light Trucks in the 3.5 tonne to 7.5 tonne Gross Vehicle Mass range.[34]

Joint venture in India

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is studying the Indian Commercial and Bus market. 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.[35][36]

Manufacturing in China

In September 2008, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles was reported to be studying the viability of establishing vehicle assembly operations in China.[37]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 "A brief history of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles". volkswagen-vans.co.uk. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
  2. ↑ VW Media Services http://www.volkswagen-media-services.com/medias_publish/ms/content/en/pressemitteilungen/2005/03/01/geneva_motor_show.standard.gid-oeffentlichkeit.html
  3. ↑ "Volkswagen Crafter: third generation light commercial vehicle – Global Auto Index News". Globalautoindex.com. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Press releases". volkswagen-vans.co.uk. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
  5. ↑ September 2006.0958794315 Stephan Schaller to be head of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – Transport News Network
  6. ↑ "Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles scoop double award". Volkswagen-vans.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  7. ↑ "Volkswagen Transporter Passes Production Milestone". Theautochannel.com. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  8. ↑ phaeton (September 23, 2008). "VW News Blog: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles seeks continued growth with new products". vwphaetonfan.blogspot.com. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  9. ↑ phaeton (October 25, 2008). "VW News Blog: New Caddy Sportline Models add Excitment (sic) to the Range". vwphaetonfan.blogspot.com. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  10. ↑ phaeton (August 26, 2009). "VW News Blog: New Saveiro reaches the market fully renovated with Space Cab option". vwphaetonfan.blogspot.com. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  11. ↑ phaeton (August 19, 2009). "VW News Blog: New generation of the Transporter, Multivan, Caravelle and California". vwphaetonfan.blogspot.com. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ Volkswagen Motorsport (2010-01-17). "Volkswagen Amarok will be Official Support Vehicle for Dakar Rally". Volkswagen Motorsport. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  14. ↑ Mann, Joseph A. "Volkswagen takes on Toyota for share of the Latin American light-truck market - Business Monday". MiamiHerald.com. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ phaeton (2010-10-04). "VW News Blog: New Transporter Rockton masters the toughest ground". Vwphaetonfan.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  17. ↑ phaeton (2010-10-04). "VW News Blog: Amarok SingleCab premieres at the IAA in Hanover". Vwphaetonfan.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  18. ↑ phaeton (2010-10-04). "VW News Blog: ‘Edition25’ Multivan for the top seller’s birthday". Vwphaetonfan.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  19. ↑ phaeton (2010-10-04). "VW News Blog: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles unveils most efficient T5". Vwphaetonfan.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  20. ↑ Noah Joseph RSS feed. "Volkswagen launches new Crafter work van". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  21. ↑ Eric Loveday RSS feed. "Volkswagen to test Elektro Caddy Maxi in Hannover, Germany". Green.autoblog.com. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  22. ↑ "Frankfurt 2011: Volkswagen Caddy Edition 30 | VWWatercooled Australia". Vwwatercooled.org.au. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  23. ↑ "Frankfurt 2011: Volkswagen Amarok with 8 speed Automatic and 132kW BiTDI | VWWatercooled Australia". Vwwatercooled.org.au. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  24. ↑ "The new Multivan Business (EU) | VWWatercooled Australia". Vwwatercooled.org.au. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  25. ↑ "Volkswagen Vans Scoops Three What Van? Awards | VWWatercooled Australia". Vwwatercooled.org.au. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  26. ↑ "Transporter BlueMotion and Crafter BlueMotion – First Facts (EU) | VWWatercooled Australia". Vwwatercooled.org.au. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  27. ↑ VW Caddy Gets Automatic Parking System. Motorward.com (2012-06-25). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.
  28. ↑ Volkswagen Group Launching of the Amarok Assembly at the Volkswagen Hannover Plant. Volkswagenag.com (2012-05-03). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.
  29. ↑ Volkswagen Group Volkswagen Group makes extensive structural and management realignment. Volkswagenag.com (2012-06-02). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.
  30. ↑ Kennett, Pat, ed. (June 1980). "MAN MT advertisement". TRUCK (London, UK: FF Publishing Ltd): 22–23.
  31. ↑
  32. ↑ Volkswagens of the World by Simon Glen pages 151 and 152
  33. ↑ "Volkswagen confirms commercial Park Assist". Motortorque.askaprice.com. 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  34. ↑ "MAN SE, Volkswagen Plan To Jointly Develop Light Truck Range". The Wall Street Journal. March 16, 2011.
  35. ↑ Chandran, Rina (September 25, 2008). "Volkswagen eyes trucks, partner in India – report | Industries | Consumer Goods & Retail". Reuters. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
  36. ↑ VW Media Services
  37. ↑ "Volkswagen Seeks Record 2008 Truck, Bus Sales, Growth in 2009". Bloomberg. September 23, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2009.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volkswagen.

Some of this article contains excerpts from MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG article dated Munich, April 2005. MAN-VW History Article.