Toyota Commercials: Q & A with Gareth Matthews

Toyota commercial offer has strong focus on EVs in the future

Gareth Matthews, LCV Manager at Toyota UK, promises there are some tasty EV treats coming to fleets in 2021. Andrew Walker asked the questions for Company Car & Van

CC&V: Disappointingly, the CV Show was cancelled and we didn’t get to see the new Proace electric van. Judging by the number of views on our website, the electric van sector is very exciting. Can you tell our readers when they will be able to get their hands on one?

Gareth Matthews: The Toyota Proace EV is expected to be in the UK from quarter one next year. We are looking forward to introducing this van to our retailer network and customers and are working on preparation and training ahead of its launch.

This will strengthen the Toyota CV range and provide us with new opportunities.

CC& V: The Proace City is now in Toyota showrooms, giving the brand its first small van. Will it be sold through all Toyota sites or

will it only be available from your Specialist Business Dealerships?

GM: All Toyota retailers will be able to sell the Proace City, just as they can any of our other commercial vehicles.

To provide some background, in 2016 when we first launched our new LCV Specialist Business Centre programme, we had 25 centres participating.

Since we have launched the Toyota Professional branding that will be coming into force this year, we have seen an overwhelming uplift of more than 60 per cent of our network signing up to participate in the new programme.

CC&V: There is an electric Proace City in the pipeline for 2021. Do you have any dates yet for it’s arrival here in the UK?

We do have a Proace City EV in the pipeline and we are planning to introduce this in 2022. Our focus currently is on training and preparation for the launch of the Proace EV next year with our retailer network so we will be ready to go when it arrives.

CC&V: Are Toyota planning to launch a large van anytime soon?

I can’t talk about future product plans but we are always keeping a close eye on market conditions and trends in market demands.