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editor: Jarlath Sweeney
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Photography: Jarlath Sweeney, Cathal d oyle
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Contract Hire I Rental I Refrigeration
Contents Spring 2025
47 NeWS
euro NCaP test results on vans 50 lauNCH Pad i
the all-new toyota land Cruiser 53 MarketPlaCe - lCV
Strong sales performance during 2024
58 WHat ’S NeW? - lCV
Here’s what’s coming…...
60 iNterVieW
With andrew lambert, Nissan europe
62 reVieW
101st Brussels Motor Show with Vans!
64 lauNCH Pad ii introducing Flexis
66 NeW Fleet
Special editions of triple star badged vans!
To emphasise the broad extent of the popularity of the Toyota Land Cruiser, a number of students competing in the annual Autostyle Car Design Awards chose the latest version of the iconic off-roader as their case study. They reinterpreted the new model, which has been totally renewed after fifteen years of global sales success. One entrant highlighted aspects of the retro ‘First Edition’* version on the new model, featuring the Castrol livery
at €140,830. Trading, particularly for the commercial model, is expected to be swift so interested parties are encouraged to contact their local Toyota dealership as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
from the brand’s days of World Rally Championship success, while another was beefed up further as simply called ‘Extreme’. That event was held in Northern Italy last October but before then, the first production model was unveiled in Ireland at the National Ploughing Championships the month before.
‘New model Toyota Land Cruiser is a blend of the iconic retro style and strength with new and advanced technology’
Priced from €69,990, the highly anticipated Commercial model will be available by next Summer, while the passenger version will be arriving by Springtime, with prices starting
As the first all-new Land Cruiser in Ireland for 15 years, the distinctive new model represents the rebirth of an icon, combining modern-retro exterior styling that harks back to Land Cruiser’s classic design heritage, with a modernised interior and the latest cutting-edge technology. Chief Engineer keita Moritsu explains: “ we have changed our perception and believe that this Land Cruiser model should be offered as a practical and affordable off-roader. we resolved that going back to our roots would be core to the Land Cruiser brand going forward. The ‘back to origins’ quality is evident in a powerful new design that fuses Land Cruiser’s style heritage with a sharp, contemporary appearance that is timeless and communicates the kind of solid, functional quality associated with the best professional tools. Practicality is designed in, for example with the bonnet’s raised corners and lowered central section that give the driver a commanding view, and the shaping of body parts to help avoid damage in harsh driving conditions. Aerodynamic details have also been included to the benefit of handling
It’s ‘Back to the Future’ for Toyota as new Land Cruiser offers more Strength, Substance & Style!
stability, brake and engine cooling and airflow management.”
‘The Land Cruiser name was adopted in 1954 and today, it is Toyota’s longest-running production model with worldwide sales of more than 10.4 million* to date across more than 170 countries and regions’
Giving the driver the best view ahead and to the side was a design priority. This produced a bonnet shape with raised sides which make it easier to locate the vehicle’s corners, and a lowered centre section that improves the forward view, reducing the blind spot immediately in front of the vehicle. To improve the view to the side, the A pillar is set at a more upright angle, the mirrors are attached to the doors and the belt line has been stepped down.
As expected the new ‘Cruiser’ is equipped to handle the harshest terrains. Previous generations have been the Commercial 4x4 SUV of choice for Irish farmers, builders, vets, foresters,
adventurers and equestrian enthusiasts for decades. Commanding strength, quality, reliability and durability, the
MY2025 Land Cruiser is powered by a 2.8-litre, 205hp/500Nm diesel engine, paired with a redesigned turbocharger, and a new direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission which delivers dependable power and ensures a smoother and more efficient driving experience, whether off or on-road, through the permanent all-wheel drive system. Eco-friendliness is further improved as the new engine is approved for HVO100 renewable diesel. Like its sister model, the Hilux, a 48 Volt mild hybrid electric model will join the range in late 2025. It will combine the 2.8-litre diesel engine with a 48V electric motor-generator, a compact 48V lithium-ion battery and a stop-start system.
Current owners of the 3-door SwB Commercial will be disappointed to hear that this version will no longer be available.
Electric power steering is now specified, to replace the former hydraulic system, and a new disconnecting anti-rollbar system, thereby providing better handling off-road, and enabling lane assist to be introduced as part of Toyota’s renowned Safety Sense
system. In addition, the new body-on-frame from Toyota’s New Global Architecture GA-F platform provides the foundation for significantly increased rigidity and excellent response, ride and handling. A new braking system, a new double wishbone front suspension, revised rear axle and updated Crawl Control also contribute to the handling prowess. For the many owners who pull a trailer, new Land Cruiser can now tow up to 3.5 tonnes (matching that of the towing capacity of the Hilux).
‘Its overall length is 4,925 mm, width 1,980 mm and height 1,935 mm; the wheelbase is 2,850 mm’
At the same time as enhancing its strength and off-road capability, Toyota has focused on raising the levels of on-board quietness and comfort with extensive measures to counter noise and vibration. On the safety front, new Land Cruiser is better equipped than ever before to support the driver, recognising and warning them of a wider range of common accident risks and ready to provide braking, steering and drive control to help avoid a collision.
The driveline for the Land Cruiser’s permanent all-wheel drive features a revised propeller shaft structure designed for durability and quieter performance. Changes have also been made to the differentials: the centre unit has been revised for enhanced performance and fuel efficiency, while the electronic locking rear diff has been strengthened for added reliability. Both are tuned to achieve the best balance of off-road traction and on-road stability. The transfer unit has also been updated for improved durability, an increase in actuator motor torque and anti-corrosion performance. A new toggle switch for selecting the H4 or L4 ranges and new diff lock switches are located on the centre console, next to the shift lever.
Commenting during the launch at the Ploughing Championships, Zoë Bradley, Head of Marketing Communications and Corporate Affairs at Toyota Ireland said: “ we’re thrilled to be bringing the first all-new Land Cruiser in 15 years to Ireland in 2025. we previewed it at this year’s Ploughing Championships, where throngs of very
Together with the performance enhancements, passenger versions of the new Land Cruiser feature significant interior upgrades, including a large responsive touch screen, accurate voice recognition, adaptive cruise control and a more spacious cabin, to ensure both comfort and safety for drivers and passengers.
An aspect that will be appreciated is that the physical shape of the switch gear and their operating methods have been unified – simple toggle or push controls – so the driver can operate them easily without having to look away from the wheel or changing their posture, a big issue with many of today’s cars. Information sources – the driver’s instrument combi-meter and multimedia display - are set high for easy visibility and there is a wide console area – a Land Cruiser characteristic – that keeps driving controls close at hand for quick and intuitive operation.
eager potential customers lined-up to pay homage to the rugged and reliable icon, so we’re confident this new model will be hugely popular and will build upon the already legendary status of the Land Cruiser journey. Because of the expected high demand, we are encouraging people to visit their nearest Toyota dealership to discuss payment options and reserve the new model early to avoid disappointment.”
* The exclusive ‘First Edition’ is the pinnacle of the all-new Land Cruiser line-up, available only in limited numbers and exclusively to customers who reserved their vehicle during the pre-sales period. It stands apart with bespoke styling, including classic round headlights, bi-tone exterior paintwork in a combination of Sand or Smoky Blue with black and “First EDT” badges. In the cabin the front seats feature unique upholstery piping and stitching.
Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
lCV iN du S trY F eeli NG P o S iti V e a F ter a S tro NG 2024 P er F or M a NC e
*Electric van segment yet to make a breakthrough in sales despite an increase in new models
2024 turned out to be a pretty positive year for the light commercial vehicle (LCV) sector in Ireland, with sales up 6.69% (source: SIMI) on the previous year. Indeed total sales of 30,783 were the highest seen since 2007, which saw an exceptional new vehicle market of 44,053 units.
It was also a very busy year for new LCV launches, with a record eighteen new vehicles shortlisted for Irish Van of the Year 2025 in association with Continental Tyres. That overall win went to the Mercedes-Benz Vito, with the Ford Transit Courier, Renault Master, Toyota Corolla Van and INEOS Quartermaster also collecting category awards.
Ford was the most popular LCV brand in 2024, taking 21.4% market share ahead of Renault, Volkswagen, Opel and Toyota. However the Renault Trafic was Ireland’s most sought after van in 2024 taking an impressive 9.31% of the entire market, well ahead of Ford’s Transit Custom, the Peugeot Partner, Renault Master and Ford’s Transit.
As was the case with passenger cars, the electric van market contracted in 2024, down 1% and 10 units compared to 2023, and only achieving 934 units in total. Making the case for going electric remains a challenge outside of State bodies and large multi-nationals, with most operators still unconvinced that total cost of ownership (TCO) can compare favourably with ICE vehicles.
Opel ended the year as the best performing eLCV brand taking nearly 19% market share ahead of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Peugeot, Toyota and Maxus also performed well. Opel’s success was driven by the Vivaro-e, while Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland will have been pleased to see the Id Buzz take second place in the electric
sales charts, having previously been a victim of Ireland’s unique VRT system.
with ‘251’ already in full swing, Fleet Van & Utilty asked industry representatives to review the year and to take out their crystal balls and give their predictions for the year ahead.
Thoughts on how the new and used LCV market performed during 2024, and how your brand performed.
Trevor Hunt, Marketing Manager for Citroën Ireland noted a fall in year on year growth: “The LCV market performed relatively well in 2024, exhibiting a growth rate of 6.7% 2024 vs 2023, albeit this growth rate has slowed YOY with 2023 exhibiting +25.1% growth vs 2022. In contrast, the Passenger Car Market in Ireland contracted by-1.0% 2024 vs 2023.
Trevor was happy with his own brand’s performance. “Citroën outperformed the LCV market in 2024, growing +7.7% YOY – representing an almost +22% improvement in performance vs 2023.”
Ciaran Cusack, Marketing Manager at sister Stellantis brand Fiat Professional said the brand was curtailed by lack of supply to an extent. “After some supply constraints at the start of 2024, Fiat ended the year reasonably well, with the new generation of vans becoming available in September. with new vehicle supply correcting itself, we saw a slight softening in Used LCV values.”
John Manning, Country Lead at Ford Ireland, noted the Blue Oval’s continuing popularity with Ireland’s van buyers. “The Commercial Vehicle market was 7.7% up vs 2023 and Ford performed strongly within our commercial vehicle expectations with the Transit range continuing to be a popular choice among Irish
customers, enhanced by the introduction of the new Courier and Connect models to market in 2024. Ford retained its No 1 CV Leadership for 12 consecutive years at 19.3% of market share within the combined LGV and HGV Industries. Transit Custom remained Ford’s top-selling Commercial Vehicle product with +1900 unit sales with very strong performance delivery across all its main nameplates, achieving leadership in 2 of 4 main Commercial Vehicle segments in the Industry, and setting a really strong platform for what Ford believes will be a very strong 2025.
Eddie Kavanagh, Managing Director of Land Rover Ireland was pleased that the brand outperformed the market at 7.6% growth, while Commercial Vehicle Sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz, Fergus Conheady, was skeptical of the sales results of some of his competitors: “It’s surprising to see brands apparently returning to the pre-registration practice so the ‘actual’ real market difficult to identify.”
John Keogh, Harris Group MD for Ireland which imports the MAXUS brand said: “The new LCV market was up just over 6% on 2023. The year started off in a positive fashion, but this seemed to slow down from May onwards. MAXUS showed growth of 59% year-on-year. Considering the market was up 6%, it represents a strong performance for MAXUS. Very positively, MAXUS gained 11% market share of the CV-EV market.”
Over at Nissan, Digital Marketing Manager Adam Wheatley noted: “New and used LCV market continued to grow as product availability improved again in 2024. Nissan market share saw signs of recovery during 2024 as production stock became more available.
James Brooks, Opel Ireland Managing Director at Gowan Auto was happy with the brand’s performance: “The year 2024 was another truly successful year for new Opel light commercial vehicle sales in Ireland. A completely rejuvenated Combo, Vivaro and Movano line-up was introduced in Ireland in mid-2024. Flexible, strong, ultra-modern and distinctive, each of the trio features a striking new exterior styling and a redesigned cockpit, and each is loaded with enhanced safety equipment as standard.
In 2024, Opel placed number four overall in the LCV market with an 8.14% market share, recording a significant volume growth of +18.5%. Significantly, all three of Opel’s core light commercial vehicle models performed strongly in 2024. The Opel Combo continued to shine in the F segment, taking fourth place and recording a 12.4% segment share. The Opel Vivaro placed number three in its segment with a 10.5% segment share. The Movano was in fifth place in its segment, with a segment share of 7.2%.
Furthermore, Opel was the number one best-selling electric van brand in the Irish market in 2024, recording a total share of 19.5%.”
Peugeot Ireland’s Managing Director, Des Cannon was equally upbeat: “The LCV market in 2024 saw significant recovery and growth following two years of challenges characterised by higher demand than supply, post Covid. with supply constraints easing and availability normalising, the market was finally able to meet demand consistently for the first time since 2021. For Peugeot, it was a year of solid performance. The overall LCV market grew by 6.7%, with Peugeot achieving an impressive sales increase of nearly 18%. The first quarter was particularly strong, with the market experiencing a 34% surge, and Peugeot effectively capitalising on this momentum.
Growth was observed across all van body types, fuelled by increased
activity from vehicle adaptors and demand for bespoke solutions such as box bodies, tippers, and dropsides. key drivers included replenishment orders from SMEs, semi-state sectors, and robust growth in contract hire and leasing, which rose by 22% year on year. Additionally, van rentals saw a 21% increase.
Peugeot benefited from this market expansion, particularly as suppliers to local utility companies and government bodies contributed to demand. Crew cabs were the only exception in the market in terms of growth, this segment has no impact on Peugeot’s overall performance.
Peugeot Partner van has been the bestselling Van in its segment, for quite some years and we are optimistic it will retain its position on the podium for 2025.
we also saw strong performance in CdVs (car-derived vans) configured for road use and adapted locally, selling approximately 200 units per year. Peugeot customers have five CdVs to choose from, with the 208, 308, 2008, 3008, and 5008 models, fully electric versions of these cars are also available to meet diverse needs.”
Cathal Ryan, Corporate Sales Manager for Toyota Ireland commented: “2024 LCV was up over 6% when compared to 2023, so a positive result overall. For Toyota, Land Cruiser, Proace, City and Hilux all performed well – with Proace Electric being one of the best-selling EV vans in Ireland.”
Kim Kilduff, Head of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland noted a strong performance from the German brand: “In 2024, the Light Commercial Vehicle market in Ireland, both new and used, saw another positive shift especially with sectors such as construction and logistics, with businesses in these sectors continuing to require commercial vehicles to meet their growing business demands. In the true Commercial Vehicle Market (removal of Car derived Vans),
there was an 8% increase on 2023 and a 23% increase on 2022 – this of course is always a great indication of how the economy is performing – certainly a positive performance all-round.
In 2024, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles achieved its highest volumes since 2019 thanks to record breaking performances with Crafter, Amarok and the all-electric Id. Buzz Cargo.”
Predictions for the LCV market in Ireland for 2025?
Kim Kilduff, VWCV: “For 2025, the trends seen in 2024 are likely to continue, and we are planning for another positive year with the market remaining steadily in-line with 2024’s great performance.
In preparation for 2025, new model launches were a huge focus as we planned a fully refreshed and enhanced model line-up.”
Cathal Ryan, Toyota Ireland: “I expect the LCV market will remain steady for 2025. Business sentiment remains reasonably positive and the prospect of lower interest rates by mid-year should encourage growth.
Supply of diesel vans across many brands may become an issue as the year progresses, as diesel vans with higher CO2 emissions may push some manufacturers beyond their CO2 limits/targets. This is less of an issue for Toyota because so many of its models are Hybrid/PHEV/ Electric.”
Des Cannon, Peugeot Ireland: “ we are expecting the LCV market in Ireland to reach approximately 30,000 units in 2025. diesel will remain the dominant choice, continuing to account for the vast majority of sales, as it did in 2024 with a 95% market share. However, a slight increase in electric van sales is anticipated, reflecting growing interest in sustainable alternatives and the expanding availability of electric models.”
Adam Wheatley, Nissan Ireland: “ we believe the total LCV market for 2025 will reflect 2024 levels.”
Fergus Conheady, Mercedes-Benz Vans Ireland: “ we expect a very similar market to 2024.”
John Keogh, Maxus Ireland: “2025 has started similarly to 2024. we do not expect any major changes to the market throughout 2025, with the overall market likely to remain similar to that of 2024.”
Eddie Kavanagh, Land Rover Ireland: “Modest growth is forecasted in this sector in 2025.”
John Manning, Ford Ireland: “ we expect the Irish LCV market to remain robust in 2025. Sustainability and cost efficiency will drive purchasing decisions, with businesses seeking vehicles that align with their operational needs and environmental commitments. Ford is well-positioned to support this evolving market with our versatile LCV line-up and cutting-edge solutions that help businesses optimise performance and efficiency.”
Ciaran Cusack, Fiat Professional: “ we see the market this year remaining similar to 2024.”
Trevor Hunt, Citroën Ireland: “YTd LCV registrations have started strongly, tracking +6% above January 2024 which in turn was +38.2% ahead of January 2023, reflecting the earlier supply issues the industry faced. Considering these issues have now been ironed out, this strong start to 2025 indicates continued confidence in a buoyant Irish economy. YTd Citroën performance has been +11.9% ahead of January 2024, reflecting the introduction of the new face-lifted Citroën LCV range.”
What are your thoughts on how the electric LCV market will grow in 2025 in Ireland?
John Keogh, Maxus Ireland: “The electric LCV market has proven difficult over the last few years with 2024 being on par with 2023. On a positive note there has never been more product on offer. At MAXUS we have grown our footprint in the eLCV market in terms of market share and product over the
last 2 years. we now have the edeliver 3, edeliver 5, edeliver 7 and edeliver 9, giving the customer plenty of choice to find an EV that works for their business. Also, last year seen the introduction of the MAXUS eTerron 9: a full electric 4x4 crew cab that is expected to gain plenty of attraction throughout 2025.”
John Manning, Ford Ireland: “ we anticipate significant growth in the electric LCV segment in Ireland in 2025, as businesses continue to transition to sustainable transport solutions. with our ongoing commitment to innovation and customer support, we aim to play a key role in helping Irish businesses navigate this transition.”
Cathal Ryan, Toyota Ireland: “The current trend sees larger companies, with well-defined ESG strategies, as the main users of EV vans – with most growth coming from the mid-sized panel van segment. I expect a stabilised market in 2025 will be a decent result.”
Ciaran Cusack, Fiat Ireland: “The majority of demand for EV LCVs has been mainly driven by large organisations, like Semi-states and big companies. This will continue this year and with smaller organisations showing an interest in electrifying their fleet, there could be a slight upswing in demand for Electric vans.”
Kim Kilduff, Volkswagen: “Over the last two year we have seen a 75% growth in BEV commercial vehicles, this is mainly down to larger companies now deciding to make the switch. There is definitely a growing awareness of the benefits of electric commercial vehicles, with many businesses already exploring and testing our Id. Buzz Cargo for usage within their fleets. The transition is particularly attractive for companies that want to reduce their carbon footprint or are looking for ways to manage rising fuel costs.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Ireland’s BEV plans will progress with the continued roll out of the Id. Buzz Cargo and the arrival of the new e-Transporter landing in March of this year. In the
October 2024 Budget, the Government made the necessary changes to the VRT criteria which now allows light commercial vehicles to qualify for the commercial vehicle VRT rate of €200, this has been very much welcomed across the industry and we believe that this important taxation change will assist hugely assist with the migration of the diesel commercial vehicle fleet in Ireland to BEV.
Adam Wheatley, Nissan Ireland: “ we would predict EV LCV will see a yearon-year growth with more EV products becoming available and more demand in the market due to business sustainability policies and requirements.
Eddie Kavanagh, Land Rover Ireland: “Growth is expected here also as companies strive to reduce their carbon footprint.”
Trevor Hunt, Citroën Ireland: “Electric LCV uptake has been strong across some sectors, particularly Government departments and multi-national companies, but overall, in 2024 only 3.0% of all LCV’s purchased were electric, compared to 3.3% in 2023. This slight declining trend continues when we look at January YTd (15.01.25) with 1.0% of all LCV’s purchased being electric. This time last year that figure was 1.3%. However, 80% of electric LCV purchases in 2025 to date have been by businesses/ companies, whereas last year only 32.3% of initial January registrations were electric.
YTd private customer electric LCV sales are up from 12.9% to 16% perhaps indicating that an increasing number of sole traders are embracing electric powertrains.The nature of the LCV market means that again, ongoing government support, both in terms of vehicle and taxation incentives and investment in a fit for purpose charging infrastructure will be crucial to growing electric penetration of the LCV market. In particular this is vital to encourage private business customers to adopt electric, where everyday practicalities drive adoption, as opposed to environmental signalling that has driven electric
LCV registrations by multi-nationals and Governmental departments. Citroën registered 77 electric LCV vehicles last year, up from 20 in 2023.”
Fergus Conheady, Mercedes-Benz Vans Ireland: “There’s no evidence or trend to suggest any growth will come to the eVan market. Most action within this sector is Semi-State pushed business with there being little natural appetite for eVans from the general market.”
Des Cannon, Peugeot Ireland: “Nationally, electric LCVs still account for just 3% of the market. However, Peugeot’s e-LCVs performed well in 2024, capturing 12.2% share of market, we expect our e-LCV sales to double in 2025 to 10% of our van sales mix. Growth in this segment continues to be driven primarily by semi-state organisations and large fleet tenders. while progress is being made, there is still significant work needed to encourage SMEs to transition to electric vans, key challenges remain around range anxiety, national recharging infrastructure and higher capital costs.”
Text: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fleet.ie
R ANK MAKE
2024 was an exceptional year for new van launches with nearly all the major brands introducing at least one new model. while 2025 is set to be a little quieter, that’s not to say that there isn’t going to be fresh metal arriving throughout the year. Here are some of the new models from various brands we can expect to see.
V OLKSWAGEN COMMERCIAL
V EHICLES I RELAND (VWCI) 2025 is shaping up to be a busy year for the brand. while the face-lifted Crafter appeared at the end of last year, the big news is the arrival of the all-new Transporter T7. Examples are in dealer showrooms now, with the first customer models arriving in March. “ with its unique Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles design, significantly enhanced commercial vehicle performance and a whole host of new future-ready features, it not only offers improved ride comfort and more loading volume, it also offers greater variability,” says kim kilduff, Head of Sales & Marketing at V wCI. “The new Transporter comes with the unique offering of our 5+ Promise, that includes 5 Years Servicing, 5 Years warranty and 5 Years Roadside Assistance,” she added. Volkswagen is also introducing a 75bhp version of its Caddy, while two other new models are aimed at the passenger/leisure markets but sold through the V wCI network. A long wheel base version of the Id. Buzz offers ample room for seven passengers, while camping enthusiasts will be excited to see the new California which for the
FLEXIS - The Future and Nexus of Urban d eliveries
designing and producing the ultimate express delivery and urban logistics light commercial vehicle is not easy, as many who have tried and failed can attest to. Many start-up companies have entered the segment with great enthusiasm and passion, only to run out of finances to see the project through to mass production.
Not so Flexis, a new collaboration project set to produce a multi-model range of urban delivery vehicles. with the Renault Group, Volvo Group and shipping company CMA CGM behind it, Flexis can avail of vast experience, resources and investment to make this project a success.
Four years in the planning, more details have been revealed at Flexis’s Operational Centre in Villebon-surYvette, located near Paris. Fleet Transport was present as the covers were taken off three versions of the first concept models.
Louis Morasse, a former Chief designer within the Renault LCV division has vast experience when it comes to innovative design and it shows in his creation of three distinct models, all based on what’s called a skate platform. This is an almost flat, low electric drivetrain chassis base that houses the battery packs within it to give it rigidity, a low loading height and low centre of gravity when in motion.
Revealed were a Panel Van, Cargo Van and Step-in Van that ultimately will run along a production line alongside the likes of the Renault Trafic and Nissan
Primastar. The concept or theme is built around a number of pillars that primarily focus on the vehicle owner/operator.
€360 million of the €1 billion collectively put forward by the three parties has so far been spent on Research & development. The next phase is to invest in further pre-production testing, tooling and the machinery required, before production which is scheduled to begin in mid-2026 at the Renault van manufacturing facility at Sandoville in Normandy. Employee numbers are set to double from 100 before the end of the year.
Krishnan Sundararajan, COO, Flexis
Pertinent to the manufacturing process is that steel and sustainable composite materials are used, therefore assuring a lighter unladen weight, making these vehicles up to 300 kg lighter than traditional light commercials.
to market to their respective customers. Predictive and preventative maintenance in collaboration with these partners assures less downtime adding to peace of mind for the customer.
Initially planned for Europe, the modular base can lend itself to meet specifications in other markets around the world, particularly Asia and North America. To date, orders to the tune of 15,000 units have been received from French company Colis Privé, dB Schneider and British start-up Hived. However these are early days. The continuous rising tide of e-commerce remains the foundation of Flexis’s potential to establish a strong customer base.
The Step-in Van is attracting much interest, as its unique and well thought out design is most intuitive towards efficiency and safety. First of all, its short bonnet maximises cab comfort and load capacity. The walk-thru system from seat to load area, along with the twin sliding doors at the front, allows the driver to enter and exit safely with parcel or box in hand. The rear pull up door facilitates loading and unloading of large or long items.
Informing the driver is a 10” dash screen and a 12” infotainment touch screen, curved towards the person in control. Software updates and over the air upgrades ensure ongoing connectivity even beyond the first phase of ownership. Range wise an estimated 350km is achievable with a 1-tonne payload.
As main partners, both Renault Group’s Van division and Renault Trucks dealerships will sell and service the Flexis range, using their own badging
“Flexis is a strategic partner for urban logistics operators,” explained Pierre Sirolli, Head of Flexis Services & Solutions. “Through the data connectivity of the Flexis vehicles and a team of experts, we offer personalised recommendations to improve our clients’ overall operations, offering solutions like delivery route optimisation, significantly reducing vehicle breakdowns through preventive and predictive maintenance, securing the charging of the vehicles and with uninterrupted advisory support we create and implement actions to resolve any setbacks.”
The Panel Van prototype could well be the next generation Trafic Van from Renault, joined by the chassis/cab Cargo Van variant which can accommodate multiple body options such as box, fridge and tipper. Both provide an estimated 460 km on one charge with a payload capacity of 1.2-tonnes and 1.5-tonnes respectively.
According to Philippe divry, CEO of Flexis, who has over 35 years’ experience in the industry, the timing is right for this purpose built and cost effective major initiative to happen, as all the main van fleet operators strive to move to zero emissions.
logistics players to co-create the services to meet operational needs and improve the B2B offer on the market.”
Flexis presents range of vehicles and embedded solutions for electric, connected urban logistics – in brief:
n Three vehicle models based on a common EV-native skateboard platform with SdV (Software defined Vehicle) electronic architecture, presented to respond to European urban logistics challenges
n Flexis has entered its industrialization and pre-commercialization phase and will produce in Renault Group Sandouville plant (France) and deliver first vehicles to customers in 2026 n Ten LOI (letters of intent) have been announced in France, the Uk , and Germany, including Colis Privé, HIVEd, and dB Schenker.
aB out Flexi S
Founded in 2024, Flexis is a European mobility solutions company based in France (Villebon-sur-Yvette). Flexis designs, develops and sells a new generation of 100% electric commercial vans and provides fleet management solutions based on a Software defined Vehicle (SdV) architecture. Flexis offers
“Our mission at Flexis is to support and accelerate the electrification of the urban logistics industry, which is looking to operate more sustainably, improve profitability and improve the operations security and safety for drivers in a sector that continues to grow,” explained Philippe. “Since the creation of Flexis, we have worked with customers and
low-carbon, efficient logistics solutions by vehicles that meet the combined needs of last-mile delivery professionals, their drivers, and the cities they operate within. The first Flexis electric vans are expected to roll off the assembly line at Renault Group’s Sandouville plant in 2026. An independent company, Flexis is a joint venture between the Renault Group, the Volvo Group and CMA CGM. Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
Desmond Wisley Ecclesiastical Supplies is a family-run church supplies business with over 40 years’ experience, covering all of the island of Ireland and beyond. From its Ballinamore, County Leitrim base, the firm stocks a large range of related products including wine, bread, altar cloths, banners, candles and vestments.
with its aim of providing a wide range of superior quality products for all ecclesiastical needs, excellent customer care is provided via an efficient distribution service.
To ensure timely deliveries, wisley Ecclesiastical Supplies depends on Mercedes-Benz and its Sprinter panel
