CV Show review
Electric leads on show return John Lewis reports
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ero-emission battery-electric models dominated van manufacturers' exhibits at this year's rather different looking Commercial Vehicle Show, held as usual at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC). The absence of several key brands, including Volkswagen, Renault and Nissan, meant that this year's event was held in just two of the halls. The Covid-19 pandemic doubtless contributed to their absence, as people gradually get use to the idea of visiting large indoor events again. Product shortages and long lead times thanks to shortages of key components such as semi-conductors may have played a part in their thinking too.
Why exhibit when delivery times are stretching well into 2022? Furthermore, a number of the truck manufacturers did not attend this year, and those who also have van ranges – Mercedes-Benz, Iveco, MAN and Renault Trucks – opted not to display their light commercials either. Visitors that did attend could scarcely have failed to miss the Vauxhall stand. Britain's sole volume van manufacturer used the show for the global launch of battery-electric variants of Combo and Movano. With the Vivaro-e already available, it now has electric versions of all three of the models in its light commercial lineup. All its light commercials will be zero-emission from 2028 onwards, it says. Combo-e comes with a 50kWh battery, a 100kW electric motor, and a Electric Vauxhall Combo and Movano
10 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2021
