A promotional vehicle wrap can be one of the best investment you can make in your business but there are plenty of things to consider before engaging a vehicle wrapping service.
It's well-known that a van is your mobile business card, but aside from some signwriting to give potential customers your name and phone number, a distinctive vehicle wrap can make you stand out, improve your image and protect your van and it's residual value.
The opportunity to transform your van into a powerful mobile advertisements should not be overlooked, and vehicle wrapping services offer a cost-effective and impactful method of enhancing brand visibility and projecting a professional image to your future customers.
Gone are the days when vehicle liveries were limited to simple painted logos. Modern promotional vehicle wrap technology allows for full-colour, high-resolution graphics to be applied seamlessly to the contours of vans, creating a dynamic and eye-catching mobile billboard.
While the initial investment in a promotional vehicle wrap might seem significant, it's important to consider the long-term benefits these wraps can have, as well as the cost-effectiveness compared to other forms of advertising.
The cost of van wrapping can vary depending on several factors, including the size and complexity of the design. There's also the quality of the materials used, and the expertise of the vehicle wrapping services provider. But you don't have to be a multi-national fleet to get your van wrapped.
Generally, a full van wrap can range from £2,000 to £2,500. Although this may be higher than applying simple decals, the visual impact and the level of brand representation achieved with a full promotional vehicle wrap are considerably greater.
Investing in high-quality materials is essential, as they offer better durability, colour vibrancy, and resistance to fading, ensuring your promotional vehicle wrap continues to look professional for years to come. A high quality wrap will also protect your vehicle's paintwork, unveiling a blemish-free body when it's time to sell.
Although vehicle wraps are stuck on extremely well to your van, they are also designed to be easily removed. Paying for a premium wrap will ensure that not only the finished result is flawless, but also that come time to remove it there is no damage to the paint below.
The importance of a getting a well-executed vehicle wrapping service for light commercial vehicles cannot be overstated.
With the working life of a van getting increasinlgy extended, and with businesses working even harder, travelling through various locations and encountering a diverse audience, it's important to do it right. Each journey presents an opportunity to reinforce brand awareness and generate valuable leads. A van cab be the greatest marketing tool you possess. It can also be your worst, if it looks untidy or damaged.
A professionally designed promotional vehicle wrap acts as a constant advertisement, reaching potential customers in places where traditional advertising might not. Best of all, once it's paid for, the on going advertising is free.
A professionally designed and applied promotional vehicle wrap acts as a mobile billboard, turning your vans into instantly recognisable brand ambassadors.
Unlike static advertising, your branded vehicles travel throughout your area, reaching a diverse audience multiple times a day.
This constant exposure can enhance brand recall and recognition, with a visually striking wrap, incorporating your logo, colours, and key messaging, can also help you to stand out from competitors.
Although the initial outlay for vehicle wrapping might seem like a lot, when you think about it over the life of a vehicle it's actually not all that much.
On top of that it's also a highly cost-effective advertising solution.
Compared to the recurring costs of traditional advertising like print, radio, or digital ads on social media, a vehicle wrap provides continuous brand exposure with no ongoing costs.
Marketing people say it delivers a high return on investment through consistent brand visibility, so who are we to argue.
The appearance of your company vehicles directly reflects on your business's professionalism and credibility.
A clean, well-maintained van featuring a high-quality promotional vehicle wrap projects an image of reliability and attention to detail. That can boost customer trust and confidence in your services.
You probably operate within a specific geographical area. A vehicle wrap with your business details makes it even more obvious to those local customers that you are in their area.
Every journey becomes an opportunity to connect with potential customers in their own neighbourhoods.
Beyond the branding benefits, a vehicle wrapping service also provides a practical advantage by acting as a protective layer for your van's original paintwork.
The vinyl material shields the paint from scratches, stone chips, and UV damage, helping to preserve the vehicle's condition. This could make a big difference when it comes to the residual value of your van, or those pesky return conditions leasing companies impose. In other words, a wrap could save you thousands even at the end of your van's working life.
When selecting a provider for vehicle wrapping services, it's really imporant to look beyond the price.
You need to make sure you are using an experienced professional, who use high-quality materials and offers design support.
Many reputable companies have in-house design teams who can help translate your brand identity into a promotional vehicle wrap. They will consider factors such as legibility, colour psychology, and the overall impact of the design on the specific vehicle model.
Make sure they offer a warranty, and don't be afraid to ask for aftercare advice.
Providers should offer a warranty against fitting errors, and they'll want to give you proper cleaning techniques, because blasting it with a power washer from one-inch away isn't always the best idea.
Established in 2016, Farizon Auto focuses specifically on the development, production, and sale of electric commercial vehicles.
Based in China, Farizon Auto makes a wide range of heavy commercial vehicles, as well as passenger transportation.
Its vehicles are based on Farizon's GXA-M modular platform, an electric vehicle architecture developed specifically for commercial vehicles.
As well as pure electric, Farizon is said to be exploring the possibility of using green methanol, battery swapping and range extenders in their commercial vehicles. Farizon has also appllied for more than 2,800 patents around these developing technologies.
Farizon produces a wide range of light commercial vehicles, most of which are for its domestic market. However, in 2024 Farizon announced it would begin selling its first van model in Europe.
It also has a sub-brand called Ouling, which sells combustion-engined micro trucks.
Farizon Auto claims to be on track to be carbon-neutral by 2030.
Farizon Auto operates under the umbrella of the Geely Holding Group. Who is Geely? Well, they're China's largest privately owned car manufacturer, and also the owners of Volvo cars, Polestar and Lotus.
While the Geely name has been associated with passenger cars since buying Volvo in 2010, it is now growing the LCV side of its business outside of China with the launch of Farizon Auto, pouring massive investment into the new brand.
It might be a new name to us in the UK, but Farizon has founded China's largest research institute dedicated to new energy commercial vehicles.
Farizon is also using the expertise of Geely Group’s global team of over 2,000 R&D engineers to help accelerate the development of its new electric vans.
The Farizon logo is an amalgamation of three characters - T, U and 0.
Together they create three pillars of the company with Technology, Users and Zero-Cabon.
There's even a nice explanation on its website which you can see below.
We might be learning about the Farizon name through its launch of the new van, but Farizon's domestic output is far greater than just light commercial vehicles.
Farizon Auto produces a wide range of light trucks in its own country. There's a portfolio of passenger vehicles as well with a heavy emphasis on zero-emission buses. There's also other vans, beyond the ones we are getting used to seeing.
Europe is just getting its first exposure to the Farizon SV electric van, but in China there's also another model.
It's roughly the same size as the SV, but there are fewer options - the Farizon SV dimensions range from medium-sized van up to large van size.
The other model they make is called the Farizon V6E. It's an electric van with a range of 285km. Size-wise it gets a 6m3 load volume, and is plated at 2.7 tonnes GVW with a very respectable 1,000kg payload.
The Farizon vans are being imported into the UK by Jameel Motors, a Saudi Arabian company based in Jeddah.
The new business that will import the Farizon vans is called Jameel Motors Farizon Auto, which is part of Jameel Motors.
Jameel also has international operations in Turkey as well as a sizeable business in Saudi Arabia.
Farizon currently only sells the SV or Super Van in the UK. The electric only Farizon SV is the first model to be launched outside of China.
The launch price for the Farizon SV is £45,000 with the most expensive top-spec model costing £56,000 excluding VAT.
Size is a fairly wide ranging concept for the Farizon SV, it spans both the medium van and large van segments - as we typically know it.
The SV is slightly shorter than you would expect for both a medium and large van, but for the medium van it gets additional load capacity from its height.
For a full breakdown visit the dimensions page where you'll find a breakdown of the Farizon SV length, height and width.
You'll get a pretty decent level of warranty cover for the Farizon SV, with its launch warranty offering including four-years or 120,000-miles.
There's also an eight year/120,000-mile warranty for the batteries.
That's above the levels you'd normally find from other European manufacturers, but less than the planned seven year warranty that will be offered on the Kia PV5.
When it comes to safety, Farizon Auto has done its homework. The Farizon SV has been awarded a Platinum safety rating from industry test body Euro NCAP.
That's the highest possible rating for a van.
Securing cheap van insurance is a crucial part of keeping down the costs of running your business, but it's not the easiest thing to do.
There are hundreds of insurance providers and thousands of policy options out there, and comparing them is far from simple. By adopting a strategic approach to comparing your van insurance quotes, you can find a policy that offers the right level of protection needed for your business and your budget.
This guide will look at how to effectively compare van insurance quotes, giving you some expert tips on navigating your next van insurance quote.
Just like car insurance, price comparison websites offer a valuable starting point for sourcing van and LCV insurance quotes.
Comparison sites like Go Compare, Compare the Market and Money Supermarket all gather van insurance quotes from numerous mainstream but also specialist insurers. This alone can save you hours of time consuming form filling in.
By entering your vehicle details (make, model, mileage etc) and your business or personal information just once, you can quickly access a range of potential policies tailored for commercial vehicles.
It's an important first step in gauging how much insurance is likely to be at that moment in time. Think of it as your quick scan of the menu outside the restaurant to see if you can afford to eat there.
Of course, there's a catch with using these services. Insurers pay to be on these platforms, giving referral fees to the site if you click or make a purchase. That means that in order to be on the site they must have done a deal with the comparison provider. Naturally not all the insurers will be listed on one single comparison site, so it's important to play the field a bit.
Going back to the restaurant menu analogy again, you've got to walk down the street and look at a few other options before you decide to step inside to eat.
Beware that even if you were to run searches on all the major comparison sites, not all insurers are listed there either. Some choose to avoid these comparison sites altogther. Direct Line for instance (one of the largest insurers in the country) aren't on any comparison sites - this keeps their costs down and helps to give you a lower premium (sometimes).
Likewise, there are hundreds of insurance brokers out there that can get better deals than those advertised. You'll have to go to them directly, but they'll then do the legwork for you.
It's also worth remembering that the cheapest headline price might not offer the specific coverage you need. Sometimes it might be better to check the websites of these insurers directly. That's because occasionally insurers offer cheaper priced coverage with less benefits on comparison sites.
While cost is a big factor when it comes to insurance, focusing solely on the cheapest van insurance quote can cause you a headache futher down the line.
The real value of a commercial vehicle insurance policy lies in the depth of its coverage, so when comparing quotes, make sure you examine what each policy offers.
Here's what to look for:
Accident damage: This is a fundamental aspect. Compare the level of cover provided for damage to your own van if it's involved in an accident, regardless of fault. Pay close attention to any exclusions, such as damage occurring while carrying specific types of goods or during certain business activities. Third-party fire and theft policies, as we'll discuss, typically do not cover damage to your own vehicle in an accident where you are at fault.
Theft: Commercial vehicles and their contents can be prime targets for thieves. Carefully assess the coverage for theft of your van. Does the policy cover the full market value at the time of theft, or is there a depreciation schedule? Also check to see if the policy covers damage caused during an attempted theft. Replacing broken locks can be really expensive and windows aren't cheap either, so make sure they're covered by the insurance.
Theft from the vehicle (tool thefts and cargo loss): This probably the most important consideration for tradespeople. Having your tools nicked not only means shelling out for more expensive kit, it also means no work during the days you spend awaiting replacements. It's a double blow. Check the policy's coverage for tools, equipment, and goods stolen from your van. Often there are limitations on the types of items covered and the maximum payout. There may also be specific security requirements (these could relate to the quality of specific locks or the type of alarm). If you can't find the right cover, you might need to consider separate commercial contents insurance. Standard third-party fire and theft policies rarely, if ever, cover theft of contents.
Did you know that the Ford Transit is the most stolen van in the UK.
Yes. We honestly don't know why this isn't a mandatory thing that insurers have to put into a policy, but legal cover is a critical add-on for LCV insurance.
Legal cover provides assistance with legal costs if you are involved in an accident that is not your fault and you need to pursue compensation for uninsured business losses, such as loss of use of your vehicle, loss of earnings, or damage to goods being transported, as well as personal injury.
When comparing quotes, look to see if legal cover is included. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. If it's not included, see if it's offered as an option. Then look at the level of cover provided. This will usually be a £ amount, as well as details.
The most crucial advice we can give you when comparing cheap van insurance quotes is to make sure you are comparing policies on a like-for-like basis.
A significantly cheaper quote might lack essential business-related coverage, so be sure to look at the level of cover on the policy, the excess you will pay in the event of a claim, any mileage allowances or restrictions, and the type of goods/equipment that will be covered.
Make sure you check closely for items like tools, and don't forget about the legal cover. Is it already included or is it a costly add-on?
Similar to car insurance, the timing of your van insurance renewal can have a massive influence on the premium.
The exact sweet-spot might vary slightly with each provider, but generally speaking you should be aiming to quote and buy your policy around 21 to 30 days before your current policy expires.
If you're buying a new van altogther and need brand new insurance cover, then plan ahead as well. Buying it on the day you collect your new van will only cost you more.
Why do you need to plan ahead for buying your insurance? Well, insurance algorithms for commercial vehicles are complicated things. They not only factor in who you are, and the van you want to insure, but also the purchase window timing. Last-minute purchases can be perceived as higher risk for businesses, potentially leading to inflated premiums.
Planning ahead and obtaining quotes within this 20 to 30 day window may mean that the insurers assess the risk more favourably as you are a responsible owner looking to insure their vehicle early.
Resist the temptation to automatically renew your existing commercial policy without comparing other insurance quotes. Not only will you be missing out on finding cheaper van insurance, but you may actually be getting penalised for being lazy.
This might be a bit obvious to some, but trust us when we say that many people get confused by what sort of insurance they should be buying.
Ideally you want Comprehensive cover. This offers the most protection for your van, covering damage to your own vehicle (even if you're at fault), damage to third-party property, injury to third parties, theft of your vehicle, and fire damage. It may also offer some cover for contents.
Third Party, Fire and Theft (TPFT) cover is often spoken about as the cheap alternative to fully comp van insurance. It covers damage to other people's property or injury to them in an accident that you have caused. As the name suggests, it also covers loss or damage to your own van due to fire or theft. TPFT does not cover damage to your own commercial vehicle if you are at fault in an accident. It also doesn't usually cover tools or goods stolen from the van.
Don't automatically assume that TPFT will be the cheaper option for your van. Those pesky, but clever, insurers' risk models can sometimes result in higher premiums for TPFT policies, especially for light commercial vehicles, which are often seen as a greater risk anyway.
Get a quote for both types of cover, and see for yourself.
Having a No Claims Bonus can significantly reduce the price of your insurance with a big discount, but protecting it can be expensive.
Obviously if you've amassed years of No Claims Bonuses then you don't want them to disappear in the event of a claim. Most insurers will charge you a premium - usually around 10% to proect the No Claims Discount you have already earned.
It's definitely worth doing, however, it does go against the grain when trying to get cheap van insurance because it will add to the cost.
One of the quirks of insurance is that having other people on a policy can actually reduce your premium.
If multiple employees will be driving the van ensure they are listed as named drivers. Adding drivers, who are in a higher risk profile (young drivers or drivers with penalty points) will increase the premium, but equally by added less risky drivers you will often see that premium reduce.
Perhaps the sneakiest part of getting van insurance comes at the end when you've made your decision and you come to pay.
Insurers will always offer a yearly or a monthly rate, but what they often don't tell you is the interest rate they will charge you on the monthly payments. This is where the initial quotes can suddenly get warped by quite a bit.
If you plan to buy your insurance in one go, with a yearly payment, it will be cheaper. You'll see the best prices this way and its the best way to get cheap van insurance, but not everyone can afford this method. Consider putting its on a 0% purchase credit card, rather than taking the finance option. The insurer may charge you a fee for using a credit card but it will be a lot less than their monthly intrest rate.
If you know that you'll be paying monthly make sure you choose this option from the start on the price comparison websites. It will give you a much clearer indication of the price and they'll be no nasty surprises when the seemingly cheap insurance for your van suddenly gets a whole lot more expensive.
When you've finally found the quote you're happy with don't be afraid to wait.
Quotes will often be valid for at least seven days and many will be valid for a month. That means you can run a search for a quote during the golden window of 20 to 30 days but not actually buy it until the day you purchase your new van.
It's also possible that the prices will change a bit (not by huge amounts) during that time, so don't be afraid to run another quote check.
If you want to get cheap van insurance you do have to work at it, but if you compar van insurance prices in a logical and rational manner you'll be able to compare the cheap van insurance quotes properly, hopefully leading to some savings.
It's estimated that around 85% of all vans undergo some sort of conversion before they are put into use, from humble ply lining and shelving through to a full on bodybuilder conversion vans get modded and improved throughout their life. But there's been a growing trend for manufacturers to start producing their own off-the-shelf converted vans, which is why we're going to explore the new Luton vans you can buy right now, direct from your local dealer.
King of the converted van segment has to be the Luton van. We've written everything there is to know about Luton vans to explain what the benefits of these monster volume movers are, but we'll outline just a couple of reasons again here.
A key feature of a Luton van is its peaked front - it's where the neame Luton Peak comes from - which adds extra storage space. This makes them a particular favourite of removals companies, two-man delivery teams for white goods or furniture as well as courier businesses.
Luton van dimensions vary depending on the donor vehicle, which we'll discuss in a moment, but you'll often find Luton vans with tail lifts, as well as curtainsided options.
What new Luton vans can you buy straight out the factory then? We'll look at the new Luton vans available from dealerships, who (if you're lucky) may even keep these in stock.
It goes without saying that the big daddy of the van world would have an option to buy a new Luton van.
The Ford Transit is the most popular large van for sale in the country, and Ford has had a dedicated conversion business for many of its products for years. As part of their One-Stop Shop For Conversions, you can not only get a new Luton van, but also tippers, dropsides, welfare vans and campers.
They're not very forthcoming about the specification of the Transit Luton, needless to say the Transit Luton would be bigger than the standard panel van Transit dimensions, but we suspect the lack of hard data is because being a Transit you can have rather a lot of options. It would be like expecting to see all the various types of coffee and milk combination listed behind the counter at Starbucks. It's just not realistic.
Instead, details can be found at your local Ford Transit Centre, who'll tell you all about the options for your converted van, as well as pricing and warranty.
The Sprinter is the second most popular model on British roads, so you guessed it... there's a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Luton van option as well.
Part of their Ready To Work range, the Sprinter Luton lines up alongside tippers and dropsides in their off-the shelf range.
You can get a new Luton van form Mercedes based on a Sprinter 314 Progressive L3 H1 Chassis cab.
It's a big van, with more than 4m in overall internal length and over 2m for the width and the height that's way bigger than the panel van Mercedes Sprinter dimensions. It's also capable of carrying just over one tonne.
Volkswagen give you the facts plain and simple. Their Crafter Luton van gets its own dedicated new vehicle page where you can see the full specification as well as all the important facts you need to know.
The basic van is has a load width of 1,951 mm, an opening aperture height of 1,770 mm and a total load length of 4,119 mm. Payload is a very respectable 1,493 kg.
VW also goes a step further in giving you the price of a new Luton van, with a £49,580 ex VAT figure quoted.
The body and bits, like the roller shutter, are made by Ingimex who are a top-notch bodybuilder for conversions like Luton vans. There's also a breakdown of the various equipment on there, including the option for the all-important tail lift.
Renault has such a strong foothold in Europe it's amazing that we often overlook them here in the UK.
The Renault Master has been available with an off-the-shelf Luton Box van option throughout most of the previous generation's lifespan (pictured above), and we expect that to continue with the new model.
Load volumes are up to 22m³ and it has a payload up to 1,204 kg. The regular Renault Master dimensions are generous, but the Luton conversion uses the very biggest vans. There are two wheelbase lengths and you can have it in front or rear-wheel-drive, which Renault points out is ideal for towing.
Its body is made from 11mm thick GRP side panels with a fibreglass roof skin on a 65 mm alloy frame. There's 15 mm thick wisdeck birch flooring and the rear doors get a roller shutter with a frame designed to support a column tail lift for your Luton van.
Based on the Renault Master, it comes as no surprise that there's a Nissan Luton van version for the Interstar.
Part of the factory built bodies range, which also includes tipper and dropside models, the Interstar Luton box van comes in either a 3.5-tonne GVW version or 4-tonne model.
Details are scares, but it is based on the new the chassis cab version (above) of the new platform, so there's also the option of an electric Luton van for the Interstar.
It has up to 20m3 of space and a maximum payload of 1728kg, thanks to that additional gross vehicle weight.
Peugeot not only has a Luton van version of its Boxer van, there's also a low-floor Luton option.
The rear body is dropped as low as it possibly can be to reduce the loading height. This means that a tail lift isn't necessary, which saves weight, giving an increased payload for the Luton van.
Most manfucaturers and body builders offer a low-floor option, but they're not always advertised. Regular Luton vans tend to be more popular for cost reasons and because of the added health and safety and duty of care for safe loading that a tail lift brings. Although, working from height with heavy objects opens up a whole new can of worms for H&S.
The Peugeot Boxer Luton van is part of the Boxer Built for Business conversions range, and there's even an option for a lightweight construction body which saves an additionaal 80kgs.
As with all of the shared Stellantis vans like the Boxer, there are also Luton vans available from the other brands. So you can have a Vauxhall Movano Luton, a Citroen Relay Luton or even a Fiat Ducato Luton van.
If you know a bit about the car industry, or you've been doing your research about a particualr model, you might have heard the name Geely crop up a few times.
That because they're one of the biggest car makers in China - and therefore the world. Except unlike many of the big names in the western world like Ford or Volkswagen, not many people really know who Geely Automotive is.
Officially named and operating as Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Geely Automotive is a prominent Chinese multinational automotive manufacturer.
It's one of China's largest privately-owned carmakers and has become well-known due to its rapid expansion and strategic acquisitions of several big-name European brands.
Geely has established on the world stage in the global automotive industry due to its expertise in electric vehicles and sustainable mobility, investing heavily in research and development and focusing on innovative technologies.
Geely was founded in 1986 by Li Shufu in the city of Ningbo, situated within the Zhejiang province of China.
Initially, it began as a refrigerator parts manufacturer and later diversified into motorcycle production in the 1990s.
The company's automotive division, Geely Auto, launched in 1997, producing its first car in 1998.
Geely's headquarters are in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China.
Geely has expanded its manufacturing and research facilities across the globe, however, its core operations remain firmly rooted in China.
Geely is primarily owned by its founder, Li Shufu. He serves as the chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
Although it is a privately held company, it has also issued publically traded stock through its subsidiaries.
Geely Automobile Holdings is a publicly listed entity on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
No, Geely is not a state-owned company. It is a privately held company, which distinguishes it from many other large Chinese corporations that have significant state involvement.
Geely was the first private owned automotive manufacturer in China, and through its private ownership it has allowed Geely grow rapidly and expand internationally.
Geely Holding Group's automotive brands included:
Geely has established an extensive network of manufacturing facilities across China, including locations in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Taizhou, Chengdu, Jinzhong, Xi'an, Baoji, and Xiangtan.
There's limited production outside of China, however, Geely has established research and development centers in key international automotive hubs such as Gothenburg (Sweden), Coventry (UK), and Frankfurt (Germany).
The company operates global design studios in Shanghai, Gothenburg, Barcelona, California, and Coventry.
Yes, Geely Holding Group owns Volvo Cars which is arguably the deal that put the Chinese car maker on the map.
When Did Geely Buy Volvo?
Geely acquired Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Company in 2010.
Beyond automotive manufacturing, Geely Holding Group is involved in various sectors, including:
| Brand Name | Ownership | Primary Focus | Market Segment |
| Geely Auto | Geely Automobile Holdings (Majority Owned by ZGH) | Mass-market passenger vehicles | Best-selling Chinese brand for several years |
| Lynk & Co | Zeekr (51%), Geely Auto (49%) | Trendy, tech-focused vehicles (developed with Volvo) | Targets younger, urban consumers |
| Proton Cars | Geely Auto Group | Malaysian national car brand | Focus on Southeast Asian market |
| Geometry | Geely Auto Group (Merged with Geely Galaxy) | Pure electric vehicles (formerly standalone) | Entry-level to mid-range electric vehicles |
| Zeekr | Geely Automobile Holdings (Owned by ZGH) | Premium battery electric vehicles | High-performance, luxury EVs |
| Volvo Cars | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Premium passenger vehicles | Focus on safety, Scandinavian design |
| Polestar | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Volvo Cars & Geely) | Electric performance vehicles | High-performance EVs, design-focused |
| Smart | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Joint venture with Mercedes-Benz) | Electric microcars and compact vehicles | Urban mobility solutions |
| Lotus | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | High-performance sports cars and electric vehicles | Focus on lightweight engineering and driving dynamics |
| London EV Company | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Electric taxis and vans | Iconic London black cab, electric commercial vans |
| Radar (Riddara) | Geely Auto Group (Formerly ZGH) | Battery electric pick-up trucks | Targets utility and lifestyle segments |
| Geely Galaxy | Geely Auto | Mass-market new energy vehicles (PHEV & BEV) | Broad range of electrified vehicles |
| Maple/Livan | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Joint venture with Lifan) | Electric vehicles (rebranded Maple products) | Focus on affordable electric mobility |
| Farizon Auto | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Electric commercial vehicles | Trucks, vans for logistics and urban transportation |
| Ouling | Farizon Auto (Sub-brand) | Gasoline-powered micro trucks | Lower-end commercial vehicle segment |
| Zhejiang Geely Ming Industrial (Jiming & Geely) | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Motorcycles | Various motorcycle models |
| Qianjiang Motorcycle (QJMotor & Keeway) | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | Motorcycles | Diverse range of motorcycles, including sportbikes |
| Benelli | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Under Qianjiang) | Motorcycles | Italian motorcycle brand |
| Jidu Auto | Joint Venture (Baidu 55%, Geely 45%) | Electric vehicles (future production) | Focus on intelligent EVs with Baidu's technology |
Geely's structure consists of a comprehensive network of subsidiaries and joint ventures.
At the top sits Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH), which oversees the Geely Auto Group, a key subsidiary responsible for managing brands like Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, Proton Cars, and Geometry.
Within ZGH, Geely Automobile Holdings operates as a publicly listed company. Other significant subsidiaries and joint ventures under ZGH include Volvo Cars, Polestar, Proton, Smart, Lotus, London EV Company, Radar (Riddara), Maple/Livan, and Farizon Auto.
ZGH also has a motorcycle division which includes Zhejiang Geely Ming Industrial, Qianjiang Motorcycle, and Benelli.
CEVT (China Euro Vehicle Technology) functions as a research and development arm.
Jidu Auto represents a joint venture between ZGH and Baidu, focusing on the production of electric vehicles.
Geely has a notable presence in the commercial vehicle sector through its dedicated brand, Farizon Auto, which was established in 2016 with a focus on the development and sales of electric commercial vehicles.
Farizon's product line includes electric vans and light commercial vehicles, and also has a sub-brand called Ouling, which sells combustion-engined micro trucks.
Yes, Geely products are sold in the UK. Currently the Polestar electric car brand, Lotus sports cars and Farizon Auto electric vans are all Geely products being sold in the UK.
Not quite, it's actually Geely that owns Volvo. Volvo is currently owned by the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
Ford sold Volvo in 2010 because they were in need of the money. Chinese car maker Geely swooped in and bought Volvo from Ford, who were still struggling after the global recession. A restructuring of the Ford business meant that Volvo looked like a sensible outfit to unload, with many people at the time wondering how Volvo would survive without Ford behind them.
Geely has been trying to improve the reliability of all its products for many years. Of the vehicles they sell in the UK, you would say that on the whole they are a reliable brand with Volvo and Polestar having particularly good reputations for reliability as well as safety.
Geely chairman Li Shufu bought a 9.69% stake of Mercedes-Benz Group in February 2018. Shufu is the largest private shareholder in Merecdes. Other shareholders of Mercedes-Benz Group AG include BAIC Group (9.98%) and Kuwait Investment Authority (5.57%).
It's a name everyone is familiar with, but there's more to Volkswagen than just the VW badge, so let's find out exactly who does Volkswagen own, because the answer is a lot.
Volkswagen is Europe’s top car manufacturer, and has been known to also be the world’s number one car maker as well, regularly battling it out with Toyota and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.
Their portfolio is massive with more than 600,000 employees worldwide and an enormous business empire spanning the globe. It also has nearly 100 years of history behind it as well.
The most obvious brands owned by VW are the ones with Volkswagen in the title, so that’s Volkswagen, the maker of the passenger cars, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
There are, however, scores of other brands within the Volkswagen Group business, all of which are household names, ranging from motorbikes and supercars up to heavy goods vehicles and buses.
So, who do Volkswagen group own? Here are the main automotive brands owned by Volkswagen.
The company can pretty much be split into three segments with regular passenger cars, luxury brands and commercial vehicles.
However, Volkswagen has several interests beyond just producing cars, they are investors in hundreds of smaller companies (and also some very large ones), many of which supply their automotive businesses.
Perhaps the most famous, or infamous given the criticism they’ve had over the years, is CARIAD the automotive software company.
From the humble beginnings of the Beetle, the Volkswagen Group now produces more than 100 car models in thousands of iterations. Its core brands of Audi, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen account for the group’s volume sales across the world.
The roster of high-value and luxury brands in the Volkswagen Group is astonishing with Porsche, Bentley and even Lamborghini eclipsed by the majesty of Bugatti. As if that’s not enough, there’s also performance motorbike brand Ducati, as well.
It’s not all just about cars, though. The VW Group has a massive portfolio of heavy and light goods vehicles.
There’s Scania and MAN that are both owned by Volkswagen in a subsidiary called Traton, or Traton Group, which also includes Volkswagen Truck & Bus – a Latin American bus and heavy truck business.
That’s also not to be confused with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles which sells all of the Volkswagen vans we know and love from the Caddy, Transporter and Crafter as well as Amarok pick-up truck.
A lot. Apart from the brands listed above, and the software business mentioned as well, Volkswagen Group has a large financial services portfolio.
There are financial services for Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche, Volkswagen (and Volkswagen Leasing) as well as a Marine and Industrial Motor division.
Volkswagen Group Fleet International, Group Supply and Air Service all make up part of its logistics operations and there are international busineses in China, Japan, India, America, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and many many more.
Overall, Volkswagen is active in around 150 countries, producing more than 9m cars annually with €322bn in revenues in 2023.
Below we’ll outline a few facts about each of the Volkswagen Group automotive brands
Volkswagen is the original people’s car, founded in 1937 in Berlin by the German Labour Front it was Adolf Hitler who ordered the creation of an affordable car for the masses capable of cruising on the autobahn with two adults and three children on board.
The outcome was the Volkswagen Beetle, a triumph of automotive production that remained in production from 1938 through until 2019.
Other notable success stories include the Golf, which was for many year’s their most successful car, however, the Tiguan surpassed the Golf in 2019.
While the passenger cars had the Beetle, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles owes all of its success to the Transporter.
The Transporter, also known as Bulli, Kombi, VW bus or microbus, was first launched to the world at the Commercial Motor Show at Earl’s Court, London in 1954, but prototypes of the T1 were made in 1949 followed by a domestic product.
It used the engine and gearbox from the Beetle and could manage an impressive 750kg payload.
Founded in 1910 by August Horch, its name derives from the Latin translation of "Horch," meaning "listen." The iconic four-ring logo symbolizes the 1932 merger of Audi, Horch, DKW, and Wanderer.
Auto Union was acquired by Volkswagen in 1965 from Daimler-Benz, relaunching as Audi.
Headquartered in Crewe, Bentley was founded in 1909 by brothers Walter Owen Bentley and Horace Miller Bentley and has been part of VW since 1998.
During the Great Depression, it went into receivership in 1931 and was sold to British Central Equitable Trust, a front company for Rolls-Royce. After Rolls and Bentley were separated in 1973, Bentley focused on cars while Rolls-Royce developed its aerospace business.
Bentley was sold to Volkswagen in in the late Nineties, but it’s believed VW boss Ferdinand Piëch had hoped he was buying both Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Sadly the aerospace business, retained the Rolls-Royce name and the logo – eventually selling them to BMW.
Volkswagen bought Bugatti in 1998. The company had been mothballed and not made a car in years. Piech wanted Bugatti to create the world’s fastest car and leveraged much of the VW group’s skills (those acquired from ownership of Bentley, Audi and Lamborghini) to do so.
In 2000 Volkswagen incorporated Bugatti Automobiles and the story of the Veyron hypercar began.
Bugatti Automobiles is now owned by Bugatti Rimac company – a joint venture, part owned by Porsche (45%) and Rimac Group (55%).
Bugatti-Rimac company CEO is Mate Rimac a Croatian innovator and entrepreneur, and founder of electric hypercar company Rimac. To make matters more confusing, Porsche also owns 22% of the Rimac Group.
The newest name in the Volkswagen stable of brands, Cupra is the sporty version of SEAT. Known for its racing team – Cup Racing – in the 1990s, Cupra became a badge on the Seat Ibiza and Seat Leon cars before eventually being carved off as a sister-brand in 2018 – much like Citroen did with DS.
Through Volkswagen Group’s ownership of Lamborghini the company took a majority stake in the Italian design house Italdesign Giugiaro, in 2010, adding to their portfolio of Italian super brands with motorcycle manufacturer Ducati in 2012.
Perhaps the most evocative name in the VW Group brand portfolio, Volkswagen came to the resure of Lamborghini in 1998 after a string of fairly disastrous ownership periods.
After falling into bankruptcy in 1973, the company founded in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini in Sant'Agata Bolognese, was sold to investors who again filed for bankruptcy in 1978. Chrysler then bought Lamborghini in 1987 but sold it to South East Asian investments firms in 1994.
Four years later it was sold to VW who now share IP for its supercars and performance SUVs with Audi.
MAN is the company responsible for the development of the diesel engine, so if that’s not reason enough to buy them then we’re not sure what is.
Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel was a German inventor and mechanical engineer who invented the diesel engine and the company which eventually became known as MAN was the first to adopt it. The first prototype to run under its own diesel power was in August 10, 1893. Later they would also be the first manufacture with direct diesel fuel injection in 1923.
VW acquired MAN in 2011, but had been a minority share holder in the business since 2006.
Founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, the saga of Porsche and VW is a confusing one with several ch angles of ownership stakes between the two famous names.
Volkswagen Group purchased Porsche in 2012, but that was only after Porsche, which owned 50.7% of V, tried to buy the remaining 49.3% of its future owners. Hostile or un-hostile takeover, it was a tumultuous period for both manufacturers including boardroom struggles between executive and the Piech family.
More recently Porsche has undergone an IPO to launch itself as a separate business identity on the stock exchange.
Arguably the most prestigious brand in the heavy goods world, Scania has been part of the VW Group since 2008 with a minority stake held since 2000.
Scania, along with MAN, now form part of the Traton Group within Volkswagen.
Volkswagen bought a controlling stake in SEAT in 1986, buying it outright in 1990 when the Spanish government gave up their stake, making it the first non-German brand within the VW Group. .
A spin off brand, CUPRA, was launched in 2018 based on the highly successful performance versions of their affordable family cars.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, VW signed a joint venture with Czech manufacturer Skoda, taking a 30% stake in the automaker. VW continued to increase its shareholding, purchasing a controlling stake in 1994, before eventually completing the takeover in 2000.
Skoda was founded in 1895 as bicycle manufacturer Laurin & Klement. In 1925 arms maker Skoda Works took control, building tanks in World War Two while under the German occupation of Czechoslovakia.
Ineos is a global chemical company owned by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe. It operates in the oil, gas and petrochemical sector, and is thought to be the world's second largest chemical manufacturer.
Founded in 1998, Ineos was formed to acquire the former BP site at Antwerp from Inspec. Through a string of acquisitions in the early 2000s, Ineos grew in stature forming a host of companies including Ineos Nitriles, Ineos Olefins, Ineos Olefins & Polymers USA, Ineos Oligomers, Ineos Polyolefins, Ineos Refining and Ineos Technologies.
Their products cover almost every aspect of modern day life in a diverse range of industries, from automotive and electronics to consumer goods and healthcare.
More recently they have become a household name with top-level sponsorship of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, the Ineos Grenadier Pro Cycling team, and the Ineos Britannia sailing team led by Sir Ben Ainslie.
As companies come, Ineos is pretty massive. At the latest count, Ineos is made up of 36 businesses, operating out of 194 sites in 29 countries.
Its petrochemical production business alone operates from more than 30 production sites and produces more than 20m tonnes of petrochemicals per year.
As well as oil, gas and chemicals, Ineos owns consumer brand Belstaff clothing, as well as Ineos Automotive, makers of the Ineos Grenadier car, and the Ineos Hygienics brands.
Ineos and the Ineos Automotive car company are majority owned by billionaire CEO James Ratcliffe.
Born 18 October 1952, Ratcliffe is the chairman and CEO of the Ineos chemicals group which he founded in 1998 following a career that included working for Esso, chemical company Courtaulds and a US private equity firm.
Ratcliffe formed Ineos in 1998 and proceeded to buy up several unwanted companies in the chemical sector, creating a powerful business in a wide variety of segments of the petrochemical sector.
In 2018 he was named by the Sunday Times as the UK's richest person with a fortune of £21bn.
Since then, Ratcliffe has risen in prominence after acquiring a stake in Manchester United football club, adding to the other football interest of Ineos which include OGC Nice in France and Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland.
Yes. Ineos is a British company, headquartered in London.
In April 2010, Ineos moved its head office from Hampshire to Rolle in Switzerland. This is said to have saved the company millions a year in tax.
However, in 2015, a new UK headquarters was opened in Knightsbridge, London.
Yes, the Ineos Grenadier can be classed as a commercial vehicle depending on what version you have.
The Grenadier was launched as both a Station Wagon and as a Utility Wagon. Both are passenger cars with five seats, but the Utility Wagon had the benefit of having a commercial vehicle sized rear loadspace that enabled it to be registered as a commercial vehicle.
More recently Ineos has launched the Ineos Grenadier Commercial, a dedicated commercial vehicle model that is both a commercial vehicle for road tax and VAT purposes.
All models of the Ineos Grenadier are produced at a former Mercedes-Benz factory in Hambach, Germany.
The 210,000 sq m facility employs a workforce of 1,000 and is close to the German automotive cluster around Mercedes' home town of Stuttgart.
Ineos bought the Hambach factory from Mercedes-Benz in January 2021, refitting it with an investment of more than €50m.
The Grenadier line includes a new semi-automated paintshop, a new fully-automated bodyshop, and a new quality centre, it also continues to produce cars under licence for Mercedes.
During 2021/22, INEOS Automotive produced 43,500 Smart cars and 59,000 Mercedes-Benz EQA front-end modules.
When it comes to towing you'll hear a lot of talk about braked and unbraked trailers but what exactly is the difference between the two?
In this article we'll look at the difference bettwen braked and unbraked trailers, but also go into the details on what is a braked trailer, what is an unbraked trailer and a few bits around the legislation and laws, including some facts about breakaway cables and when you need one.
For more details on towing visit the page for individual towing limits for specific van models. It's also worth checking the payload of your van if you're towing as well, so there's a handing van weights section as well.
Right... onto the main event, details about braked and unbraked trailers.
It will come as no surprise that the clue is in the name. The main difference between an unbraked trailer and a braked trailer is that a braked trailer has its own brakes and unbraked trailer does not.
For a braked trailer, the trailer's brakes are connected to the towing vehicle. This is done by a mechanical linkage. It allows the the trailer to apply its own brakes when towing. If the towing vehicle brakes, then the trailer's brakes are also applied. It's a seemless and instant process that sees the vehicle and trailer work as one.
The mechanical link is provided through the tow bar, which will be connected to the towing vehicle's braking system.
If it is an unbraked trailer, the towing vehicle does all the braking. That means that the weight of the trailer is being stopped entirely by the brakes of the vehicle.
When you need a braked or unbraked trailer will depend entirely upon how much weight you are carying.
Trailers with a total kerb weight over 750kg must have their own brakes. So if you have a trailer of 751kg you are legally required to have brakes.
Braked trailers also need a breakaway cable. This automatically applies the trailer's parking brake if it becomes detached from the towing vehicle. So if you're trailer becomes uncoupled, it's not going to keep rolling down the road and end up in someone's front room.
The rules also state that an unbraked trailer requires a secondary coupling. So that's another method of securing the trailer to the towing vehicle. A back-up plan. In case anything goes wrong.
Let's try and get really nerdy about this.
A braked trailer is wheeled vehicle that is pulled by another vehicle with a co-dependant braking system. That means it has brakes that will function when told do to so by the towing vehicle.
If you brake in your van, the brakes on the trailer will work at the same time. That means that you're not getting the weight and the momentum of the trailer forced upon the van, and that the brakes are not going to have to help stop the trailer all by themselves.
The braked towing capacity is the maximum weight a vehicle can tow when the trailer has its own brakes.
The amount it can tow will depend upon the gross train weight of the towing vehicle. This is a design weight that includes the overall weight of the towing vehicle, the trailer and its payload.
For vans the gross train weight will usally not exceed 3.5 tonnes. This means a 3.5 tonne van can tow a 3.5-tonne trailer. In other words a trailer that with its cargo weighs a maximum of 3.5 tonnes.
A braked trailer simply has mechanical brakes on the trailer's axle. A linkage from the towing vehicle connects the braking systems together - this is via the tow bar.
When the towing vehicle presses the brake pedals a hydraulic signal tells the brakes on the trailer to be applied as well.
Any vehicle can tow a braked trailer if they have a braked trailer coupling. This is a tow bar trailer coupling that enabled trailers with brakes to be connected.
Trailers will either have a 7 pin or 13 pin interface to connect to the towing van or car and the trailer.
It will also have a coupling head - this is the round ball you usually associate with towing.
Other components include a handbrake, handle, breakaway cable and dampers.
You can tell if a trailer is braked by simply looking at the inside of the rear wheels of trailer. If the trailer has brakes then it is a braked trailer.
If the axles doesn't have any brakes in the wheel hubs then it is an unbreaked trailer.
You can also look for a mechanical linkage that connects the trailer brakes to the tow bar.
Ad you can probably guess the unbraked trailer meaning is the opposite of a braked trailer. An unbraked trailer is a trailer without brakes.
That means it must conform to a different set of rules and regulations about its weight and what vehicle is towing it.
An unbraked trailer is most commonly used for small items and can be known as a car trailer, travel trailer, traveller trailer or single axle trailer.
With an unbraked trailer the towing vehicle is responsible for all the braking. That means the weight of the trailer will all have to be stopped by the braked of the car or van towing it.
Thr maximum unbraked trailer weight in the UK is 750kg. This is the safe limit that cars and vans are allowed to tow a trailer without the added addition of trailer brakes on the trailer being towed.
The unbraked trailer towing capacity is the maximum weight it can tow when the trailer doesn't have its own brakes and that's been set at 750kg.
The eagle-eyed amongst you (and those that know their vans) will see that 3.5-tonnes plus 750kg is equal to 4.25-tonnes. That's important because that is currently the permissible weight for electric vehicles to operate at with special dispensation for B-licence holders.
In other words, the government has looked at the trailer towing regulations and decided that a van towing a 750kg trailer is safe, so therefore a 4.25-tonne van with batteries and a full payload must also be a safe weight.
That means that a 4.25-tonne electric van cannot tow a 750kg trailer and still be driveable with a B-licence. That's despite large vans like the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter having much higher towing capacities.
The Mercedes Sprinter van towing capacity is actually 3,500kg (7716 lbs) which will require a different category of licence. Read more on the licences needed to drive a van.
Most vans and other vehicles can tow a lot more weight with a braked trailer than they can with an unbraked trailer.
Another requirement for a trailer is to have a breakaway cable attached to the towing vehicle.
It is a secondary tether designed to secure the trailer in the event that it becomes de-coupled or unattached.
Most people will want to know "do you need a breakaway cable on my trailer" well the simple answer is 'yes' and here's why.
A breakaway cable is a legal requirement for all braked trailers and caravans. Unbraked trailers also need to have a breakaway cable as in the event of coupling detachment it is designed to apply the handbrake of the towed vehicle before allowing it to break away and come to a stop.
A secondary coupling is a legal requirement for all unbraked trailers.
The law in the UK requires all trailers and caravans with a weight of - or a maximum technically permissible laden mass (MTPLM) - between 750kg and 3500kg to be fitted with a safety device to provide protection should the towing vehicle and trailer separate.
Yes it is legal to fit your own towbar, however, the towbar itself must be an EC Approved towbar.
This will be apparent from a label or plate that displays the EC approval number.
Although you can install your own towabr, be warned, if a towbar is not installed correctly then it is both dangerous and illegal. For this reason, many people choose to use a professional fitting service instead.
The General Safety Regulation 2019/2144, more commonly reffered to as GSR2 is a new standard that vehicles including cars, vans, trucks and trailers have to adhere to.
Coming into force in from July 2024, all vehicles registered in the EU must comply with GSR2 as part of the EU's 'Vision Zero' goals to have zero road fatalities or serious injuries on Europe's roads by 2050.
The first GSR regulations were introduced on 6 July 2022 with mandatory advanced driver assistant systems to improve road safety. It's purpose was to establishes the legal framework for the approval of automated and fully driverless vehicles within the EU.
The hope was that the new safety measures would better protect passengers, pedestrians and cyclists, saving more than 25,000 lives and 140,000 serious injuries by 2038.
The 2022 measures introduced a handful of mandatory safety features to help assist the driver of all vehicles from cars, vans, trucks and buses.
These included: Intelligent speed assistance, reversing detection with camera or sensors, attention warning in case of driver drowsiness or distraction, event data recorders as well as an emergency stop signal.
Additionally, for cars and vans, the original GSR meant they had to have lane keeping systems and automated braking.
GSR2 is the updated version of, you guessed it, GSR. It's a more strigent set of regulations with an eye on the fast-evolving technology for autonomous vehicles and drivereless cars.
As part of GSR2 safety regulations there are now more than 20 technology systems required to be standard on all new cars and vans sold in the EU and the UK.
Plans had been discussed for more than a decade before the EU finalised its proposals during 2019.
Existing vans already on sale also had to be retrofitted with the upgrades in order to stay on sale, prompting a range of minor upgrades and specification changes. GSR2 has also meant a levelling of the playing fields and more harmony between brands. Where previously the more premium brands were the vans to have an abundance of safety systems, there is now a higher level of systems across the board.
We use large vans for just about everything in the UK, from delivering groceries and online shopping to filling in potholes, taking people to hospital and moving house, but what is the best large electric van on sale?
There's such a wide range of uses for an large electric van from chassis versions with tipper or dropside bodies through to good old Luton vans that can empty out a small house. But for the benefit of this article and to determine what is the best large electric van currently on sale we're going to look just at the panel van variants.
However, it's important to know that because there's a special dispensation for large vans that allow regular car driving licence holders to drive an electric van up to 4.25-tonnes, the range of bodies and versions many manufacturers intend to bring to market for their large electric vans is quite dizzying.
Anyway, here's a rundown of some of the ones we like the best.
Version two of the eSprinter is a competitive and sensible large electric van that is finally a realistic buying option for anyone in the market for a big electric van.
Mercedes-Benz's first electric Sprinter arrived in 2020 but it was definitely a false start with a small battery and slow charging.
The original eSprinter used an 85kW motor and 55kWh battery pack, borrowing from the eVito of the time. The problem was that both were electric vans based on diesel versions and they lacked the high-end functions that users have come to expect from Mercedes.
Even the MBUX infotainment system was a step backwards and failed to incorporate useful details about the electric driveline. However, the biggest negative was the anxiety-inducing range of just 95 miles.
In contrast, the 2024 version of the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter gets a claimed range of up to 277 miles.
The new model is available with two battery sizes of 81kWh and 113kWh with two motor power outputs of 100kW and 150kW. The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter dimensions are also not quite the same as the extensive range of the diesel van, but there are two lengths (L2 and L3) and panel van and chassis cab variants.
The eSprinter comes with three driving modes, Maximum Range, Economic and Comfort, which control engine power, engine torque and climate control.
Mercedes also offers a choice of regenerative braking modes, which are selected via paddle levers on the steering wheel.
These range from D-, which delivers the least recuperation, to D++, which provides the stiffest retardation.
Renault's progress in the large electric van sector saw it launch the Master ZE in 2018 with power coming from a 33kWh battery with a range of just 74 miles.
Although Renault introduced a 52kWh battery four years later with the first E-Tech, range only increased to 125 miles and power remained at 76hp. Renault is hoping to make a bigger impression with the 2024 Renault Master E-Tech, and with its aggressive new front grille it's not likely to go under the radar. Renault offers the Master E-Tech with 143hp (105kW) or 129hp (96kW) electric motors, both with up to 300Nm of torque and two batteries, at 40kWh and 87kWh.
The larger battery gives the E-Tech a claimed range of 285 miles. Renault claims the main innovation is a 20% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency compared to the previous Master, plus better battery regeneration, which has allowed it to extend the van's range and set a maximum payload of 1,625kg. Renault claims the new Master E-Tech is 27% more power-efficient than its predecessor.
It's also been named International Van of the Year 2025, largely because of its ground-up platform that was based around the need for a large electric van that was fit for purpose.
The Ford E-Transit launched as the first and most powerful large van on sale in the UK, making it a viable electric van and massive disruptor in the space.
With 198kW (265hp) for the most powerful model and a slightly down rated 135kW (181hp) version, both vans are very quick. Combined with a massive 430Nm of torque makes the E-Transit still really usable even when fully laden or when towing.
It comes with a choice of two batteries, a 68kWh battery or an 89kWh battery. The smaller battery pack gives a range of up to 196 miles while the larger 89kWh battery has a range of up to 250 miles (400km).
That means a practical range of at least 150 miles in the real world for the small van, when the van is fully laden, and around 200 to 210 miles from the larger model.
It can transport up to a maximum 1,758kg which is for a 4.25-tonne van while a standard 3.5-tonne model has a payload of just over 1,000kg. The Ford E-Transit dimensions are also completely unchanged from the diesel van.
The Vauxhall Movano Electric is one of several vans from Stellantis that have recently been electrified with a new powertrain that's been developed in-house.
With a claimed range of up to 261 miles from a 110kWh battery, a payload of up to 1.5t and 13m3 to 17m3 load volumes, the Movano Electric shares the exact same vital statistics as the Citroen E-Relay, Peugeot E-Boxer, Fiat E-Ducato and the Toyota Proace Max Electric is a decent proposition for large van operators transitioning to electrification. It comes in two lengths and as a single- and double-cab chassis as well as panel van mode.
Available in just Professional trim, the E-Boxer's redesigned nose features a new bumper and new body-coloured grille. Other exterior changes include restyled wing mirrors, LED headlights and redesigned rear lights. Like the rest of the Peugeot line-up, it gets the brand's new shield emblem. The revamped interior includes a new, sportier steering wheel, new dashboard - although the plastic remains scratchy-looking - and new seat fabrics and door panels. A 10-inch touchscreen houses Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satnav.
Performance is lively thanks to a potent electric motor that develops 270hp and 400Nm torque. There are three driving modes and four levels of regenerative braking. The strongest retardation setting means you rarely have to resort to using the footbrake but is considerably harsher than the strongest settings in the medium and compact vans.
