MAN to launch LCV range

A new collaboration between MAN Truck & Bus and its parent company, Volkswagen, will see the truck maker unveil a light commercial vehicle range in 2016.

The new MAN TGE van will essentially be twinned with Volkswagen's Crafter large van (pictured) and MAN says the co-operation will allow "both brands to create strategic benefits in acquiring new groups of customers".

The addition of the TGE range means MAN Truck & Bus will offer a broad spectrum of commercial vehicles spanning weight classes from three to 44 tonnes.

To be built alongside the Crafter at the new Wrzesnia plant in Poland, MAN will unveil the new TGE at the IAA commercial vehicles expo in Hanover (Germany) next September, with the model to become available in Europe from 2017.

MAN Truck & Bus CEO, Joachim Drees, said the co-operation marked an important milestone for MAN.

"By launching the MAN light commercial vehicle positioned below our MAN TGL light truck range, we are entering a new business area," he said in a media statement.

"Many of our customers with heavy commercial vehicles in their fleets have a requirement for light commercial vehicles as well, so the MAN TGE constitutes a smart enhancement to our already established vehicle range.

"We know exactly what our customers need and which areas they operate in, and the vehicle solutions and bodies we will offer them will be a perfect fit to their needs and applications."

According to Mark Mello, General Manager for MAN Truck & Bus here in Australia, we won't be seeing MAN-branded vans here anytime soon.

"While MAN's light commercial vehicle has been slated for a 2017 release in Germany, there are no plans in place at this time for Penske Commercial Vehicles to introduce this product into the region in the short term," he said.