VW unveils factory-backed conversion program

A stretched Amarok, a Crafter-based minibus or box truck, a five-seater Tiguan Allspace… They'll all soon be road-going realities for Australians thanks to Volkswagen's looming factory-endorsed conversion program, which was previewed to the nation's motoring media at Volkswagen Group Australia headquarters in Sydney on Wednesday, November 20.

Under the banner of 'Convert to Volkswagen', the program will see predominantly light commercial vehicle (LCV) models converted by specialist body builder partners right here in Australia, with the completed and modified vehicles backed by the brand's standard five-year factory warranty.

Volkswagen is seeking to carve itself a slice of the potentially lucrative conversion pie, giving itself access to an industry that to date has largely been the preserve of the aftermarket.

The brand says that half of its commercial models are already subject to some form of after-sale modification, while for its all-new Crafter large van the figure is somewhere between 70 to 80 per cent.

Under the program Volkswagen will formalise relations with key approved specialists to effectively bring conversions 'in house', in a business and customer service sense at least, while creating an array of modified solutions for sectors spanning government, emergency services, the military, mining, tourism and more.

VGA says it's also exploring options within Australia's sizeable recreational vehicle niche.

"We've got some really successful local converters doing great conversions on campers so we encourage those relationships," said VGA National Conversion Manager, Andrew Hester.

"We may even be able to look at local campers and yes we are talking to some existing partners already."

Volkswagen says the program will bring customers the added flexibility of financing and leasing, while also potentially reducing lead times and costs.

According to Hester, the framework will ultimately make the conversion process easier, smoother, more efficient and potentially more cost-effective, while bringing new business to Volkswagen.

"With our factory support we've seen a need to 'professionalise' this [conversion] business to take it forward and bring together a nation-wide recognised group of partners," he said.

"We go out, we work with converters, we find the best one and invite them to be a partner and then we start utilising them as our extended sales network. This also makes it easier for our dealers to sell an extended range of products."

While the main thrust of the program concerns Volkswagen LCVs, it also extends to some passenger car models. On display in Sydney, beside a stretched Amarok XL, a Crafter-based minibus and a Crafter box truck, was a five-seater Tiguan Proline configured for ambulance service use.

Based on a seven-seat Tiguan Allspace, the Tiguan Proline has had its rear two seats removed for additional storage space. It also features an auxiliary battery, a performance-tuned 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, and an off-road pack that increases the vehicle's approach and departure angles.

The model follows in the wheel tracks of the Passat Proline recently supplied to Victoria Police.

A factory-backed conversion program has been in place in Europe for over 10 years and after three years of behind-the-scenes development, it will soon be available here. Volkswagen says the first converted models should come online in early to mid-2020, with similar programs to roll out in markets including Taiwan, South Africa and Mexico soon after.

Available through the entire VGA national dealer network, the conversions will be available under two product streams dubbed 'Engineered to Go' and 'Engineered for You'.

The Engineered to Go models are essentially turn-key solutions – ready-to-work vehicles in popular configurations like a Crafter-based Pantech truck or minibus that are factory-engineered solutions built by approved body builder partners, with typically shorter lead times.

Engineered for You models, however, are bespoke creations built to meet specific customer needs.

Importantly, all these conversions will retain Volkswagen's standard five-year factory warranty, while Volkswagen will also serve as the sole point of customer contact for resolving any potential issues.

VGA says it's currently finalising contracts with approved body builders, but that it hopes to have eight signed by the end of 2020. With negotiations still underway the company is reticent to name all the partners with which it's working, but it did divulge a couple of the firms behind some of the models on show in Sydney: Amtek and Adaptive Manufacturing.

Adaptive Manufacturing is currently working under licence from Dutch firm Veth to produce the Amarok XL and XXL – stretched versions of the ute with either 310mm (Amarok XL) or 650mm (Amarok XXL) chassis extensions. An Amarok Core XL dual-cab ute was on display in Sydney, although Volkswagen says a flat-bed format will account for the vast majority of stretched Amarok buyers.

Available across all Amarok variants, the longer models retain the same GVM and towing limits but have marginally reduced payloads. Wheelbases will increase from 3095mm to 3405mm or 3745mm, while overall lengths will extend from 5254mm to 5564mm or 5904m.

Also on show, and gunning directly for Mercedes-Benz' Sprinter, was a 15-seat Crafter-based minibus by Sydney-based converter, Amtek.

Volkswagen currently only has a seven-seat Multivan or a nine-seat Caravelle, so this particular minibus – which adopts a 3-3-2-2-1-4 seating layout – should hold strong appeal for businesses like hotels and tour operators.

A Crafter Pantech truck also displayed in Sydney had been imported as a complete unit with a glass-reinforced plastic Pantech body from British specialist, Ingimex UK. Volkswagen says it will secure a local specialist to product the truck here in Australia.

Volkswagen will launch the Crafter Pantech here next year in three versions: a front-drive, 3550kg GVM TDI340 with a payload of just under 1000kg; a 4MOTION, 4000kg GVM TDI410 model with a payload of just under 1500kg; and a rear-drive, dual-rear-wheel, 4490kg GVM TDI410 with payload of just under 2000kg.

The glass-reinforced plastic body is said to be 50 per cent light than glass-reinforced plywood, along with being more flexible and stronger. The display truck was fitted with an easy-to-operate rear shutter door and a column-mounted, chain-operated tail lift.

Volkswagen describes the pricing (TBA) for the entry-level model in particular as being "extremely competitive", and says the Crafter-based line-up – with its eight-speed automatic transmission – has broad appeal for the rental truck market.

On hand at the preview was Thomas Olehking, Volkswagen Group Area Manager, Conversion Business, Sales International. Based in Hannover, Germany, Mr Olehking was in Sydney to oversee the progress of the program's local implementation.

"This is part of our strategy that we're doing worldwide right now," he said.

"'Right now' means we haven't really taken care of international markets in the past – Volkswagen was very much oriented to Germany and Europe, but right now we are definitely changing that.

"Our policy is that once we convert the vehicle together with the body builder as a solution for our customer it has to fulfil the same requirements [in terms of quality] as for our base vehicle, so the customer knows he is fully covered."

According to VGA General Manager Corporate Communications, Paul Pottinger, the conversion program offers remarkable scope.

"These four vehicles on display here today are simple exemplary," he said.

"There are dozens of bespoke variants that can be derived from our vehicles and the great thing is it's increasingly with Australian suppliers, so VGA is doing something tangible to support local industry."