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The last major element of Iveco's -62bn truck range renewal

22nd May 2003, Page 14
22nd May 2003
Page 14
Page 14, 22nd May 2003 — The last major element of Iveco's -62bn truck range renewal
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programme falls into place with the launch of the new-look Eurocargo. Kevin Swallow looks at just what's on offer for the lightweight truck sector.

Iveco unveils a light evolution

• Iveco cites evolution, rather than revolution, with the new Eurocargo. With its latest day, sleeper and crew cabs as well as a medium-height roof option, the truck falls in line cosmetically with the recent Stralis launches, ending the latest phase of product updates two years after the Tector family engine was first introduced.

The revamp comes at a time when the Italian Rat Group subsidiary—the leading medium truck seller in Western Europe has seen overall sales drop from a peak of 100,000 units a year in the late 1980s and early 1990s to 74,000 in 1995. h has since stabilised at 80,000 vehicles, but still Iveco has been able to maintain its 30% market share in Western Europe and the 25% market share in the UK.

Current 2003 UK sales figures stand at 1,516 units for the Cargo up to May, down 311 from last year. A drop had been anticipated with a more diligent approach to buybacks and used vehicles coupled, of course, with customers deliberately holding back for the new Eurocargo.

!yew predicts that sales in the medium truck sector across Western Europe will now climb back towards 100,000 units, with the increase of home shopping and urban distribution boosting direct delivery between business and customer.

The Eurorargo project has cost Iveco '•=100m in investment. Chief executive officer Michel de Lambert says it represents the end of "an enormous industrial and economic effort for New'.

For UK operators, the right-hand-drive version is already available, though the official UK launch is planned for early June. Iveco director of commercial communications Nigel Emms says that RHD production will increase until it completely takes over from the outgoing Cargo by September.

The driveline options list does not include an automatic gearbox. [yew cites poor market interest for this and adds that it would be "inappropriate for distribution". The Allison transmission is available and has been tested by us ( CM 24-30 October 2002) but Michel de Lambert says the small volume does not make it viable.