Editing LDV Group

{{Short description|Former British van manufacturer}}
{{about|the company that manufactured LDV vans from 1993 until 2009|the company that has manufactured LDV vans since 2010|Maxus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox company
|name             = LDV Group
|logo             = Ldvlogo.png
|type             = 
|fate             = 
|predecessor      = [[Leyland DAF]]<br>{{small|([[DAF NV]])}}
|successor        = [[Maxus]]<br>{{small|([[SAIC Motor]])}}
|foundation       = {{start date and age|April 1993}}
|founder          = 
|defunct          = {{end date and age|2009|10|df=yes}}
|location_city    = [[Washwood Heath]], [[Birmingham]], England, UK
|key_people       = 
|industry         = [[Automotive industry|Automotive]]
|products         = Vans
|revenue          = 
|operating_income = 
|net_income       = 
|aum              = 
|assets           = 
|equity           = 
|owner            = [[GAZ]] (2006–2008)
|num_employees    = 850 (2009) 
|parent           = 
|divisions        = 
|subsid           = 
|homepage         = [https://web.archive.org/web/20060505004539/http://www.ldv.com/ www.ldv.com]}}

'''LDV Group Limited''', formerly '''Leyland DAF Vans''', was a British [[van]] manufacturer based in [[Washwood Heath]], [[Birmingham]]. Historically part of [[Rover Group]] and [[Leyland DAF]], it was later a wholly owned subsidiary of [[GAZ]]. Owing to the [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|global recession]] and a lack of long-term investment, production was suspended at the LDV factory in December 2008.

After a series of failed rescue attempts, the [[intellectual property]] rights were sold by administrators [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]] to Eco Concept in 2009, who sold them to [[SAIC Motor]] in 2010, with its [[Maxus]] subsidiary commencing production in China in March 2011.

==History==
[[File:2001 LDV Cub Diesel 2.3 Front.jpg|thumb|[[Nissan Serena#Europe|LDV Cub]]]]
[[File:Ldvpilot.jpg|thumb|[[LDV Pilot]]]]
[[File:2002 LDV 400 Convoy Diesel SWB 2.4 Front.jpg|thumb|Low topped [[LDV Convoy]]]]
[[File:London Ambulance on Hamilton Terrace.jpg|thumb|High topped [[LDV Convoy]] from 2000]]
[[File:LDV Maxus 2.8 CDi 95 SWB 2005.jpg|thumb|right|2005 [[LDV Maxus]] 2.8 CDi 95 SWB]]
LDV was formed in April 1993 as Leyland DAF Vans, following a [[management buyout]] backed by [[3i]] of [[DAF NV]]'s van plant in Washwood Heath, Birmingham, following the Dutch company being placed in administration.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1964088.stm Van firm in £1.5bn bid] ''[[BBC News]]'' 2 May 2002</ref><ref name=Guardian>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/jun/08/ldv-timeline LDV: Countdown to collapse] ''[[The Guardian]]'' 9 June 2009</ref> It was rebranded as LDV in January 1994.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181026230141/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/leyland-daf-in-pounds-86m-rebound-management-buyout-brings-a-change-in-fortunes-and-name-1371905.html Leyland DAF in £8.6m rebound: Management brings change in fortunes and name] ''[[The Independent]]'' 23 April 1994</ref><ref name=EC>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181026224157/http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases/232269/232269_983777_18_2.pdf State aid NN/41/2009 - Rescue Aid for LDV Group Limited] ''[[European Commission]] 7 August 2009</ref>

Prior to its merger with [[Leyland Motors|Leyland Trucks]] and [[DAF Trucks]] to form [[DAF NV]] (which in the UK traded as [[Leyland DAF]]) in February 1987, it was part of the [[British Leyland]]/[[Rover Group]] empire, and was latterly the [[Freight Rover]] arm of the [[Land Rover Group]] division.

In December 2005, after going into administration, LDV was bought by group [[Sun Capital Partners]], and was subject to a financial restructuring.<ref name=Guardian/><ref name="bbc">{{cite news|title=Russian company buys UK vanmaker|date=31 July 2006|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5230806.stm|access-date=7 September 2007}}</ref> ''What Van?'' reported LDV's commitment to its existing customers, including an assurance from their marketing director that their production target of 1,000 vans per month would put them well above break even point.<ref>{{cite news|title=LDV reassures customers over warranty|date=15 March 2006|publisher=What Van|url=http://www.van-guard.co.uk/news/archives/00000089.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930002143/http://www.van-guard.co.uk/news/archives/00000089.php|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>

[[GAZ]] acquired LDV on 31 July 2006.<ref name="gaz">{{cite web|title=GAZ International|publisher=LDV|url=http://www.ldv.com/gb/aboutgaz.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501093717/http://www.ldv.com/gb/aboutgaz.asp|archive-date=1 May 2007}}</ref> Former [[Ford of Europe]] executive [[Martin Leach (executive)|Martin Leach]] and former [[AT Kearney]] executive Steve Young were appointed to run the business and expand production at LDV's Birmingham plant by adding new product lines and entering new markets in Europe and elsewhere.<ref name="bbc"/>

GAZ had plans to export LDV technology to Russia, and start producing the Maxus at its plant in [[Nizhny Novgorod]] (Russia), with 50,000 as an initial volume.<ref name="gaz"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080408102253/http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/05-11-07_4 GAZ plans to start Russian Maxus production in 2009] ''Auto Industry'' 5 November 2007</ref> There were also proposals to export the GAZ Maxus to Australia, a traditional market for British Leyland.

However, GAZ's plans never really showed any increased output, and due to the severe worldwide recession and a lack of long-term investment and commitment, production was suspended at the LDV factory in Birmingham in December 2008. After the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British Government]] tried once again to save the company by agreeing to pour in £5 million of grants to enable [[Malaysia]]'s WestStar Corporation to purchase LDV. WestStar failed to secure financing.<ref name=EC/><ref name=Guardian/>

The [[intellectual property]] rights were sold by administrators [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]] to Chinese firm Eco Concept on 15 October 2009,<ref name="BBChina">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8309771.stm|title=LDV assets sold to Chinese firm|publisher=BBC News|date=15 October 2009|access-date=15 October 2009}}</ref><ref>[https://www.scotsman.com/business/eco-concept-snaps-up-the-assets-of-ldv-1-779084 Eco Concept snaps up the assets of LDV] ''[[The Scotsman]]'' 15 October 2009</ref> who sold them to [[SAIC Motor]] in August  2010, with [[Maxus]] commencing production in China in March 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://chinaautoweb.com/2010/08/saic-to-resurrect-ldv-maxus/ |title=SAIC to Resurrect LDV Maxus |publisher=ChinaAutoWeb.com}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110722064840/http://www.chinacartimes.com/2011/03/03/saic-launched-new-brand-maxus-for-vans/ SAIC launched new brand Maxus for cans] ''China Car Times'' 3 March 2011</ref>

Coincidentally, PWC were the same group of administrators who dealt with the demise of the [[MG Rover Group]] in 2005, the descendant of the original company Leyland Trucks was a part of. Also, SAIC Motor currently owns the rights to most of MG Rover's assets, reuniting the two companies.

==Vehicles==
LDV produced a range of panel [[van]]s, pick ups and minibuses, all available with various modifications and specifications. LDV's main customers were large British corporations, such as [[Royal Mail]], [[National Grid plc]] and many other [[utility companies]], which were politically persuaded to buy British built vehicles.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

'''200/400 Series''' 
The plant produced what was known as the 200 and 400 Series vans, inside the plant these were known as the K2 and 210 respectively. After the factory went into receivership in 1993, and a management backed buyout headed by Allan Amey, the 200 and 400 were given a facelift on the existing chassis, and renamed Pilot and Convoy.

===Pilot/Convoy===
Until 2006, LDV produced the [[LDV Pilot|Pilot]] and [[LDV Convoy|Convoy]], derived from the [[British Leyland]] Sherpa, and developed considerably throughout the 1970s to 1990s, and which were a common sight in the United Kingdom.

===Cub===
Between 1998 and 2001, LDV sold the Cub, which is a rebranded version of the [[Nissan Serena#Europe|Nissan Vanette Cargo]] after LDV entered into an agreement with [[Nissan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/1998/6/24/ldv-to-launch-own-version-of-nissan-cargo-one-tonne-van/3517/|title=LDV to launch own version of Nissan Cargo one-tonne van|publisher=fleetnews.co.uk|access-date=27 September 2015|date=24 June 1998}}</ref> Production stopped in 2001 when Nissan replaced the Vanette Cargo with a rebranded version of the [[Renault Trafic]] called the Nissan Primastar, which is produced in [[Luton]], England and [[Barcelona]], Spain. LDV, having struggled to sell the Cub, opted not to continue the agreement with Nissan.

===Maxus===
The last range of vans, the [[LDV Maxus|Maxus]], was introduced in the end of 2004. The Maxus was originally planned as a joint venture with [[Daewoo Motors]] of South Korea. Daewoo however, went into receivership in November 2000, before the project came to fruition.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/67218.stm LDV and Daewoo in £160m link-up] ''BBC News'' 19 March 1998</ref>

LDV subsequently acquired the exclusive rights to the van from [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]], who had taken over Daewoo, and purchased the existing tooling and shipped it all to the Washwood Heath factory in Birmingham from the [[FSC Lublin Automotive Factory|Daewoo Plant in Poland]] where the van was originally intended to be built.<ref>{{cite news|title=Van maker plans 1,000 new jobs|date=19 August 2003|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3165425.stm|access-date=7 September 2007}}</ref> The Maxus was fitted with direct injection, common rail, diesel engines supplied by [[VM Motori]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Current Vehicles|publisher=VM Motori|url=http://www.vmmotori.it/en/01/01/index.jsp|access-date=7 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218063345/http://www.vmmotori.it/en/01/01/index.jsp|archive-date=18 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Sponsorships==
LDV sponsored:
*[[Aston Villa Football Club]] from 1998 to 2000 <ref>[https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-fared-aston-villas-kits-7205384 All of Aston Villa's home kits from the Premier League era] ''[[Birmingham Mail]]'' 19 June 2015</ref>
*[[St Mirren Football Club]] from 2000 to 2003 <ref>[http://www.stmirren.info/sponsors.html Shirt Sponsors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606114227/http://www.stmirren.info/sponsors.html |date=6 June 2020 }} St Mirren Football Club</ref>
*the [[EFL Trophy]] from 2000 to 2006

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|LDV vehicles}}

{{LDV Group}}
{{Automotive industry in the United Kingdom}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ldv Group}}
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of England]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:GAZ]]
[[Category:LDV vehicles| ]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1993]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:3i Group companies]]