Bill Parfitt: explaining the new van and Vauxhall’s ambitions in a press conference following the unveiling of the new Movano van
Business Car Manager: Editor’s Blog
DROVE up to Birmingham’s NEC yesterday for the CV Operators Show to file a report for our sister magazine Business Van Manager.
It was a small show, but none the worse for that. It felt like a really good trade event: not teeming with tyre kickers but a steady stream of professionals involved in the CV business.
The first event of the day was the unveiling of the new Vauxhall Movano. This is Vauxhall’s big, big van that Vauxhall is hoping will re-energise the company’s presence in the LCV sector. Afterwards, Vauxhall boss Bill Parfitt held court, answering questions about the van and Vauxhall.
The first thing that Bill admitted was his lifelong passion for vans. “I love vans,” Bill said. “One of my earlier jobs as a sales manager in a Bedford dealership when Bedford still operated independently.”
Given the recent turmoil which GM and GM Europe has been through – Vauxhall’s parent company – Bill was re-iterating the company’s commitment to the sector. And to manufacturing – it has two factories, one in Luton (where it makes the Vivaro van), the other in Ellesmere Port (where it makes Astra and the Astravan). “These are world-class manufacturing sites,” said Bill.
And this is what I found extraordinary: Luton has gone 11 million man hours without a lost workday due to an accident; Ellesemere has gone a remarkable 20 million man hours wihtout a lost workday due to an accident.
“I tell you this,” said Bill. “I would shut the plant down if there was a safety issue. Immediately.” I think that gives you an idea of how seriously Bill takes it.
With the Movano, Vauxhall plans to double its sales in the van sector. Little wonder: it can be ordered as front-wheel drive or as a rear-wheel drive with a gross vehicle weight up to 4.5t; there are 29 body styles; and 300 variants (500 with all the different trim options!).
Sometimes I think the business car world is complicated – but that’s a lot of different van variants!
