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The ageing LDV G10 – Australia’s third best-selling van – is due to be replaced before the end of this year with an all-new model with the option of electric power.
A successor to the LDV G10 delivery van from China is due in Australian showrooms before the end of this year with the option of electric power, the local distributor has confirmed.
Chinese car maker LDV announced today it is due to launch a new mid-size van in Australia in the last three months of this year – as a successor to the eight-year-old LDV G10, the company’s rival for the top-selling Toyota HiAce and Hyundai Staria Load.
While today’s model is available the choice of petrol or diesel power, the new car will introduce the option of electric propulsion – the second vehicle in its class to do so, after the Mercedes-Benz eVito.
The introduction of the new mid-size LDV van in Australia is expected to coincide with the addition of life-saving advanced safety systems – such as autonomous emergency braking – which the current G10 lacks, even though this technology is standard on most rivals.
Advanced crash avoidance technology will become mandatory for new vehicles in the van category introduced after March 2023.
The LDV G10 replacement is also likely to offer more airbags – a significant upgrade over today’s LDV G10, which offers no advanced safety technology, and only two airbags for front occupants in head-on collisions.
Pricing is yet to be confirmed, though it is expected to rise to due to the addition of new features and technology. The current LDV G10 is priced from $34,990 drive-away for ABN holders in diesel manual form.
LDV is yet to confirm the name of the new vehicle.
However, Drive understands it is likely to be what is known as the Maxus V70 in China (where LDV vehicles are marketed under the Maxus brand), which was revealed late last year (pictured top of story).
The company is yet to announce whether the current LDV G10 – as well as the decade-old LDV V80 – will be sold alongside the new van, or if it will replace one or both models.
The outgoing LDV G10 was available until recently in a choice of delivery-van or people-mover formats – similarly to rivals such as the Toyota HiAce and Granvia, Hyundai Staria and Staria Load, and Volkswagen Transporter and Multivan.
While LDV has confirmed the new van will be offered with with the option of electric power – it is not yet known if the other engines will be petrol or diesel, or if there will be a choice of both.
However, Drive understands diesel is more likely, given it is historically the more popular choice among ute and van buyers.
Reports out of China claim the Maxus V70 will be available with a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine developing 93kW, paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It is unclear if this engine would be offered in Australia, or a more powerful option.
The new model will be available with three roof options, according to LDV.
In a media statement issued today, LDV said “the arrival of a dynamic new mid-size van in both [internal-combustion engine] and [electric] engine variants and three roof options” is due in the last three months of this year.
“Further information on this upcoming vehicle will be communicated in due course,” the company said.
Despite being one of the oldest models in the mid-size van category, the LDV G10 was the third best-seller in Australia in 2022. Its tally of 3159 sales ranked behind the second-placed Hyundai Staria Load (3291) and top-selling Toyota HiAce (8748).
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