There’s a gap in the market –and the eDELIVER 7 will fill it

Company Car & Van finds Mark Barrett, General Manager of Harris Maxus, in a confident mood after a well-received launch of the electric eDELIVER 7 at this year’s CV Show. Andrew Walker asked the questions

CC&V: One of the highlights at this year’s CV Show was the unveiling of the electric eDELIVER 7. How was it received and do you think it will now be your biggest electric selling van?

Mark Barrett: We’re thrilled with how the eDELIVER 7 was received at this year’s CV Show following its official unveiling at the MAXUS stand. The eDELIVER 7 is our third electric van to be launched in the UK market in the last three years and will be the first vehicle in the MAXUS EV range to enter the mid-size van market, fitting snugly between our smaller eDELIVER 3 van and larger eDELIVER 9 option. The eDeliver7 offers three bodystyles and two battery pack options targeting the largest sector of the UK CV market – the onetonne payload van sector. This is the vehicle our customers have been waiting for and we are certain it will prove popular with fleet managers and business owners alike. There’s a gap in the market for this type of electric van and we plan to take full advantage of that.

CC&V: At last year’s CV Show, you launched your T90EV pick-up. A year on can you tell us how sales of T90EV are going and has it resulted in MAXUS adding new customers to the brand?

The T90EV is the first electric pick-up to enter the market here in the UK and it received a fantastic welcome following its unveiling at the CV Show last June, so much so that we had over 1,000 dealer orders by the end of August 2022. Sales of this pick-up are still growing steadily, and it has certainly opened us up to a new customer base. Dealers are very active with demonstrations and customer test drives at present. It’s the first electric pick-up to hit the market here and customers are welcome to trial it at their local MAXUS dealership before deciding to purchase.

The T90EV is sporty, stylish, and powerful with a range of 219 miles and is available for immediate delivery. The commercial market is a huge focus for us, but this vehicle and our MIFA 9, both of which were unveiled at last year’s CV Show, announce our arrival into the passenger vehicle sector as well. We see the T90EV as the perfect on-road pick-up for drivers who like style AND function – it features a one-tonne payload catering to those who need a workhorse. Offering zero BIK tax, it is also the perfect company car option. However, its contemporary exterior and high level of spec also allows us to attract drivers who simply want an eye-catching truck that they can enjoy on the daily.

CC&V: CV operators are slowly realising that they need to go electric and MAXUS are well placed to help with your full electric van range. The eDELIVER 3 and eDELIVER 9 have been around for a while now. Do you have any plans to introduce new versions of either any time soon?

We have no immediate plans to introduce new versions of the eDELIVER 3 or eDELIVER 9 for the simple reason that both these van variants are performing very well in the marketplace and are among the best in class in performance and range capabilities. Their coverage of the market is further enhanced with the availability of chassis-cabs for bespoke requirements in addition to the van models. Our newly launched eDELIVER 7 vehicle sits in between both vans in terms of size and means we can cater for any type of customer, regardless of their needs or requirements.

CC&V: We drove your electric MPV the MIFA 9 last month. Which business sectors are you targeting with this vehicle?

Predominately, our target market for the MIFA 9 is the Chauffeur industry, those who drive people around for a living, be it hotel transfers, executive travel, airport collections etc, plus the luxury taxi sector. The MIFA 9 is ideal for large families too, however, businesses will remain a key focus for us when pushing sales of this vehicle. After all, we understand that not every family is ready to switch to EV just yet and we appreciate that not all families have the money for this type of vehicle right now.

CC&V: The CV Show enabled you to show the industry your full electric van ranges include conversions. How important is the electric van conversion sector to MAXUS and which of your conversions are proving the most popular?

Electric vehicle conversions are critical to the success of MAXUS. Our refrigerated conversion vehicles have been highly sought after by fleet managers in the grocery and pharmaceutical sectors over the part number of years. Additionally, our eDELIVER 9 electric tippers, drop-sides and luton-bodied vehicles are in high demand with local councils and public bodies, as are our electric minibus/WAV conversions.

It’s a sector we’re very much conscious of nurturing and will continue to focus on conversion offers as we grow the brand range and evolve in the years to come.