New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Electric van maker Modec runs out of juice
Set up in 2004, Coventry-based electric light commercial vehicle manufacturer Modec has gone into administration following poor sales and growing debts. Half of the workforce has been made redundant.Administrators at Zolfo Cooper say they were left with no alternative but to make 26 employees redundant with immediate effect. “Unfortunately, the business has experienced severe cashflow difficulties in recent times,” said Ryan Grant, partner administrator. “This, combined with the tough economic climate, has led to the need for administration. We regret that we were left with no choice but to make some employees redundant in order to protect the value of this business for potential buyers.”
Modec secured a £23m grant from the US government in 2009 to build electric vans for the North American market in conjunction with US truck manufacturer Navistar. Founder Lord Borwick said the deal had not produced as many orders as he expected and only 400 vehicles had been made since its launch in 2007.Prior to going into administration it was hoped that stakeholder and partner Navistar would bail-out the UK company. It may still be in the frame, but perhaps a more likely scenario is that Chinese companies will be eyeing-up the hi-tech zero carbon LCV technology with the intention of shipping production overseas.
