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LDV, formerly known as Leyland Daf, finished 2007 confidently with sales of its Maxus range of vans up by 28 per cent compared with the previous year.

Under the ownership of the GAZ group, the Russian automotive group that took control of LDV during 2006, the fortunes of the company have changed for the better.

Last year the output of the LDV's Maxus doubled, the vehicle was introduced in Russia and the firm was crowned the UK Company of the Year 2007 by the Institute of Transport Management.

Other developments during the year involved installing a £6 million chassis cab manufacturing line and improving productivity techniques by 38 per cent through adopting GAZ processes.

Turnover for the company is now at an estimated £160 million annually with an average of 13,000 vehicles produced each year.

Tony Lewis, sales & marketing director, said that 2007 was a great year for the company.

"We have achieved a great deal in a very short time frame and had the most successful year, as a business, in over a decade. Every area of the LDV business has been transformed over the past 12 months and this provides an excellent platform for us to grow even further going into 2008," he stated.

The LDV brand was first formed in the early 1990s following the buy-out of the firm by the DAF NV's Leyland Daf manufacturing division.

In 2005, LDV was purchased by the Sun Capital/Sun European Partners group before the Russian GAZ group took ownership during July 2006.

Previously LDV manufactured the Convoy, the Pilot and the Cub before it decided to focus its energies on the Maxus.

The current Maxus range of vans was first introduced during 2005 and originally planned as a joint venture with Daewoo before the Korean manufacturer ceased trading in 2000, and most vehicles were rebranded as Chevrolets.

Customers can purchase the van in a chassis cab version with Dropsides, Tippers, Lutons and Box Vans, in a multi-purpose role for the transport of goods and as a minibus version.

The vehicle is available in two wheelbases, three roof heights and a choice of 2.8t, 3.2t and 3.5t GVW.

LDV say it is this choice that has earned the Maxus Combi of the Year and Minibus of the Year awards at last year's Professional Van & Light Truck awards and a series of contracts with organisations such as the Royal Mail and various police forces across the UK. 

Meanwhile for those drivers who want a little bit more, the Platinum version of the range offers alloy wheels, tinted windows, and 95 PS, 120 PS or 135 PS engine as well as several different choices of paint.

LDV have also unveiled an environmentally-friendly initiative in an attempt to reduce the vehicle's carbon footprint.

The manufacturer is part of a project led by motorsport specialist Prodrive which is working with various firms to develop a DC-DC converter for use in automotive hybrid and electric vehicles.

A new electric-powered version of the Maxus is being developed by the group in conjunction with RVL that could see the light of the day as early as June, say LDV.

With new chief executive Evgeniy Vereshchagin now in control, the company is looking to build on its previous successes and awards.

He said: "2008 will see us introduce more new models to the market and we are also extending our bespoke product offering through our dedicated special vehicle operations department."

At the recent Commercial Vehicles show at the Birmingham NEC the company announced a series of additions to the standard edition of the vehicle.

A CD player with MP3 compatibility, ABS and EBD (electronic brake force distribution), driver's height adjustable seat and Maxus badging to all grilles and rear doors all now come as standard on the vans.

Additional models to the range announced at the event include a new Aero Luton and Prestige Day-van.

Features on the Aero Luton, which provides the customers with 15.6 square metres of volume, include a driver's airbag, power adjustable and heated mirrors, electric windows, CD player with MP3 compatibility and an adjustable height function with the driver's seat.

The Luton benefits from the Maxus one support package which covers all aspect of vehicle ownership including a 120,000 mile/four-year warranty and a two year Maxus Assist European roadside recovery programme as standard.

Mr Vereshchagin said: "These new enhancements underline our commitment to continue to expand and enhance the Maxus range to make it the most diverse and flexible in the market."

"We've proved over the last 18 months since our purchase by GAZ International that we can be innovative and flexible in our approach to both products and customers," concluded sales and marketing director Tony Lewis.