The first Volkswagen Taro leaves the Hanover assembly lines.
1990 to 2000
1990
The fourth-generation Transporter/Multivan (T4) is released, VWCV celebrates 40 years of the Transporter, 6 million have been produced since its 1950 introduction.[1]
1992
A joint venture with Ching Chung Motor Co. Ltd. is founded in Taipei, Taiwan.
Volkswagen AG has 1/3 capital in the company and from 1993 the T4 Transporter is produced there.
Dr Bernd Wiedemann, Chairman of the Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, announces the formation of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as an independent Volkswagen Group marque.[1]
1996
The Type 9K Caddy Panel Van[1] and Type 9U Caddy are released on the market.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle unit launch a joint venture to replace their aging large vans, the jointly developed Volkswagen LT and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are launched onto the market with success.[1]
The Volkswagen Crafter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter wins the What Van? "Van of the Year Award"[4] and What Van? "Large Panel Van of the Year",[4] also VWCV wins the What Van? "Technology Award"[4] for its DSG transmission in the Caddy van.
2007
Stephan Schaller replaced Dr. Bernd Wiedemann as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Managing Director,[5] also an LWB Caddy called Caddy Maxi will be released.
The Caddy and Volkswagen Crafter win Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine's Small and Large Van of the Year Awards.[6]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles builds its 10 millionth Transporter in the month of November.[7]
Following the Launch in Argentina; Volkswagen Amarok was a key support vehicle in the 2010 Dakar Rally with 45 vehicles participating.[13]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles establishes its Latin American offices in Miami, Florida to cater for Central and South Americas region.[14]
2010 to present
2010
February Wolfgang Schreiber is appointed the new chief of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles but the title is renamed Speaker of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.[15]
September Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal the Transporter Rockton with 4Motion, an AWD van for tough situations and marketed towards emergency services in tough climates.[16]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal the Amarok SingleCab study at IAA 2010 in Hanover.[17]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal Multivan Edition25 for the 25th Anniversary of the Multivan namplate.[18]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal the Transporter with BlueMotion Technology[19]
2011
April Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles release a revised Crafter with three new TDI engines and redesigned[20]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles show at the Hanover Trade Fair their electric Caddy prototype.[21]
September Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles releases the Caddy Edition30 for the 30th Anniversary of the nameplate.[22]
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveal the Amarok with 8 speed transmission and a new 132 kW/180os engine with 420Nm and a towing cpacity of 3.2 tonnes.[23]
November Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles releases the ultra luxurious Multivan Business.[24]
December Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles scoop three What Van? awards for Amarok 'Pickup of the Year', Caddy 4Motion '4x4 Van of the Year' and Transporter Sportline 'Editors Choice'.[25]
2012
January Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles release BlueMotion versions of the Volkswagen Transporter and Volkswagen Crafter, both vehicles have improved fuel consumption thanks to BlueMotion Technologies.[26]
June Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles small van the Caddy comes available with Park Assist.[27]
August Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles starts production of the Amarok in Hannover[28]
September Dr. Eckhard Scholz is appointed Speaker for the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.[29]
MAN / Volkswagen joint venture 1977–93
Volkswagen's first joint venture into trucks outside of their own LT range was with MAN Nutzfahrzeuge (Commercial Vehicles) from 1977–1993. Truck production started in 1979 and ended in 1993 with 72,000 units produced. It was available with four engines and four wheelbases over its lifetime; there was also a 4X4 version called 8.150 FAE. FAE means "forward control" cab, all-wheel drive, single tyres so the F nomenclature means "forward control" cab. This series is usually referred to as the G90, from the most common model, but also as the "G"-series. In the United Kingdom it was originally marketed as the "MAN MT" series. The original lineup in the UK consisted of the 6.90 and the 8.90 (the first digit denoting the GVW in tonnes, the second for power in metric horsepower) and the 8.136 and 9.136.[30]
MAN AG replaced the G series (as it was known internally) with the L2000 and M2000 ranges.
VWCV and MAN shared the project development in accordance with the collaboration agreement as follows:
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles took care of:
the tilting driver's cab including steering wheel and fixing, hand levers and foot pedals.
NOTE the VW LT Mk 1 cabin was used for the MAN-VW range, the cabins are wider than the standard LT cabins so they can fit the truck chassis
the complete interior equipment and heating
the manual gearbox with clutch and gear lever, the rear axle with rear-axle transmission and suspension
the cardan shafts including bearings
the electrical system for the entire concept, and the platforms for the standard design.
MAN was responsible for:
the engine including cooling, exhaust, inlet and fuel system
the front axle with suspension and steering
the frame with all parts for attaching the springs and axles, the steering, the batteries, the power braking system and fuel system
the brakes, i.e. for the complete wheel brakes front and rear, the dual-circuit power brakes and parking brake
the wheels and tyres
the platform for special designs and tipping mechanism.
MAN-VWCVs were built in Volkswagen's Hanover factory until other Volkswagen models took priority; they were then made at MAN AG's Salzgitter-Watenstedt factory.
MAN-VWCV Range 6.90, 8.90, 6.100, 8.136, 8.100, 8.150, 9.136, 9.150 & 10.136.
F & FAE are sometimes on the end of some of these model numbers.
Several models of the MAN-VWCV and the VWCV LT ranges were marketed in Spain by Enasa as Pegaso Ekus, in a typical badge engineering operation. Peterbilt also offered this model with their badging, as the 200 or 265 model.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have manufactured some unique commercial vehicles in its 50 plus years of producing light commercial vehicles. One of them was a small postal van which was built at the request of the German Postal Services. By 1964 the Type 147 or Kleinlieferwagen was in production. In popular culture it has also been christened the nickname of Fridolin.
From 1975–1979, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles produced for developing countries a small air-cooled FWD truck called the Volkswagen EA489 Basistransporter, with a rudimentary chassis and basic metal sheeting. It was easily manufactured from semi knocked down kits into a light truck.[31]
In 1989 Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles partnered with Japanese firm Toyota to build the Toyota Hilux pick-up truck rebadged as a Volkswagen Taro. This partnership was to help Toyota build sales in Europe and give VW a vehicle in the 1 tonne pick-up segment. The venture was not a huge success and it split in the late 1990s.[32]
Volkswagen self parking system Park Assist which is featured on such models as the Touran, Tiguan and Passat is being developed for implementation on the next Caddy and Crafter.[33]
MAN SE Light Truck Venture
Wall Street Journal have reported Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and MAN SE are to develop a range of Light Trucks in the 3.5 tonne to 7.5 tonne Gross Vehicle Mass range.[34]
Joint venture in India
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is studying the Indian Commercial and Bus market. Interest was shown by prospective customers at the VW display at India's 2008 Auto Expo and VW is considering entering the market with a joint venture initiative.[35][36]
Manufacturing in China
In September 2008, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles was reported to be studying the viability of establishing vehicle assembly operations in China.[37]