tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post7618697945857917280..comments2024-01-25T17:14:18.395+00:00Comments on Auto Industry Newsletter: VW says ‘new’ Crafter is “without compromise”Whaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-37553932928763342422016-09-11T20:14:17.313+01:002016-09-11T20:14:17.313+01:00Clearly VW, with the new Crafter, is intent on cap...Clearly VW, with the new Crafter, is intent on capturing sales from the Mercedes Sprinter. The outgoing Crafter range is produced by Mercedes and all models - both panel vans and chassis-cabs - are identical to their Sprinter rivals, apart from their VW-sourced engines and transmissions. <br /> The big question is whether, in the 2.6 to 5.5 tonne gvw sector, VW can now catch up with Mercedes in market share, particularly bearing in mind the Sprinter itself has just gone through a major upgrade.<br /> Availability of front-wheel drive (fwd) on the Crafter could be a key selling point, enabling the load platform to be lowered by 200mm or so, making the key-weight 3.5-tonner more of a practical challenger to fwd Ford Transits, Fiat Ducatos, Peugeot-Citroens and Renault-Opel-Nissan-Vauxhalls.<br /> Traditionally, in Europe, VW-versus-Mercedes competition in the medium/large van segment, has seen the up-to-3.2 tonnes gvw VW Transporter outsell its Mercedes Vito counterpart by a big margin. But the Sprinter has dominated the 3.5 tonne-upwards market, seeing off VW’s LT-Crafter. There might not have been exactly a ‘gentleman’s agreement’, but both seemed fairly content with the situation.<br /> But now, with the new Crafter having zero Mercedes input, the relationship could subtly change, resulting in a fresh marketing ‘putsch’ behind the Vito to win over T5 Transporter buyers. <br />Alan Buntingnoreply@blogger.com