Converted high roof Volkswagen Crafter caters for all Zenith’s roadshow needs.

• Converted high roof Crafter caters for all Zenith’s roadshow needs
• Vehicle chosen for its size, load capacity and blank canvas for conversion
• Crafter provides Zenith with ‘substantial point of difference’ from other vendors

Leading UK independent vehicle leasing and fleet management provider Zenith has turned to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to provide an innovative solution for its mobile exhibition requirements. 

Working in close partnership with Zenith, Volkswagen helped deliver a fully-converted Volkswagen Crafter CR35 LWB high roof which is capable of providing a mobile display unit, allowing Zenith to engage with its customer base at roadshow events.

The Crafter not only provides Zenith with a means of transportation to each event, but also gives the firm a ‘stand-out’ advantage over other exhibitors. Equipped with additional seating, on-board computers and display screens, Zenith uses the bespoke space to demonstrate the benefits of its ‘MyCar Salary Sacrifice Scheme’ and provide instant quotes for potential customers, all from the comfort of the fully converted vehicle.

The Crafter’s size and load capacity were key reasons for Zenith selecting the vehicle for its roadshows. Providing a highly flexible body for conversions, the Crafter is available with three wheelbases, four body lengths, three roof heights and the ability to carry items of up to 4.7m long, plus a cargo area of up 17m².

Working with Volkswagen to specify the Crafter CR35 with long wheelbase and high roof, Zenith selected a variety of aftermarket options to transform the van into a vehicle that can cater for all its roadshow needs. Providing an ideal base, the Crafter features optional air conditioning, additional storage for Zenith’s marketing materials and striking full vehicle wrap displaying MyCar Salary Sacrifice branding.

Zenith has provided outsourced, end-to-end vehicle management solutions for mid to large nationwide companies for over 25 years, delivering innovative and intelligent vehicle solutions to any employee base, whether that's funding company cars or commercial vehicles, providing flexible benefit schemes, or delivering fully outsourced fleet management services.

Ian Hughes, Commercial Director at Zenith, said: ‘We chose to work with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles due to the strength of our existing relationship and the partnership approach that they have taken with us. ‘The presence of the fully converted Crafter has provided Zenith with a substantial point of difference from the other vendors at the roadshow events that we attend. The van has helped create awareness with potential salary sacrifice drivers and increase the take-up rate of our scheme.’

Jaguar Land Rover see's locally produced product push sales higher in China.

Jaguar Land Rover's China sales increased 10 percent year on year to 9,135 vehicles last month, reflecting higher demand for vehicles produced locally.

In February, Jaguar Land Rover began reporting sales of its joint venture with Chery Automobile Co. Last month, the partnership accounted for 54 percent of Jaguar Land Rover's total China deliveries, an increase from 41 percent in February.

For the first four months, Jaguar Land Rover's China sales rose 17 percent from a year earlier to 37,099 vehicles.

Jaguar Land Rover, a unit of India's Tata Motors, did not disclose China sales for individual models.

The company currently produces the Land Rover Evoque crossover and the Land Rover Discovery Sport in China, which is the company's largest market.

Later this year, the automaker will add a third locally built model, the elongated Jaguar XFL sedan. 

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SHANGHAI 2015 - 6,000,000th Land Rover produced, Congratulations, and here is to the next six million.

• Land Rover celebrates production milestone
• Six millionth production Land Rover is luxurious Range Rover LWB Vogue SE
• Landmark vehicle fitted with unique, celebratory puddle lamp graphic
• One-off vehicle showcased on Land Rover stand at Shanghai Auto Show
• 2015 marks 67 years of Land Rover’s innovation in design and technology, and the 45^th anniversary of Range Rover production

Land Rover is celebrating the production of its landmark 6,000,000^th vehicle by giving it a unique design feature.

The completion of a Yulong White Range Rover LWB Vogue SE on 2 April saw Land Rover hit the manufacturing milestone and the 6,000,000^th vehicle has been fitted with a bespoke puddle lamp graphic to signify its unique status.

The luxury SUV takes centre stage at the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show showcasing its one-off motif, which replaces the standard Range Rover silhouette projected by the vehicle’s puddle lamps. The image is created by an inscribed lens within the door mirror-mounted downlight and displaying the Land Rover logo and landmark figure.

The illuminated graphic, which is the width of a grain of rice, is projected through a magnifying lens onto the ground every time the vehicle is unlocked in an image which is 80cm in diameter. This same graphic was projected on to the wall of the Solihull manufacturing facility to mark the moment when the 6,000,000^thvehicle rolled off the production line.

Andy Goss, Director, Group Sales Operations, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “For 67 years Land Rover has been building the world's most capable all-purpose vehicles.  Over this period, a range of ground-breaking innovations and technologies have blended great design, refinement and unmatched all-terrain capability.

“It’s fitting that the 6,000,000^th Land Rover to be produced is a Range Rover, since this year marks the 45^thanniversary of the original Range Rover’s launch and even today, the vehicle remains peerless. With the growth of sales in China since the latest version of the Range Rover was introduced in 2012, it is entirely appropriate that this landmark vehicle is destined for a Chinese customer.”

The 6,000,000^th Land Rover debuts on the Land Rover stand at the Shanghai Auto Show, and will subsequently feature in a number of celebration events being staged in China to mark Range Rover’s 45^thanniversary.  Ultimately this special Range Rover will be sold in the region and its specially commissioned puddle lamps will serve as a permanent reminder of the significance of this unique model in Land Rover’s history.

Range Rover sits at the pinnacle of the Land Rover brand. The latest model was introduced in 2012 and matches class-leading axle articulation of 597mm, wading capability of 900mm and the ability to tow up to 3,500kg, with a range of state of-the-art petrol, diesel and Hybrid powertrains that successfully harness advanced technologies to deliver exceptional refinement, performance and efficiency. 

In addition, the luxury SUV combines sophisticated exterior design and exquisite interior detailing with the exceptional luxury, comfort and fine attention to detail that are established Range Rover hallmarks.

The 6,000,000^th vehicle was built at Land Rover’s Solihull facility, where the company has been producing its world-famous SUVs since 1948. The factory has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, almost trebling production and doubling its workforce. Today Solihull is a global centre of excellence for aluminium and lightweight vehicle manufacturing.  It boasts Europe's largest aluminum body shop, producing the biggest single aluminium pressing of any vehicle for the Range Rover – weighing only 7kg.

Of the 6,000,000 Land Rovers produced, more than 900,000 are Range Rover vehicles and the iconic luxury SUV is the first car to have been displayed at the world-famous Louvre museum in Paris, where it was cited as an ‘exemplary work of industrial design’.

The original Land Rover Series I was unveiled at the Amsterdam Motor Show on 30 April 1948, so this month marks the 67^th anniversary of the brand. One-third of the 6,000,000 vehicles produced to date have been manufactured in the last eight years at Land Rover’s UK plants, in Solihull in the West Midlands and Halewood on Merseyside. The current model line-up includes Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque, Discovery, Discovery Sport and Defender.

LAND ROVER HISTORICAL TIMELINE

1947	Original Land Rover project approved
1948	The Land Rover is launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show on 30th April
1948	First Station Wagon introduced
1949	British Army orders its first Land Rovers
1950	Freewheel 4x4 system replaced by selectable two or four-wheel-drive
1953	Long-wheelbase Land Rover introduced
1957	Diesel engine introduced
1958	Series II Land Rover unveiled with more refined styling
1959	250,000th vehicle produced
1961	Series IIA with 2.25 diesel introduced
1966	500,000th vehicle produced
1970	Original two-door Range Rover (the Classic) goes on sale
1971	Land Rover Series III launched
	750,000th Land Rover produced
1972	Range Rover crosses the Darien Gap on the 18,000-mile British Army Trans-America expedition, taking 99 days to cover 250 miles of dense jungle
1976	1,000,000th Land Rover built
1977	Range Rover wins 4x4 class in the 30,000km (18,750-mile) London-Sydney Marathon - the longest ever speed-based car rally
1979	A Range Rover wins the inaugural Paris-Dakar rally (and again in 1981)
1981	First production four-door Range Rover debuts along with the first factory-produced limited edition - the 'In Vogue'
1982	Automatic transmission introduced on Range Rover for first time
1983	Land Rover adopts coil sprung suspension with introduction of One Ten
1984	Land Rover Ninety introduced
1985	Diesel-powered 'Bullet' Range Rover breaks 27 speed records
1987	Range Rover launched in North America
1989	Range Rover is world's first 4x4 to be fitted with anti-lock brakes
	Land Rover Discovery is introduced as a three-door model only
1990	Land Rovers are re-launched and renamed Defender 90, 110 and 130 with new 2.5-litre turbo-charged direct injection diesel engine
	Five-door Discovery arrives
1992	Land Rover North America is founded with a limited run of 500 Defender 110 vehicles powered by the 3.9-litre V8 engine
	Range Rover is world's first 4x4 to be fitted with electronic traction control and automatic electronic air suspension
1993	Land Rover North America follows up the success of the launch of the Defender 110 with the Defender 90 soft top
1994	Second-generation (P38A) Range Rover introduced
	Discovery launched in USA
1997	Land Rover Freelander launched
1998	Discovery II launched
2001	3,000,000th Land Rover produced is a Freelander
2001	Third-generation Range Rover introduced
2002	500,000th Range Rover is produced at the Solihull plant
2004	Discovery 3 introduced at New York Auto Show
2005	Range Rover Sport launched
2006	All-new Freelander 2 introduced
2007	4,000,000th Land Rover produced is a Discovery
2009	Discovery 4/LR4 launched
	Freelander TD4e (Stop/Start) introduced delivering 10% improvement in fuel consumption over previous model
2010	Range Rover Evoque introduced
2012	Fourth-generation Range Rover introduced - the world’s first all-aluminium SUV
2013	Second-generation Range Rover Sport introduced before establishing record for production standard SUV at Pikes Peak
	Land Rover Discoverys complete record-breaking London-Cape Town expedition, making 10,000- mile journey in 10 days
2014	500,000th Range Rover Sport sold
2014	Land Rover Discovery Sport introduced
2015	Exclusive Range Rover SV Autobiography Black edition launched at New York 6,000,000th Land Rover produced is a Range Rover LWB SE Vogue