The Caddy from Volkswagen gets a Kit and specification upgrade to make it an even better choice.

• Volkswagen boosts equipment levels across all Caddy models
• Caddy is now the safest van in the class with a high level of standard features
• Prices reduced for petrol-engined models
• Prices start at £17,527 (OTR inc VAT); new models and spec available to order now

The award-winning Volkswagen Caddy is set to become an even more tempting proposition thanks to a substantial specification boost and range realignment. The change, which marks the introduction of the 2018 model year Caddy, delivers even higher standard equipment levels, boosted safety features across all models and lower prices for petrol-powered models.

Safety has always been at the heart of the Caddy’s design and engineering, with driver, passenger and side airbags and post-collision braking system all introduced as standard when the current model was launched in 2015. 

With the 2018 model, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has increased safety levels once again with the fitment of autonomous emergency braking (AEB - Front Assist with City Emergency Braking) and driver alert as standard across the entire range. 

All Volkswagen vans now come with standard AEB, cited by Thatcham Research, the motor insurers’ automotive research centre and respected experts in safety, security and crash repair, as ‘probably the most significant development in vehicle safety since the seat belt’ with the potential to save more than 1,000 lives and 120,000 casualties over the next ten years.

And it’s not just additional safety equipment that Caddy drivers will benefit from with the introduction of the 2018 model. All three trim grades, Startline, Trendline and Highline, feature more standard equipment than ever before, further boosting value for money. 

All models, including Startline, gain a leather multifunction steering wheel and multifunction display (in addition to AEB and Driver Alert), while 2018 Trendline models now feature climatic air conditioning as standard. Finally, range-topping Highline models gain Volkswagen’s sophisticated Discover Media satellite navigation system as standard.

As part of the 2018 Caddy package, Volkswagen is also realigning its price structure. As a result, models equipped with the brand’s highly advanced TSI petrol engines are now significantly more affordable. For example, the Startline 1.2 TSI 84 PS model now costs £17,527 (total RRP inc OTR and VAT) – some £1,017 less than the previous price.

The Caddy enjoys one of the broadest ranges of petrol engine options in its sector, and is offered with three highly efficient TSI petrol units. The line-up for the 2018 model consists of: a 1.2-litre 84 PS four-cylinder unit, a 1.0-litre 102 PS three-cylinder unit and a range-topping 1.4-litre 125 PS four-cylinder engine offered with the option of a seven-speed DSG transmission. All three optimise lightweight construction and a turbocharger to deliver the perfect combination of performance and efficiency.

Commenting on the update, Sarah Cox, Head of Marketing for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: “The Caddy has always represented exceptional value for money and these changes further enhance its appeal. We’re delighted to offer people a petrol option at a lower price than before , and are proud of our comprehensive safety package, which we believe makes the Caddy the safest small van on the road.”

For van drivers and fleet operators, safe vans mean lower costs as well as less downtime thanks to fewer crashes and therefore drivers and vans kept on the road – and working – for longer. In addition, vehicles fitted with autonomous braking systems have an average insurance premium reduction of ten per cent compared to those which don’t.

Caddy van prices

FLEET WORLD - Volkswagen is named manufacture of the year for its commercial side.

• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles claims top Van Fleet World Honours award
• Brand is named Manufacturer of the Year in 2017 awards
• New services and initiatives aimed at fleets are key to success
• Crafter wins first UK awards: named ‘Best New Van’ and ‘Best Large Van’

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has taken home the triple crown from the 2017 Van Fleet World Honours, with the brand winning the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award and the new Crafter claiming the ‘Best New Van’ and ‘Best Large Van’ accolades.

Van Fleet World judges commended Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ work over the past 12 months, with a number of initiatives piloted by the brand now being adopted by the Van Centre network.

Commenting on the win, Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World, said: “Volkswagen has worked hard over a number of years to develop an outstanding Van Centre network that delivers a dedicated service to fleet and retail customers across the UK. However in the last 12 months the brand has piloted a number of initiatives that are now being adopted by the network, all aimed at improving service for fleet customers. It seems to be working too. 

Volkswagen is number two in the UK light commercial vehicle market with sales having doubled since 2009. More importantly, the company recorded record levels of customer satisfaction in 2016, making it a worthy winner of our Van Manufacturer of the Year Award.”

Initiatives introduced include head of business development support at every Van Centre, with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles ensuring the needs of trade customers are being fully met through business experts employed at each location. An extended hours offer is also being rolled out across all Van Centres, along with Mobile Service Clinics.

The new Crafter also picked up two key awards – its first in the UK after being named International Van of the Year in September 2016. In awarding the Crafter its Best New Van and Best Large Van accolades, the Van Fleet World judges said: “It’s not often that a van manufacturer has the chance to create a new vehicle, not just from a clean sheet of paper, but with a completely new factory dedicated to its production. Volkswagen has grabbed the opportunity with both hands, to meet the needs of large van users in every sector.”

Praising its wide range of drivetrains, bodies, engines and driver assistance systems, Gilkes concluded: “Volkswagen had one chance to get new Crafter right and it seems to have hit the spot first time.”

Chris Black, head of fleet at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, collected the awards on behalf of the brand at the ceremony in London.  He said:  “We’re overjoyed to be named Manufacturer of the Year and for all of the brand’s hard work to be recognised. It’s also great for the all-new Crafter to have its first two UK awards, reinforcing the strength of the brand and quality of our products.”

Volkswagen celebrates it's commercial vehicle devision topping 50,000 registrations in the year.

• Record UK registrations for the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand
• Over 50,000* vehicles registered by the brand for the first time
• Market share up to over 12 per cent; brand retains number two position
• Substantial increase in Transporter and Caddy volumes

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles produced a fifth consecutive new UK sales record in 2016, registering over 45,000 new vans. 

The latest generation Transporter and Caddy model ranges saw significant sales increases, while the brand’s passenger carriers and campervan registrations took Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ total 2016 registrations to 50,068*, up nearly five per cent on 2015 (47,739). 

This result means the brand has more than doubled its volume since 2009.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also not only maintained but strengthened its number two position in the light commercial vehicles sector, recording a market share of 12.1 per cent.

The multi-award winning Transporter accounted for 22,872 registrations, up over 11 per cent on 2015 (50,533). 8,156 Caddys were registered, down 757 compared to 2016, though Caddy Maxi sales were up over 35 per cent to 6,377, giving total Caddy registrations of 14,533.

Both the Amarok and Crafter models saw small declines in sales as the brand prepares to relaunch the refreshed pick-up and all-new Crafter this year. (3,586 Amarok down from 3,908 in 2015; 7,137 Crafter down from 8,009 in 2015.)

Commenting on the brand’s performance, Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Carl zu Dohna, said: ‘2016 was a really successful year for the brand, with the Transporter and Caddy consolidating their positions in the market after being launched in September 2015. I’m really proud of my team and the Van Centre network for achieving this result.’

He added: ‘I’m delighted that customers are getting to know our latest products and appreciating not only their inherent strengths, but also the after sales support and complete mobility packages which we have put around them. The support we give to our customers to help them choose the right vans and minimise in-life downtime, as well as adding value to our range of products remains extremely important to us.’

*SMMT data. Includes passenger carrying models registered as ‘cars’:

• Passenger carriers include: Caravelle, Transporter Shuttle, Caddy Life, Caddy Maxi Life and Caddy Maxi Camper.
• Transporter registrations include California.
• Registrations include LCV/HCV market up to 6.0T.

WHAT VAN ? - The VW Caddy & Amarok are highly recommended & the website wins too !

• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles extends winning streak at What Van? Awards
• www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk claims Website of the Year Award 2017
• Volkswagen Caddy and Amarok ‘highly commended’ by What Van? judges

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has finished a very successful 2016 with more awards, this time courtesy of What Van?. The brand’s fully-responsive website claimed the ‘Website of the Year’ Award and both the Volkswagen Caddy and Amarok were highly commended.

The website – www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk – includes comprehensive overviews of the complete range of vehicles offered by the brand, along with links to downloadable brochures and price lists. 

The easy-to-navigate site also offers customers the ability to book vehicle services online and gives full details of offers and finance options available.

Customers can also find information regarding the brand’s conversion programme and available accessories for each model.

The brand’s website has received a number of updates during 2016, including the launch of a new online configurator and the introduction of a revised used vehicle section.

The online configurator offers new vehicle customers the opportunity to define the specification of their new vehicle from the comfort of their own office without the need for a pile of brochures or multiple website pages open. 

The simple step-by-step feature helps the customer choose the right vehicle, specification and options using useful images and descriptions. 

Once completed, the system generates a unique code that can be saved, shared with friends or colleagues via email and social media or taken into a Van Centre for the sales team to make the purchase process more streamlined.

The new used vehicle website allows customers to search quickly and easily from around 2,000 vehicles online from across the entire network. 

Once the perfect vehicle is found, customers can access the contact details for the Van Centre that is selling it, or, new for 2016, ‘Reserve Online’ by making a deposit via PayPal or ‘Make an Offer’ – a simple to use contact facility to start a negotiation. 

James Dallas, editor of What Van? commented: “Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles was a clear winner of the ‘Website of the Year’ Award for 2017. 

The brand’s site is easy to use and offers a strong all-round package that competently covers a wide range of products and services.”

The What Van? Awards judges also highly commended the Caddy in the Small Van category and the Amarok in the Pick-up Category. Dallas added: “The Caddy features a commendably high level of safety features, rock solid build quality and first rate on-the-road performance, which impressed the judges. 

The Amarok offers blistering performance on road for a pick-up and is highly capable when venturing off the tarmac too.”

USA SALES NOVEMBER - The General see's it's brands growing with its highest retail share since 2009.

• November U.S. retail market share highest since 2009
• Year to Date U.S. Retail Share up 0.5 Percentage Points
• November Commercial sales were highest since 2008

General Motors (NYSE: GM) sold 197,609 vehicles in November to individual or “retail” customers in the U.S., up 8 percent from last year. 

Based on initial estimates, GM once again outperformed all full-line manufacturers, led by strong retail sales gains at Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. 

GM’s November retail sales performance drove GM’s U.S. retail share to its highest November level since 2009.

Based on initial estimates, GM’s retail market share jumped 0.3 percentage points in November to 16.8 percent.  GM has gained retail market share in 17 of the past 20 months.

GM’s four U.S. brands posted strong retail sales results in November compared to last year.

• Chevrolet — up 5 percent for its best November since 2004
• Buick — up 22 percent for its best November since 2003
• GMC — up 9 percent for its best November since 2001
• Cadillac — up 17 percent for its best November since 2013

GM’s total U.S. sales in November were 252,644 vehicles, up more than 10 percent from last year.   All four brands outperformed the industry in November with Buick, Cadillac and GMC posting double-digit gains.

“GM’s November performance reflects the continued strength of our U.S. business.  We gained profitable retail share, commercial and small business deliveries were strong and we commanded the industry’s best average transaction prices,” said Kurt McNeil, GM’s vice president of U.S. Sales Operations. 

“We are ahead of plan selling down our 2016 model year inventory and we expect to close out December with more retail share growth. GM is heading into 2017 in a position of strength with the planned launch of key new products, like the all-new Chevrolet Equinox, into the heart of the market.” 

GM’s ATPs, which reflect retail transaction prices after sales incentives, were $35,767 in November, more than $4,000 above the industry average and ahead of last November. 

Through the first 11 months of the year, GM’s U.S. retail sales were up nearly 2 percent compared to last year. GM gained 0.5 percentage points of U.S. retail market share during that timeframe, the largest retail share gain of any full-line automaker. 

Year to date, Chevrolet U.S. retail sales are up nearly 3 percent and the brand’s retail share has grown 0.5 percentage points to 11.1 percent. Chevrolet continues to be the U.S. industry’s fastest-growing brand.

Year to date, Buick retail deliveries have grown more than 5 percent and Buick has gained 0.1 percentage points of retail share.

GM continues to benefit from a strong U.S. economy and strong retail demand for its products.

“All economic indicators show significantly improved optimism about the U.S. economy including consumer and business sentiment, which continue to drive a very healthy U.S. auto industry,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist. 

“We believe the U.S. auto industry is well-positioned for sales to continue at or near record levels into 2017.”

November 2016 Retail Sales and Business Highlights vs. November 2015 (except as noted)

Chevrolet

• Malibu and Volt were up 24 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
• Silverado and Colorado were up 5 percent and 39 percent, respectively.
• Suburban, Tahoe, Equinox and Trax were up 6 percent, 12 percent, 7 percent and 47 percent, respectively.
• Malibu had its best November since 1997.
• Silverado had its best November since 2003.
• Colorado had its best November since 2004.
• Trax, Volt and Equinox had their best November ever.
• Tahoe and Suburban had their best November since 2007.
• 17th straight month of year over year gains for Chevrolet full-size utilities.

GMC

• Sierra and Canyon were up 14 percent and 43 percent, respectively.
• Acadia, Yukon and Yukon XL were up 4 percent, 22 percent and 19 percent, respectively.
• Brand ATP was at $43,887, the highest November on record.
• Highest November ever for Denali penetration, at 27.8 percent.
• Best November ever for Canyon and ninth month of year over year increases.
• Yukon and Yukon XL had their best November since 2007.

Buick

• Regal and Encore were up 41 percent and 35 percent, respectively.
• 68 percent of sales were crossovers.
• Best year to date retail performance since 2005.

Cadillac

• Escalade was up 24 percent and had its best month of the year.
• Escalade had its best November since 2007.
• XT5 had its best month since launch with sales up 12 percent over last month and up 27 percent over the SRX last November, the vehicle it replaced.
• Year to date ATP was $53,690, the highest ever in Cadillac history

Average Transaction Prices (ATP)/Incentives (based on JD Power PIN estimates)

• GM’s ATPs, which reflect retail transaction prices after sales incentives, were $35,767 in November, more than $4,000 above the industry average.
• In November, GM’s incentive spending as a percent of ATP was 13.7 percent, above the industry average of 12.4 percent. However, year to date, GM’s incentive spending was 11.7 percent, slightly above the industry average of 11.4 percent and well below the incentive spending of its domestic competitors and many of its global competitors.

Fleet and Commercial

• Automotive Fleet magazine named Malibu “Fleet Car of the Year”.
• GM Fleet sales were up 19 percent versus last November.
• Fleet sales were 22 percent of GM’s sales for the month.
• Commercial deliveries were up 11 percent for the month and it was the best November Commercial sales since 2008.
• Malibu Commercial deliveries were up 170 percent versus last November.
• Small Business deliveries were up 15 percent for the month versus last November, driven by large vans, which were up 93 percent and large pickups, which were up 16 percent versus last November.
• Federal government sales were up 9 percent versus last November.
• Rental sales were up 27 percent versus last November but are down 25 percent CYTD, according to plan.
• GM’s outlook on its daily rental sales mix remains in the 11 percent range of total U.S. sales for 2016 and daily rental sales for the year are expected to be down about 75,000 vehicles.

Industry Sales

• GM estimates that the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles in November was approximately 17.9 million units. On a calendar year-to-date basis, GM estimates the light-vehicle SAAR was 17.5 million units.

Cadillac joins in the Hybrid game with the new CT6 prestige Sedan adding a possible 65 MPGe and 30 miles electric range.

• Expected rating of 65 MPGe
• Exhilarating performance: 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds

Cadillac today announced the first-ever 2017 CT6 Plug-In Hybrid prestige sedan will go on sale in the spring of 2017, with a total driving range of more than 400 miles.

Advanced plug-in hybrid technology enables the luxury sedan to reward drivers with environmentally conscious driving without compromising on performance. 

The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid system is designed to provide responsive, all-electric driving for most daily commutes, while maximizing fuel efficiency by providing blended power from the engine and battery at higher speeds and higher loads.

All-electric range for the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid is an estimated 30 miles. However, the car’s combination of efficient engine and battery power enables drivers the freedom of more than 400 miles of total driving range, with no requirement to find charging stations along the way. Thanks to the advanced propulsion system, the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid removes all range anxiety for our customers.

“The CT6 is a technological showcase throughout, and by far the lightest car in its class, making it an ideal platform for electrification,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “In the CT6, Cadillac presents a new formula for prestige luxury. The advanced Plug-In Hybrid system is a key addition, providing a combination of exceptional fuel economy, crisp acceleration and strong electric-driving range.”

Cadillac’s prestige plug-in hybrid entry achieves the same zero to 60 mph performance as its V6-powered competitors, while achieving roughly twice the full EV range and MPGe figures.

The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid is expected to have fuel economy estimated at 65 MPGe. Miles per gallon equivalence – MPGe – compares energy consumption of plug-in electric vehicles and other advanced technology vehicles with the fuel economy of conventional internal combustion vehicles in miles per U.S. gallon.

The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid combines an all-new rear wheel drive electric variable transmission to provide the smooth, powerful acceleration expected from a driver’s car. The two-motor EVT system combines with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four- cylinder gas engine to produce an estimated total system power of 335 hp (250 kW) and 432 lb-ft (586 Nm) of torque. This helps propel the vehicle from a zero to 60 mph in an estimated 5.2 seconds.

Each electric motor produces 100 hp (74.5 kW) of power. On electric power only, the car is capable of approximately 30 miles of driving range and a top speed of 78 mph, with the additional power of the engine adding hundreds of miles of total range and a top speed of 150 mph on a track.

The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid launches in North America in the spring of 2017, starting in the U.S. at $75,095 plus a $995 destination freight charge before any applicable electric vehicle tax incentives. In the U.S. market, the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid will be offered as its own unique package within the CT6 product line, with pricing and equipment comparable to the existing Premium Luxury model (second highest within in the model range). The Plug-In model includes numerous optional equipment as standard, such as a Rear Seat Infotainment system, Enhanced Night Vision and Rear Camera mirror.