Chinese brand Farizon to launch new electric van in UK next year

A new Chinese van brand is due to launch in the UK early next year, offering an electric LCV with a combined range of up to 225 miles and a payload of up to 1.3 tonnes.

Farizon – part of the Geely Group which also includes Volvo, Polestar and Lotus – has developed the SV for the European market on a bespoke modular electric platform, which it says offers benefits in cargo space, range, handling and safety.

It also introduces the first drive-by-wire platform in the global van market, which Farizon says reduces stopping distances by 10%, increases range by 5% and steering response by 300%.

From launch, three vehicle lengths (L1, L2 and L3) and three heights (H1, H2 and H3) will be available in the UK, offering capacity and payload ranges of 6.9cu m to 13cu m and 1.1 tonnes to 1.3 tonnes respectively.

Two battery options will be available on the front-wheel drive van at launch – 67kWh and 83kWh – with a larger 106kWh unit to follow.

Full UK specification and pricing will be announced closer to launch, which is expected to be Q1 next year.

A new company – Jameel Motors Farizon Auto – has been set up to import and distribute the Farizon SV in the UK. This is part of Jameel Motors which has international operations in Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Japan, China and Monaco, where brands it represents include Toyota, Lexus, BYD and MG Motor.

Andy Carroll, country manager at Jameel Motors Farizon Auto, said: “I think the first thing to say is that we’re here for the long term.

“We know it’s going to take a while to build up presence, but if you look at where we want to be by the end of the decade, we’re determined to be one of the leading players at that stage.

“We will be putting our head above the parapet for the first time later this week and will be talking to some key fleet customers.

“We’re also in conversations with the likes of Cap HPI and Thatcham to work on developing the proposition in terms of wholelife costs, insurance and so forth.

“But the key will be to give fleets the opportunity to drive the vehicle. We will have a significant fleet of demo vehicles and will be encouraging fleet customers to take long tests.”

Carroll, a former UK managing director at Chevrolet and Glass's Guide, said it is also important that Jameel Motors Farizon Auto provides sales and aftersales coverage throughout the country from “day one to deliver a national and consistent service everywhere for the fleet customer”.

He added: “Specifically in the UK, our model will be the franchised dealer model. In addition to that, we will be investing in and operating our own flagship dealership, which will be in the London area.

“We will certainly be selling direct to fleets for the larger fleet customers, but we will be looking for dealer partners who are successful both with EVs and LCVs to appoint them as LCV centres of expertise.”

Carroll said he aimed to have between five and 10 centres of expertise on board by the end of the year.

Jameel Motors Farizon Auto will also offer a nationwide mobile technician network provided by “an established third-party specialist”.

Carroll said Farizon has also already engaged with a number of vehicle converters to develop some prototypes for van conversions and racking.

He added: “The range is currently purely panel van, but we're looking to develop some good conversions with existing and established converters here in the UK.”

Other technical highlights include the use of high-strength steel and hybrid aluminium-steel materials in the chassis and body to reduce weight, while the model has no B-pillar, which Carroll says aids access to the cargo bay through a side door.

Carroll said the bespoke platform allows a low loading height of just over 50cm, while SV will have a towing capacity of two tonnes.