The UK Commercial Vehicle Show is back in 2021, and on this page you’ll find links to all the latest van and pickup announcements and news, live from the show floor.
Following the cancellation of the 2020 event, the organisers moved the 2021 CV Show from the traditional April date to the end of August, and compared with previous years there are certainly fewer exhibitors.
But the van and pickup brands that have attended seem to have made a special effort, and there is still plenty to see – and to read about, as you can find out below.
Star of the show for us is the Ford E-Transit (above), which seems set to move the large electric van segment forward, though there were several other important debuts, including new small electric vans from Vauxhall and Toyota, plus the new Toyota Corolla hybrid van.
As well as long-standing supporters such as Ford, Vauxhall and Toyota, this year’s event also saw the return of some less common attendees – namely Land Rover and DFSK.
This page contains full details of the 2021 CV Show, including the dates it’s on, where it takes place, how to get there and what the tickets cost. It’s still not too late to go at this stage.
When is the 2021 CV Show – and where will it take place?
The dates for the 2021 Commercial Vehicle Show are 31 August-2 September.
As in previous years, the 2021 CV Show takes place at the NEC in Birmingham, a venue that has plenty of space as well as excellent transport links with the rest of the UK – and beyond. So getting there is easy.
How much are CV Show tickets and how do I get them?
As usual, tickets to the CV Show are free. Simply register your details on the official website in order to sign-up for some.
You can also get tickets on the day at the NEC.
Do events like the CV Show still matter when we’re all doing so much more online?
The CV Show has always been successful not only because of the vehicles on display – always featuring numerous public debuts of brand new vans and pickups – but also because of the opportunity it brings for customers and senior figures from manufacturers to speak to each other directly.
As a networking event, its sheer scale simply cannot be matched by any online conference. And there’s really no substitute for being able to physically prod and poke the new van you’re thinking about buying.
Add to that the reality that vans and pickups are vital to industries that can’t work ‘from home’ or any other form remotely, and it makes sense for the Commercial Show to not only continue as long as it can.
Just how long that will be remains to be seen. There are some noticeable absences from the show floor – and some big gaps where their stands would have usually been.
Hopefully there will still prove to be enough interest here that the show can return in 2022 with no issues, which it’s currently scheduled to do in its traditional April timeframe.
A-Z of CV Show exhibitors
The CV Show covers buses, trucks and other commercial vehicles, but as you’d expect from Parkers Vans and Pickups, we’re concentrating on the vans, pickups and commercial 4x4s.
Ford
Ford always has a major presence at the CV Show, as befits the builder of the UK’s bestselling vans, and in 2021 it seems bigger than ever. The brand new E-Transit electric van is the major star, but there are supporting roles for the latest Ranger Stormtrak and Ranger Wolftrak special editions, Qualified Vehicle Modifier exhibitors from Ford’s list of approved converters, updates to the regular diesel Transit and a big push on the FORDLiive connectivity systems.
>> Ford E-Transit full details
>> Major technology upgrade for 2021 Ford Transit
Isuzu
Isuzu always likes to make a splash at the CV Show, and it’s certainly done that in 2021 by showing a bright orange prototype version of the forthcoming D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 conversion. There’s also a new D-Max tipper conversion prototype on display, alongside a selection of more conventional pickups.
>> Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 at the 2021 CV Show
Innovation Automotive / DFSK
DFSK returns to the CV Show with new distributor Innovation Automotive, which is planning a multi-brand line-up of electric-only vehicles, starting with light commercial vehicles in 2021. The first is the DFSK EC35, a compact panel van with a driving range in the region of 150 miles per charge, with the EC31 chassis cab also on display, and set to follow a little later.
>> Read more about the DFSK EC35 and EC31
Land Rover
A less common sight at the CV Show in recent years, but in 2021 Land Rover is back and it certainly has an important vehicle to show off: the commercial 4x4 version of the all-new Defender. Called the Defender Hard Top, it’s appearing alongside the also excellent Discovery Commercial.
>> Read our Land Rover Defender Hard Top review
>> Read our Land Rover Discovery Commercial review
LEVC
LEVC had big plans to debut its VN5 (above) at the cancelled 2020 CV Show, so 2021 is an important show for the London taxi maker, representing the first chance for many potential customers to get up close to its clever hybrid electric van.
Maxus
Maxus is describing its display as ‘the first all-electric LCV stand at the CV Show’ – all of the exhibits are e Deliver 3 and e Deliver 9 electric vans. Or at least, they’re all based on them, as the Chinese brand is also showing a number of practical conversions, including this well-executed high-roof conversion of the e Deliver 3.
>> Maxus electric vans and future plans at 2021 CV Show
SsangYong
It might get a big new grille, but not much else about the current SsangYong Musso has changed. Not that this is a bad thing, as it’s a perfectly competent double-cab pickup with great towing and payload ratings and a seven-year warranty. Both standard and Musso Rhino long-wheelbase models are on display.
>> SsangYong Musso facelift – details on Parkers Vans and Pickups
>> Read our SsangYong Musso review
Toyota
Big show for Toyota – not only is it showing the new Proace City electric van for the first time in the UK, it’s also launched a commercial vehicle version of the Corolla Touring Sports hybrid estate car, filling a niche that no other van maker is currently covering. If that wasn’t enough there’s also a Proace Electric, a Land Cruiser Commercial 4x4, a regular Hilux and a Hilux cherry picker on display. Phew.
>> Toyota Proace City Electric full details
>> Toyota Corolla Commercial Hybrid van full details
Vauxhall
Also an important event for Vauxhall, as the 2021 CV Show is hosting the world debuts of the new Combo-e and Movano-e electric vans, plus the UK debut of the Vivaro-e Hydrogen and a new Vivaro-e platform cab.
>> Vauxhall Combo-e electric van – full details
>> Vauxhall Movano-e electric van – full details
>> Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen – full details
Notable absentees at the 2021 CV Show
It’s unquestionably a smaller show in 2021, with none of the usual truck manufacturers in attendance and many key van brands also missing. Citroen, Fiat, MAN, Peugeot, Renault and Volkswagen are all regular exhibitors at the UK Commercial Vehicle Show that chose not to take part this year.
Citroen and Peugeot’s decision must have come rather late in the day, as not only were they on the list of planned exhibitors, the space where their stand would have usually been was left as an empty gap in the middle of the main show floor. Something of a shame.
Nissan has avoided the 2021 show, too (though that’s less surprising since commercial vehicles don’t appear to be high on that company’s priorities at the moment), while Mitsubishi is soon to withdraw from the UK altogether (the aftersales business has recently been sold to International Motors, UK importers of the Isuzu D-Max, so there may be some news about this on the Isuzu stand). It’s been years since Mercedes-Benz took part, so no shock there.
Also read:
>> All the latest van and pickup news on Parkers
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