Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus (VWCO) announced this Thursday (3) its entry into the utility vehicle segment, an area where the brand had not been present during its 45 years of operation in Brazil. The first vehicle to be introduced is a cargo van, developed in collaboration with the Chinese manufacturer SAIC, with an investment of R$ 300 million allocated to its development.
The official unveiling of this new model will take place during Fenatran 2026, which will be held from November 9 to 13 in São Paulo, the same date when sales will also begin. Vehicle deliveries are scheduled for 2027, according to information provided by President and CEO Roberto Cortes.
This vehicle will compete in the gross vehicle weight range below 3.5 tons, placing it one level below the Delivery Express, which is the brand's smallest truck. During a press conference, VWCO displayed a completely camouflaged prototype, keeping its name, specifications, and technical configurations secret.
Initially, the first units will be imported from China. The structure for local production is still being established, and engineering and quality tests are being conducted near the Resende factory in Rio de Janeiro, which serves as the company's global research and development center. After Brazil, the next market destination will be Argentina.
According to information released by the specialized publication AutoData, the project originates from the Maxus Deliver 9, a van manufactured by SAIC and sold in various international markets. This model features a 2.0 turbodiesel engine with 150 hp, a manual transmission, and options for 3.5 or 4 tons of GVW, in addition to having electric variants. Although VWCO has not confirmed the exact mechanical package that will arrive in Brazil, it indicated that the debut will be in the diesel version.
The decision to initially focus on the cargo van was strategic. Ricardo Alouche, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at VWCO, explained that other planned possibilities for the line, such as passenger versions, chassis-cabins, and different wheelbase spacings, will be addressed in a later phase. The company assures that its 150 dealerships are ready to commercialize the model as soon as the fair begins.
For Cortes, this collaboration represents a way to accelerate timelines, being VWCO's first partnership with an Asian assembler, despite the Volkswagen Group maintaining a cooperation relationship with SAIC for over four decades. The executive seeks to combine what he calls 'the best of both worlds,' uniting Chinese speed in development with the engineering and processes of the Brazilian manufacturer.
The Fenatran offensive is not limited to light vehicles. A new generation of the D26 Ultra engine will be presented in the Meteor 28.500 6x2, 28.540 6x2, and 29.540 6x4 models, offering up to 540 hp and 270.1 kgfm, with the promise of up to 5% fuel economy. This technological innovation will also be applied to the Constellation, which will start offering the 20.500 4x2 and 25.500 6x2 models for road use, and the 33.500 and 33.540 6x4 for off-road operations, the latter being aimed at agribusiness, with a GVW capacity of 91 tons and a maximum traction of 125 tons.
The trucks will also be available in stores starting from the fair, accompanied by a package that includes connectivity, services, and after-sales support, aiming to reduce the time fleets remain idle.