The new van, a replacement for the aging Pilot and Convoy, officially went on sale in January. Visitors to the stand were able to see the new Kombi model for the first time, with a double row of seats and full bulkhead. It will go on sale in the summer.

The Maxus boasts two wheelbases, gross vehicle weights of between 2.8 tonnes and 3.5 tonnes and three roof heights.

Minibus and chassis cab versions are planned for next year but fleets wanting these models will still be able to buy them in the old Convoy format.

Load volumes range from seven cubic metres to 11.4 cubic metres and payloads range from 917kg to 1,616kg.

The vans – all front-wheel drive – are powered by Italian VM 2.5-litre common rail turbodiesel engines. There are two power outputs – 95bhp and 120bhp – and a 140bhp version will follow later in the year.

Warranty is either three years/100,000 miles or four years/60,000 miles and servicing intervals are 20,000 miles. Prices range from £12,995 to £18,495 ex-VAT.

Tony Lewis, LDV sales and marketing executive director, told Fleet NewsNet: ‘We have a lot of test vehicles out there at present as everyone wants to try out the new Maxus.

‘We have had some very positive feedback so far and sales are in line with our expectations.’

Already, the Maxus seems to have found favour with Britain’s daily rental firms.

It was announced at the show that four orders worth £9 million at showroom prices had been clinched.

Rental giant TLS is taking 150 vans, both 2.8 and 3.5-tonne models.

Meanwhile Optirent will take 200 Maxus models and 100 Convoy vans, Global Self Drive has bought 140 models and Auto Travel has bought 100 Maxus models to join its fleet of more than 3,000 vehicles.

And Europcar is to take delivery of 44 Maxus vans in long-wheelbase, high-roof format which were specifically requested by one of the firm’s customers.