Now owned by russia’s GAZ Group and with a significant injection of cash under its belt, LDV announced an array of new models and initiatives, including the imminent arrival of an electric-powered Maxus this summer.

The company’s chief executive, Evgeniy Vereshchagin, announced that LDV was working with rVL to produce the new vehicle which, he said, “could be here as early as June.”

LDV is also working with Prodrive to develop a converter for use in automotive hybrid and electric vehicles. the converter will be more efficient, smaller and lower in cost than those currently available.

The vehicles will recycle energy lost during the braking process through an electronic motor, which can then be used later.

LDV also launched six new vehicles – a mobile post office designed in conjunction with the royal Mail, a minibus that comes with ABS brakes, reversing camera and driver training as standard, a new Luton-bodied Maxus, box van and curtainside models, a sportvan and an ambulance conversion that nudges in under 3.5-tonnes gvw.

Mr Vereshchagin gave an upbeat view of the coming year to visitors at the show. He said: “We have made solid progress since our acquisition in 2006.

This includes 51 new Maxus derivatives introduced into the market, a 30% increase in Maxus UK registrations, an increase in our UK dealer network of some 25% and over 100 new dealers appointed on the continent.

Our manufacturing volumes have doubled with productivity increasing by 38% and we have created 200 new jobs.

2008 will see us introduce more new models to the market and we are also extending our bespoke product offering through our dedicated special vehicle operations department.

“On export, sales will increase significantly this year and we are confident that we will export around 5,000 vehicles from Birmingham.”