Toyota is to cease selling the Hiace panel van in the UK from the end of this year. The end of the road has come for the iconic brand because of problems adapting the van to meet new regulations which come in on January 1, 2012.

A spokesman for Toyota said the manufacturer didn't have a Euro V compliant engine to fit into the Hiace and there were also other regulatory problems which meant the van's rear end would have had to be altered. The two problems combined led to the decision to discontinue sales.

The spokesman said there were no plans at present to re-introduce a new panel van to the UK.

This means that Toyota's sole light commercial vehicle offering in this country is now the Hilux 4x4 truck.