New VW Crafter CR50 minibus meets IVA standard

A new Crafter-based minibus from Euromotive is among the first in the UK to meet the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) standard.

The approval was the result of almost two years of work by technical staff at Euromotive and a year working with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to develop pace-setting features.

The 15-seater, which can be adjusted to accommodate as many as five wheelchairs using seat tracking, has a flat floor throughout. It features a Ratcliff tail lift, coach-style plug door and now meets upcoming IVA standard – which will become a mandatory requirement by October 2011.

"It’s a step towards us going for National Small Series type approval," said Euromotive’s Production Director Mike Jones. "It has meant a lot of work in conjunction with Kevin Varey and Mick Jackson at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles."

To achieve IVA, currently voluntary, Euromotive has worked closely with government agencies including VOSA and the VCA, but Mike said the work has been essential to not only get ahead of the game but to ensure there are no sticking points when selling into local authorities – the main target market.

"When the change comes to the old COIF [Certificate of Initial Fitness] and the new regulations become mandatory, many conversions currently in build will not meet these standards. There are some drastic differences in flooring, gangway width and other areas," said Mike.

The Crafter goes to Euromotive as a complete long wheelbase van but then has part of the wheelboxes removed, a false floor fitted and even the suspension changed, to Volkswagen-approved specification, before the seat tracking and seats, both from Rescroft, are installed.

The vehicle has independent heating from Eberspächer as standard, ensuring both the engine and passengers start the morning warm. The seating can be arranged in a large number of combinations with wheelchair anchorage points to suit.

Euromotive normally builds to order – to accommodate local authorities’ specification – and says lead time would normally be between six and eight weeks. It would also consider building stock for any Van Centre.

Contact Laine Watts on 01732 778877 for more information, or visit www.euromotive.co.uk.