Renault set to return to 7.5 tonne sector

Renault is set to return to the 7.5-tonnes-GVW sector of the truck market after an absence of nearly three years.

The new lightweight 7.5-tonner is part of the D (for “distribution”) range unveiled in France in 2013 at the same time as the new Euro-VI C-, K- and T-ranges spanning gross weights from 10 to 44 tonnes and above. But since then, the plant in Spain which builds D-range Renault trucks has been concentrating on left-hand-drive production.

Now, about a year later than expected, the plant is ready to put right-hand-drive models into production, according to Renault Trucks UK commercial director Nigel Butler. He has had no 7.5-tonner to offer dealers and operators since production of the Midlum ended at Euro-V in 2013.

Butler confirms that UK orders for the new D-range lightweight will start to be taken “by the end of 2016.” Details of UK specifications are unlikely to be revealed until next summer, but it is already clear that the truck will be powered by a three-litre diesel engine driving through a six-speed automated-manual gearbox.