Badge engineering has made a significant difference to the shape of the car, and now commercial vehicle market, and increasingly it marks a de-coupling of manufacturing and sales in many organisations. On the manufacturing front those who are still producing trucks and vans want as much market volume as possible; while the sales networks - dealers - want throughput of vehicles to ensure the cash register keeps ringing up the new sales, the workshop bays are full and the parts stock is churning.

The retail sector is a very good example of a market where manufacturing and sales are disconnected. We're not saying it's necessarily a good thing, but one to ponder. Trucks from Tesco anyone...?

But I digress... Buyers want good products, at a good price, supported by a strong dealer network. The next couple of days in France will establish whether the Maxity fulfills the first of these points and we'll establish the position on the other two points in the weeks and months ahead.

If you've got a point to make about the Renault Maxity, Nissan Cabstar or Renault's strategy. Post a comment below.