Coming soon: Toyota Proace Max

With a range of vans more of less physically identical to the Stellantis equivalents on which they are based how does Toyota Professional intend to make its presence felt in a crowded market? With hopes of increasing sales to be a top six player in the European LCV market the policy is to focus on the one area Toyota hopes to stand out against the likes of Peugeot, Citroën and Vauxhall dealers selling essentially the same products under different badges, while also taking the battle to the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter and others in the electrified large van sector.
The arrival of a new Proace Max also fills a literally big hole in the line-up and means Toyota Professional now has vehicles in all popular segments, and along with it hopes of increasing sales by nearly a third to hit that mid-term goal. Alongside the new Max the existing Proace and Proace City have also been updated with a new corporate look intended to help them stand apart from their Stellantis relatives.

Available in a plethora of body sizes and styles (chassis cab included) the electric Proace Max is Toyota’s first large commercial vehicle in Europe. Like its Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Relay and Vauxhall Movano equivalents it offers a fully electric option to compete in the increasingly hard-fought zero-emissions LCV market.
‘Best in class’ claims for payload and load area may or may not stand forensic scrutiny against the specifications for the Proace Max’s relatives but the bigger picture of Toyota’s entry to the large van sector makes its new and improved network of Toyota Professional Centres a more compelling stop when comparing prices and support services between the brands selling these near-identical products. With a focus on training up staff and commitment to opening dedicated commercial vehicle sales and service centres from 2025 Toyota is clearly pinning its hopes on offering a more compelling package of finance, sales and aftersales to stand out from its rivals. Longer warranties than those offered by rivals when serviced at these centres is part of the offer, too.

While the Proace Max literally looms large its Proace medium van and smaller Proace City City have also been overhauled, with a new ‘grilleless’ face for a more distinctive appearance.
This is paired with a new range of driver supporting safety systems under the Toyota Safety Sense branding familiar to drivers of the passenger car range. These include new bumpers, side airbags for the front seats and a collapsible steering column along with many and various electronic driver aids to assist in all driving situations.