GM Europe, Renault to roll out updated van models

FRANKFURT, May 9 (Reuters) General Motors Europe and Renault will roll out in September updated versions of delivery vans the partners have made in common under a pact struck in 1999, they said on Tuesday.

The deal includes refreshed compact vans that Opel and Vauxhall sell as the Vivaro and that Renault markets as the Trafic. Large vans sold as the Opel/Vauxhall Movano and Renault Master also are being updated.

The two companies have sold more than 1.2 million vans since the alliance began, a statement said.

The Vivaro/Trafic compact van has been made at GM Europe's British plant in Luton since 2001 and at Renault affiliate Nissan Motor Co Ltd's plant in Barcelona since 2002.

Both plants operated at full capacity last year to make 164,000 units in all.

Renault makes the larger van at its French plant in Batilly.

Production reached a record 102,430 units in 2005.

REUTERS CS HS1418