The World's First Flat-Pack Truck Can Hold Nearly Two Tonnes

Fancy an affordable off-roader you can build with mates in less than 12 hours, that comes flat-packed like Swedish furniture? This clever new commercial vehicle has got you covered, especially if you live in a remote part of the world where the recognised road surface is dirt.

The Ox, built by a partnership between the Global Vehicle Trust (GVT), oil giant Shell and Gordon Murray Design (GMD), is built to pack flat into easily-shipped boxes, before withstanding years of hard abuse when assembled. It’s been around in prototype form for a couple of years, bashing around the UK as part of testing duties, but it’s now ready for trials in India.

Built to be as easy to use, maintain and repair as possible, the rear benches in the back can seat 10 people or detach to be used as ‘ladders’ to escape sand or mud. The tailgate forms a ramp up which barrels or motorbikes (or anything else) can be rolled, with space for eight 44-gallon drums or three standard pallets.

The Ox, using a steel ladder chassis stiffened by bonded-in wooden panels, is about the same length as a Vauxhall Astra but can carry 1900kg; around twice what most ordinary pickups can safely haul. Three people sit in the cab with the driver in the middle, so Gordon Murray has basically designed the McLaren F1 of working vehicles.

The Ox can be supplied fully-assembled with a 98bhp 2.2-litre Ford Transit diesel engine and six-speed gearbox. Its coated plywood panels are, like the suspension components, identical side-to-side. Alternatively, six flat-packed Ox trucks plus their drivetrains can fit into a standard shipping container.

A team of three is said to be able to build one in less than 12 hours with no special tools needed. Makes a Caterham look complicated, right? The Transit engine is packed in such a way that the chassis can be lowered straight over it before the mounts are fixed.

As for the suspension, it’s coil springs all round. The leading arm/trailing arm setup is identical on both sides so parts are interchangeable, and it affords a surprising amount of spring travel.

Four-wheel drive is possible but for simplicity and lightness’ sake the Ox is front-wheel drive. It weighs 1600kg dry, and so far it has flown through its testing regimes with just two powered wheels thanks to huge ground clearance, short overhangs and bitey, narrow, off-road tyres.

The idea is to bring this low-cost, high-capability truck to market inside two years, after which it will gradually be rolled out to almost any global market that needs it. We think it’s pretty damn cool…