The Times, 7 September 2016,
The world’s first Ikea-style van that can be assembled in only 12 hours has been developed by a British entrepreneur to carry out humanitarian missions in remote parts of Africa.
The flat-pack vehicle can be shipped to the developing world before being put to use transporting food, building materials and people.
The all-terrain van, dubbed the OX, has been designed by Gordon Murray, a Formula One engineer who developed the McLaren F1 supercar.
It is able to be assembled by a three-person non-expert team, can seat 13 and travel up to 620 miles without filling up.
At just over four metres in length, it is far shorter than other pick-ups but can carry almost two tonnes due to its lightweight, super-strong chassis.
The project, which has been in development for five years at a cost of £3 million, has been led by Sir Torquil Norman, the former banker and toy manufacturer, who led the redevelopment of the Camden Roundhouse in north London.
Mr Murray told the BBC that the vehicle ranked “above anything else I’ve ever done”, adding: “Designing expensive sports cars; that reaches a few people. [If] this goes in to mass production, this will help thousands.”
Sir Torquil, who founded the Global Vehicle Trust to lead the project, said: “We believe that the OX has huge potential for charities, aid organisations and development programmes. My dream is to one day see an OX in every village in Africa.”
Three prototypes have been built so far and backers are now seeking funding to continue the development before putting it into mass production.