Morris J-Type van gets electric reboot after 58-year hiatus

The Morris JE, as it will be known, is the first vehicle from the company, which has purchased the Morris Commercial naming rights.

The original vehicle was produced from 1949 until 1961, during which time over 48,600 were made. Many were bought by the British Post Office, whose version differed from the standard design in having rubber front and rear wings.

Other firms that famously used the vans include Cadbury, Carlsberg, Dunlop, John Lewis, OXO, Pickfords, Royal Mail and Wall's.

The new version has a carbon-fibre body and an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. Morris said the van has been given a modular design that will allow it to be adapted for different body styles in the future.

It will cost around £60,000 when it goes on sale in late 2021 and has a range of approximately 200 miles, making it a “viable option” for businesses.

It follows electric updates of other classic vehicles such as the ID Buzz, which is VW’s relaunch of the classic VW camper van.

Morris Commercial chief executive Dr Qu Li said: “It is a delight to unveil the new Morris JE to the world and for us to show what we have been working so hard to achieve.

“From the outset, our vision was to bring a new concept to the light commercial vehicle market, not just in terms of the battery electric powertrain, but also to introduce a timeless design that takes the aesthetics and appeal of such a vehicle to a whole new level.

“What we have created is a beautiful, retro design that sits upon a cutting-edge, modular battery electric vehicle platform, delivering practicality and functionality to compete with the best in its segment.”

The original J-Type was marketed as a 'big little van' and played an important role in promoting businesses in the post-war period.

The model was renowned for its distinctive design and was exported from the UK to more than 20 countries.