After a strategic reset and significant investment, CPD Bodies is redefining what a commercial vehicle conversion partner looks like
CPD Bodies (CPD) has evolved from a conversion specialist into a full-service commercial vehicle partner. Alongside its core expertise in body conversions, including tippers, dropsides, Lutons and panel vans, the business now provides vehicle supply, finance, repair and full lifecycle support, with all engineering delivered in-house at its Stockton facility.
It has been over a year since we last spoke with Cathal Doocey, Managing Director. In that time CPD has undertaken a strategic reset, supported by major investment across facilities, stock and capability, and Cathal is keen to bring us up to speed.
“In the last year, we’ve defined our next five- year strategy,” says Cathal Doocey. “Our focus is on strengthening relationships with our core customers and building out the services around them. That includes multi-OEM vehicle supply, conversion and both in-life and aftersales support. The last six months have been particularly good for us, as the company is back to the profit levels I would expect and is moving in the right direction. This has enabled us to expand our core product lines, with a greater focus on panel van conversions, particularly welfare vans, and increased investment in EV conversions.”
To support continued growth in its van conversion business, CPD has built a new 6000-square-foot workshop on its existing eight-acre facility in Stockton. This additional capacity will allow the company to scale its operations significantly, following a period in which all nine existing workshops were operating close to capacity, leaving limited room for further expansion.
The new workshop will be dedicated to electric vehicle conversions and forms part of a broader investment in sustainable manufacturing by CPD. Designed as a fully off-grid facility, it will operate independently of the grid through the use of on-site solar generation and battery storage, supporting both operational efficiency and the company’s wider decarbonization objectives, in line with its journey towards Net Zero.
“It is going to be totally self-sufficient,” says Cathal. “We are currently in the process of having battery storage and solar panels installed. I believe it will be one of the first facilities of its kind in the UK for the type of operations we specialize in. The workshop will allow us to carry out at least 1000 to 1500 extra panel van conversions a year.
“Alongside the new workshop, we’re investing over £10 million this year across new products, facilities and energy infrastructure. Over half of that has gone into having vehicles physically on site and ready to con-vert, branded as CPD’s Good2Go range and delivered to customers within days. A significant amount is also being invested into the new workshop and a wider rollout of solar across the site, again supported by battery storage. That’s a considerable expense, but we expect to see a reduction of up to 65 percent in our energy costs. At the same time, we’re continuing to invest in the day-to-day running of the business, from resurfacing the yard to improving the workshops, making sure everything runs more efficiently.”
Long-term value
These investments are all aligned with the company’s broader focus on delivering long-term value for its customers. As part of this, the business has brought in new key personnel and is working closely with its largest fleet customers to help them reduce costs at both the start and end of a vehicle’s life. In addition to building new vehicles, CPD now has the facilities to manage end-of-life vehicles, taking the logistical burden away from clients and helping them save money in the process.
It’s clear that innovation and sustainability are the foundation of CPD’s five-year plan. The award-winning off-grid EV conversion workshop is the keystone for this next phase of growth. Such direction was recently reinforced last week [at time of writing] at the Commercial Vehicle Show, where Farizon and CPD jointly announced CPD’s appointment as Farizon’s retail dealer for the North East. Further, CPD introduced the Good2Go Zero Welfare Van based on the Farizon SV platform; a world first for the brands.
“The off-grid workshop is a key part of the direction we are taking,” says Cathal. “We know electric vehicle conversion has to be supported by the right infrastructure, not just the right product. That investment gives us the capacity and capability to do this properly.
“The Farizon appointment is another significant step forward. It gives us a strong electric vehicle platform to work with, alongside the sales, after sales and technical support customers need. The Good2Go Zero Welfare Van is the first product we have developed on that platform, and it is an important innovation for us.
“Our partnership with Farizon brings together electric vehicle supply, in-house conversion and our investment in renewable-powered manufacturing. That is exactly the kind of joined-up solution we want to offer all our customers.”
Already off to a strong start, 2026 is set to be an exciting year for CPD. With further growth in its sights, Cathal unveils the company’s vision for the coming months. “Our main priority for the remainder of the year is straightforward: to be consistent across everything we do, from quality to output. However, it is not just about the numbers. The fact is that most people spend more time at work than they do at home, and for me, beyond making sure that everyone is working hard to make our business successful, it is equally important that our team is happy and that they genuinely enjoy coming to work. By fostering a positive and attractive working culture, we have been able to expand our team meaningfully, especially in recent years. We have recently been joined by NED, Gareth Jones, who, since joining has brought a completely fresh perspective to our operations and is helping us drive the business forward,” he ends.
CPD is a business that knows exactly what it is and what it does well. The investments in facilities, stock and energy infrastructure are not just operational upgrades; they form the foundations for the company’s next phase of growth. Through a combination of the right people, an expanded product offering and a clear focus on electric vehicle conversion, CPD is well positioned to build on its momentum through 2026 and beyond.
