Chery launches DELIVAN electric van range at IAA 2026
Chery Commercial Vehicle has formally launched its new DELIVAN electric van range at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, Germany, setting out plans to establish a new European commercial vehicle brand focused on electrification, connectivity and fleet intelligence.
The IAA debut marks the next stage in DELIVAN’s European development following its global launch at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham in April 2026. While the CV Show introduced the brand and its Future Super Commercial Vehicle (FSCV) strategy, IAA Transportation has provided the first opportunity to see DELIVAN’s production-oriented electric vans alongside specialist conversions and its wider technology and service proposition.
The brand is preparing to enter the European market during 2027, with the UK expected to be one of its first markets. Chery Commercial Vehicle UK has previously indicated that UK vehicles are planned to become available from April 2027.
The European launch is centred on two core panel vans, the L1H1 and L2H3, while an L3CC chassis cab provides a platform for specialist applications. At IAA, DELIVAN is also demonstrating four converted vehicles: a Crew Van, Fridge Box, Tool Storage model and 3-Way Tipper.
DELIVAN built around European requirements
Chery Commercial Vehicle is positioning DELIVAN differently from a conventional new-market vehicle launch. The company says the vans have been developed with input from customers and fleet partners in the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Spain, with the aim of addressing the practical requirements of European commercial operators.
Ross Davies, chief operating officer of Chery Commercial Vehicle UK, said: “Europe is the standard we have chosen for ourselves. This is what defines Delivan: built not only for Europe, but with Europe.”
That approach is central to Chery’s plans for the brand. Rather than simply exporting an existing commercial vehicle to Europe, the company is establishing local operations, research and development capabilities, service provision and partnerships with European conversion specialists.
The strategy is particularly significant in the commercial vehicle sector, where fleet operators typically need more than a competitive vehicle specification. Uptime, payload, charging, servicing, conversion capability, residual values and access to technical support can all influence the overall cost and practicality of an electric van.
Chery Commercial Vehicle has therefore developed DELIVAN around what it describes as a wider ecosystem rather than simply a range of vehicles. Its three supporting propositions are DELIVAN I, DELIVAN PRO and DELIVAN X, covering intelligent fleet technology, service and uptime, and vehicle conversion and customisation respectively.
Two core electric vans
The L1H1 and L2H3 form the foundation of the European DELIVAN range, giving operators a choice of van sizes for applications ranging from urban distribution and last-mile logistics to larger-volume commercial operations.
The L1H1 provides up to 1,400kg of payload, while the larger L2H3 offers up to 11.6 cubic metres of cargo space. Both models have a maximum towing capacity of 2,500kg, according to information released at IAA.
Battery capacity ranges from 50.4kWh to 97.4kWh across the line-up, with DELIVAN quoting a maximum WLTP combined range of up to 426km, or around 265 miles. The quoted maximum range applies with the vehicle speed limited to 100km/h.
DC charging from 15% to 80% is claimed to take approximately 22 minutes, a figure that could be particularly relevant to commercial operators where vehicle downtime directly affects productivity.
The L3CC chassis cab extends the potential applications beyond standard panel vans, providing a base for specialist bodies and conversions with a payload of up to 2,120kg.
The combination of panel vans and a chassis cab also reflects the ambition expressed by Davies at IAA.
He said: “We’re not here to participate in one segment or another. The only way to true success as an OEM is to play in the whole playing field, not in one area.
“We look at the core products, what we can organise today, which is an L1H1 and an L2H3 panel van – that could easily cover retail business, fleet business, logistics, pharmacy, mobile workshops, you name it, across the different industries and segments – but the chassis cab, equally, is super important.”
That broad approach is intended to allow DELIVAN to address a range of fleet requirements rather than relying on a single van configuration.
Specialist electric van conversions
The specialist vehicles displayed at IAA demonstrate how Chery intends to develop that flexibility.
The four showcased conversions comprise a Crew Van, Fridge Box, Tool Storage model and 3-Way Tipper, targeting passenger and cargo operations, temperature-controlled distribution, trades and engineering applications, and more demanding worksite operations.
DELIVAN has established partnerships with European conversion specialists including GRUAU, SORTIMO, JUNGE and BOTT.
The use of established European bodybuilders is an important part of the brand’s localisation strategy. Instead of treating conversion as an aftermarket process separate from the manufacturer, DELIVAN is incorporating specialist applications into its European product proposition.
This could give fleet operators a broader choice of factory-supported or manufacturer-developed solutions as the range expands.
It also fits with the company’s wider DELIVAN X proposition, which is designed to provide conversion and customisation capabilities through partnerships with specialist companies.
Data and AI at the heart of fleet operations
While the electric powertrain is central to DELIVAN’s proposition, Chery Commercial Vehicle is placing almost as much emphasis on connectivity and data.
DELIVAN I is designed to provide fleet management capabilities covering vehicle status, driver behaviour, route efficiency and energy consumption. The objective is to turn vehicle operating data into information that fleet managers can use to improve utilisation and control operating costs.
The company is also developing DELIVAN PRO around service and uptime, including remote diagnostics and maintenance alerts through its Uptime Centre.
Yueqiong Gong, vice-president of Chery Holding Group and general manager of Chery Commercial Vehicle, said: “Using real-time connected vehicle data, our in-house smart system applies AI to connect the entire operational chain, from individual vehicles to fleet management.
“Every vehicle and every kilometre of operational data is turned into measurable, tangible returns for our customers, making their operations safer and more efficient.”
The emphasis on connected fleet management reflects a wider shift in the commercial vehicle market, where telematics is increasingly being integrated into vehicle systems rather than treated as a separate fleet-management tool.
For electric vans, access to accurate energy and vehicle data can also help operators understand real-world range, charging requirements and utilisation across different routes and drivers.
From vehicle manufacturer to integrated fleet solution
DELIVAN’s development follows the Future Super Commercial Vehicle strategy first presented by Chery Commercial Vehicle at the CV Show in Birmingham.
When the brand made its global debut in April, Chery described DELIVAN as the first overseas application of its FSCV strategy, combining electrification, intelligent digital systems and a wider commercial vehicle ecosystem. The company highlighted urban logistics, last-mile delivery and e-commerce fulfilment as initial applications.
At IAA, that strategy has moved further towards production vehicles and commercial applications.
Chery Commercial Vehicle has described its wider IAA presence as a shift from “stand-alone product display” towards integrated solution delivery. Its overall offering extends beyond vehicles to charging, energy storage, smart logistics and fleet management.
For DELIVAN, that means the vehicle is intended to form one part of a broader operational package covering acquisition, conversion, servicing, connectivity and fleet management.
The company has also been building its European infrastructure since the Birmingham debut. It has established a European headquarters and local operations in the UK and Germany, while developing local R&D and service capabilities and expanding its European partner network.
UK electric van launch planned for 2027
The UK will play an important role in DELIVAN’s European expansion, having been selected for the brand’s global debut at the 2026 CV Show.
The company is now preparing for the next stage, with vehicles planned to enter the UK market in 2027. Chery Commercial Vehicle’s UK operation was incorporated in April 2026, with its registered office in Liverpool, reinforcing the company’s stated intention to establish a local presence rather than operate solely through an overseas sales structure.
The timing will put DELIVAN into an increasingly competitive UK electric van market, with established manufacturers continuing to expand their battery-electric ranges and new manufacturers targeting operators looking to reduce emissions and operating costs.
For fleet managers, the eventual success of the DELIVAN proposition is therefore likely to depend on more than the headline specification of its vans. Availability, pricing, warranty arrangements, charging support, dealer coverage, servicing and parts provision will all become important as the first UK customers begin operating the vehicles.
DELIVAN’s European strategy recognises that requirement.
Gong said: “We have not come to Europe to sell vehicles. We have come to stay – to put down deep roots. Our direction is very clear: we are fully committed to localizing talent, products, R&D, and services.”
Davies also set out an ambitious long-term objective for the brand.
“Ultimately, we want to be the number one partner for electric vehicles, whatever that may look like in future. We are here to establish ourselves as the number one choice for electric commercial mobility in Europe.”
The launch of the DELIVAN production range at IAA Transportation represents an important step towards that goal. After making its global debut in Birmingham with concepts and a technology strategy, Chery Commercial Vehicle now has two core electric vans, a chassis cab, specialist conversions and a connected fleet proposition aimed at European operators.
The next test will come when the first vehicles enter service. With UK availability planned from 2027, fleet operators will soon have the opportunity to assess whether DELIVAN’s combination of electric range, payload, fast charging, specialist conversions and AI-enabled fleet management can translate into the reliability and whole-life value required in day-to-day commercial operations.
