Chery International is turning its attention to the British light commercial vehicle sector with the launch of its dedicated zero-emission commercial brand, DELIVAN. Following an aggressive push into the passenger car segment with Omoda and Jaecoo—which recently captured an 8.9% share of the UK new car market with over 13,500 monthly registrations—the Chinese automotive heavyweight is deploying a clean-sheet commercial architecture designed specifically to challenge established European workhorses.
DELIVAN made its initial public debut in concept form at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham before presenting production-ready models at the IAA Transportation show. Rather than retrofitting electric motors into older combustion engine platforms, the manufacturer has engineered a native, purpose-built electric skateboard chassis. With an operational European headquarters based in Liverpool and direct dealer contracts being finalized across Great Britain, the brand intends to challenge class benchmarks in cargo capacity, payload, and charging turnaround times.
Key specs
The DELIVAN product lineup is structured around a modular electric skateboard architecture spanning medium vans, large vans, and conversion platforms:
- Body Configurations: L1H1 medium panel van, L2H3 high-roof large panel van, and L3 chassis cab. - Cargo Volume: 6.9 cubic metres (L1H1); 11.6 cubic metres (L2H3). - Maximum Payload: Up to 1,400kg (L1H1); up to 1,300kg (L2H3); up to 2,120kg (L3 chassis cab). - Towing Capacity: 2,500kg braked towing capacity across panel van configurations. - Battery Capacities: 50.4kWh, 68.7kWh, and 97.4kWh liquid-cooled Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) packs. - WLTP Driving Range: 159 miles (L1H1, 50.4kWh); 213 miles (L1H1, 68.7kWh); 134 miles (L2H3, 50.4kWh); 177 miles (L2H3, 68.7kWh); up to 264 miles / 426km (L2H3, 97.4kWh, with top speed governed to 62mph/100km/h). - DC Rapid Charging: 15% to 80% state of charge in approximately 22 minutes. - Telematics & Service: Integrated DELIVAN I fleet telematics and DELIVAN PRO predictive uptime monitoring.
UK availability and price
Official list pricing for the UK market is not yet confirmed for the UK, though early industry guidance estimates starting figures around £35,000 excluding VAT for entry-level models. Standard trims, final equipment packages, and exact option pricing are not yet confirmed for the UK and will be announced closer to the vehicle's commercial arrival.
DELIVAN is not relying on a third-party vehicle importer. Instead, Chery Commercial Vehicle has established a direct UK subsidiary to manage retail and aftersales operations internally. Network development is currently underway, with the first UK retail and service sites scheduled for activation by late 2026. DELIVAN targets a footprint of more than 100 dedicated UK dealership locations over its initial five-year cycle.
Factory production of right-hand-drive vehicles destined for British roads is scheduled to begin in April 2027, with official UK order books opening in late 2026 and initial customer deliveries expected during 2027.
How it compares
The DELIVAN L1H1 steps into the UK’s fiercely contested medium van category to fight directly against established stalwarts such as the Ford Transit Custom and the Volkswagen Transporter. Buyers who routinely inspect listings of Ford vans for sale will find that the DELIVAN matches or exceeds several core operational figures.
Against the pure-electric Ford E-Transit Custom, DELIVAN’s dedicated skateboard layout yields tangible dimensional advantages. The entry DELIVAN L1H1 offers a 6.9-cubic-metre cargo volume, outstripping the standard E-Transit Custom’s 5.8 cubic metres. Payload is another major battleground: where the electric Transit Custom tops out at 1,100kg, the DELIVAN L1H1 achieves up to 1,400kg. In terms of pulling power, DELIVAN rates its braked towing capacity at 2,500kg, compared to 2,300kg on the Ford. On range, the E-Transit Custom delivers up to 236 miles from its battery, while DELIVAN’s flagship 97.4kWh pack offers up to 264 miles. Charging turnaround also tips toward the newcomer: DELIVAN quotes a 15% to 80% DC replenishment time of roughly 22 minutes, whereas the Transit Custom requires around 41 minutes to reach 80% on a 125kW rapid charger.
When stacked against the Volkswagen Transporter Panel Van, the Chinese entrant highlights how native EV packaging can alter load-bay dynamics. The standard-wheelbase seventh-generation Transporter provides 5.8 cubic metres of load volume and up to 1,330kg of carrying capacity. DELIVAN betters both metrics, delivering 6.9 cubic metres of space and a 1,400kg maximum payload. For buyers monitoring commercial vehicle prices, diesel variants of the new Transporter start at £30,995 before VAT, while its electric versions start at £41,965 excluding VAT. If DELIVAN hits its targeted sub-£36,000 opening price point, it will pose a stern commercial alternative for trades checking Volkswagen vans for sale.
What it means for fleet buyers
For fleet managers tasked with decarbonising multi-drop routes, the DELIVAN proposition addresses several longstanding battery-electric van pain points. The flat floor, ultra-low loading threshold, and squarer load bay dimensions maximise pallet utilisation, allowing logistics operators to carry bulky cargo without automatically stepping up to an unwieldy heavy chassis. For heavier duties, the L3 chassis cab’s 2,120kg chassis payload enables box, tipper, and refrigerated bodies through established conversions partnerships with European specialists including Gruau, Bott, and Sortimo.
Charging times represent a meaningful operational upgrade. A 22-minute rapid-charge window from 15% to 80% allows drivers to recover substantial working range during standard statutory rest breaks, avoiding mid-shift route disruption.
On running costs, commercial vehicles emitting zero tailpipe emissions remain fully exempt from Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges across regional cities and London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) tariff. For company drivers, pure-electric vans benefit from favourable commercial Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) taxation structures compared to diesel workhorses. Furthermore, eligible variants should qualify for the UK Government’s Plug-in Van Grant (PIVG), which provides purchase discounts of up to £5,000 on qualifying zero-emission goods vehicles.
Before placing orders, fleet buyers must perform several checks: 1. Dealer Coverage: Ensure that DELIVAN’s planned 100-site dealer network actually includes fully operational commercial workshops within your company’s operating radius. 2. Speed Restriction Trade-Offs: The 264-mile headline range is achieved with vehicle speed governed to 62mph (100km/h); operators with heavy motorway duty cycles must calculate true highway range at 70mph. 3. Parts Availability: Scrutinise Chery’s UK central parts supply and breakdown response guarantees to ensure vehicle downtime is kept within contractual tolerances. 4. Grant Eligibility: Verify whether specific body styles and unladen chassis weights are officially registered on the government's Plug-in Van Grant eligible vehicle list prior to signing purchase orders.
Verdict: Chery’s DELIVAN delivers class-leading payload and rapid-charging figures on paper, but its real success will hinge entirely on the speed and reliability of its UK dealer and aftersales support.