Chery is moving its European ambitions into a new lane. Through DELIVAN, its Europe-focused commercial-vehicle brand, the Chinese group plans to unveil two all-electric production vans at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, a significant step beyond the concept vehicles shown in Birmingham in April. The pair will represent two different size classes and will appear with four converted variants aimed at demonstrating how the platforms can serve specialist fleet needs.
The timing matters. European electric-van sales accelerated sharply in 2025, while Chinese automakers have been widening their overseas push as growth at home becomes tougher. For Chery, already one of China’s biggest vehicle exporters, DELIVAN offers a chance to test whether the scale, battery expertise and international playbook built in passenger cars can translate into a commercial market where uptime, payload, charging and total operating cost often matter more than badge recognition.
From Birmingham Concepts to Production-Ready Vans
The biggest change since DELIVAN’s April debut is that the next vehicles are being presented as production models rather than design exercises. Chery says the two battery-electric vans will occupy different size classes in its planned European range, while four converted versions will show how the platforms can be adapted for specialist jobs. The company also intends to announce European conversion partnerships, including new German partners, at Hannover.
That matters because fleets rarely buy a van on styling alone. A parcel operator may care about cargo access and charging downtime; a trades business may need shelving or body conversions. DELIVAN has been pitching an operating ecosystem combining vehicles with charging, telematics, service, warranty and lifecycle support. Its European strategy began publicly in Birmingham in April, with market launch targeted for 2027. IAA Transportation runs September 15–20, giving Chery a stage to turn its commercial-vehicle promise into something buyers can inspect.
Commercial Vehicles Become the Next Global Battleground
Chery is entering a market that is electrifying quickly but remains unsettled. The International Energy Agency says European electric light-commercial-vehicle sales climbed almost 70% in 2025 to nearly 200,000 units, making Europe the world’s largest market for electric LCVs. ACEA data shows electrically chargeable vans reached 11.2% of EU registrations that year, while diesel held 80.7%. That leaves room for competitors, but shows how much fleet behavior must change.
DELIVAN fits a broader Chinese expansion beyond passenger cars. Chery Group reported 2.81 million vehicle sales in 2025 and 1.34 million exports, while Chery Commercial Vehicle said exports rose 228.8%. Elsewhere, SAIC agreed this week to work with Volkswagen’s Brazilian truck unit on a light-commercial-vehicle family, and Chinese electric-truck exports have been rising across Asia. The message is clear: Chinese automakers are not limiting overseas ambitions to sedans and SUVs; vans, trucks and fleet services are entering the same global contest.
