Andrew Charman
Andrew is the News and Road Test Editor for The Van Expert. He is a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and has been testing and writing about new cars and vans for more than 20 years, and attends many new model launches each year.
Van sales continue slide in January
The UK new van market continued to decline in January, down 4.2% on the same month in 2017 and following the first annual slide in five years in 2017.
Renault launches EasyLife service plan
Renault's Pro+ Commercial Vehicle division is launching a new service and warranty plan dubbed EasyLife, which is now available on all new Renault commercial...
Mitsubishi L200 gains 3.5-tonne towing ability
An increase in towing ability to 3.5 tonnes tops a raft of changes to the Mitsubishi L200.
Mitsubishi claims that its long-established model is now...
LDV joins the scrappage scramble
LDV has become the latest commercial manufacturer to offer a scrappage scheme, worth up to £8,500.
The van maker, which today is owned by SAIC,...
First LCV sales slide in five years ‘expected’
Annual sales of new vans in the UK fell for the first time in five years in 2017, though industry bodies argue that demand remains at a high level.
Mercedes-Benz X-Class review
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is described by its manufacturer as the world’s first pick-up from a premium brand. But is such an upmarket model practical?
Land Rover Discovery goes commercial
The Land Rover Discovery Commercial has gone on sale, priced from £48,695 and replacing the second and third seat rows with load space.
Slump in van sales ‘worrying’ says SMMT head
Registrations of new light commercial vehicles in the UK slumped by more than 11% in November, a slide that industry chiefs dubbed "worrying."
A total...
First look at Ford Transit Connect, Courier
First details have been released of the new Ford Transit Connect and Courier models, that will be added to the range in mid 2018.
The...
Mercedes-Benz X-Class earns top safety rating
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class has secured a top five-star safety rating in the latest series of crash tests of new models staged by Euro NCAP.
In the...
Volkswagen Amarok adds manual gearbox
The Volkswagen Amarok pickup should now appeal to a wider potential customer base following the addition of a manual gearbox version to the range.
The...
Renault Trafic range adds nine-seat shuttle
The Renault Trafic Spaceclass has gone on sale, expanding the French manufacturer's well-known mid-sized van range to include a people-carrier.
First seen at the Cannes...
Mercedes-Benz launches van scrappage
Mercedes-Benz Vans is following the example of the retail car industry by launching a van scrappage and swappage scheme to remove older, dirtier vehicles.
Sliding business confidence hits LCV sales
Registrations of new vans slumped again in October, as industry leaders blamed economic and political uncertainty for a drop in business confidence.
According to figures...
Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup gets £27K price tag
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup will cost from £27,310 when it arrives on UK roads in January 2018.
While the first venture of Mercedes into pickup...
More models added to Volkswagen Crafter range
The core Volkswagen Crafter range has been expanded, with several new models joining the panel vans launched at the Commercial Vehicle Show in April.
Alongside...
Volkswagen launches CV scrappage scheme
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is following the lead of the car sector and launching a scrappage scheme for older vehicles.
The scheme will offer incentives of...
Insight – electric future for Peugeot and Citroën
PSA Group is increasing promotional activity for its electric vans – the Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo – to grow its urban fleet presence.
French brands unveil CV Show plans
Momentum is growing for the CV Show, with more manufacturers announcing their stands at the Birmingham NEC event on 25th to 27th April including...
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (2013 – 2017) review
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter rivals the Ford Transit, offering a wide range of sizes and payloads and a very easy driving experience.
VisionTrack Halo to keep van fleets on track
Telematics provider VisionTrack expects its new Halo 360 video system, debuting at the CV Show in April, to appeal to fleet managers.
The four-camera software system...
Volkswagen Crafter to debut at CV Show
The CV Show in April will see the UK debut of the new Volkswagen Crafter panel van.
The new Crafter, named International Van of the...
Slow but positive start to van sales
Sales of new vans in the UK are still growing, though the increase was a modest 1.2 per cent in January. Heavy vans led the rise, smaller versions slipping.
New van market picks up to record levels
The UK new van market has matched the car market with record registrations in 2016.
A total of 375,687 light commercial vehicles were registered during...
Soaring exports keep CV factories busy
Exports are driving soaring production at the UK’s commercial vehicle plants.
In total 9,669 CVs were built in the UK’s factories in November, up nine...