New light commercial vehicle brands from China and South Korea are among the list of nominees for the International Van of the Year 2026 (IVOTY) award, along with traditional European brands.
The 34th running of the most prestigious prize in the light commercial vehicle industry has nine candidates to be listed on the voting paper, with some of the vehicles presented as joint nominations.
Newcomers from China, namely Farizon with its SV electric van and Kia, from South Korea, with its new PV5 light commercial vehicle, also electric, are welcome entrants on this occasion, which sees them contest against several finalists from Ford Pro and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
From Ford is the new Ford E-Transit Courier, the Ford Transit Connect PHEV and the latest uprated Ford E-Transit (Long Range), while Volkswagen has its ICE and electric versions of the new Transporter (T7) listed along with the upgraded Crafter, which is jointly nominated with the MAN TGE (MY2025).
“We’re in a very interesting period in our sector, with new players coming into the marketplace, with fresh thinking, creating new segments, and offering new solutions, all with emission free technologies. These new brands are most welcome, and to have them in the contest alongside household names in the trade, makes our job when voting even more difficult”, Jarlath Sweeney, Chairman, IVOTY.
He added: “They all meet the main criteria for the International Van of the Year Award which includes the vehicles’ contribution to the efficiency, safety, sustainability and environmental standards of the light commercial vehicle sector. To be eligible, the vehicle must be new, in series production by the end of the year in which it receives the award, and present a significant technological innovation. The election process is adjudicated independently.”
The official announcement and presentation of both the IVOTY 2026 and the International Pick-up Award 2026 trophies will take place at Solutrans 2025 at EurExpo, Lyon, France on Wednesday 19 November next.
In alphabetical order, the jury will elect the overall winner from the following:
2026 IVOTY Candidates
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Farizon SV
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Ford E-Transit Courier
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Ford E-Transit (Long Range)
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Ford Transit Connect PHEV
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Kia PV5
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Volkswagen Transporter / Volkswagen E-Transporter
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Volkswagen Crafter/MAN TGE
