Truck manufacturer MAN is to enter the van market with a rebranded Volkswagen Crafter.

The model, to be named the MAN TGE, will share platforms with the new Volkswagen Crafter.

Both models will be built at a new Volkswagen Group plant in Poland, following the end of a shared production agreement with Mercedes-Benz (the Crafter is currently made alongside the similar Mercedes-Benz Sprinter).

The MAN TGE will be presented at IAA 2016 and will be available from 2017.

MAN Truck & Bus CEO Joachim Drees said: "By launching the MAN light commercial vehicle positioned below our MAN TGL light truck range, we are entering a new business area. Many of our customers with heavy commercial vehicles in their fleets have a requirement for light commercial vehicles as well, so the MAN TGE constitutes a smart enhancement to our already established vehicle range.

"We know exactly what our customers need and which areas they operate in, and the vehicle solutions and bodies we will offer them will be a perfect fit to their needs and applications. Professional service and also a wide range of solutions from our well established truck business will set standards in this weight range and I'm sure the customers of our light commercial vehicles will be very excited by their introduction as well."

The company said it will allow it to offer sales, maintenance and repair services from a single source from light commercial vehicles up to heavy trucks.