CAV Ltd started life as C A Vandervell and Co, which was formed in 1892 by Charles Vanderwell. The company originally made accumulators, but by 1910 manufactured dynamos. High demand from the motor industry and the manufacturers of lighting systems for trains led C A Vandervell and Co to open a new factory in Acton in 1910 and by 1916 the products manufactured by the company included batteries, magnetos, dynamos, starters, lamps, horns and other motor goods. By 1922 the most electrical equipment for motor vehicles in the UK was manufactured by C A Vandervell and Co.

In 1926 Joseph Lucas Ltd acquired C A Vandervell and Co. That same year. Robert Bosch GmbH, based in Stuttgart, acquired a 49% interest in the company. Following a manufacturing and market sharing agreement between Lucas and Bosch, the name of C A Vandervell and Co was changed to C.A.V. – Bosch. In 1937 however Lucas bought back Bosch’s interest in C.A.V. – Bosch and in 1939 C.A.V. – Bosch changed its name to CAV Ltd. By this time the company focused almost entirely with the production and supply of electrical and other equipment for heavy vehicles.

CAV Ltd was eventually renamed Lucas CAV during the 1960s, at which point it focused on the production of diesel-powered injection pumps.