Mercedes is getting back into the personal van business and going electric in the process. The company has released a shadowy image teasing a new electric van that, it says, will be available to private buyers seeking a luxury van as well as to commercial customers.
Small Vans Have Disappeared, for Now
Mercedes never stopped producing commercial vans but has de-emphasized van sales in the U.S. in recent years, with its full-size Sprinter and midsize Metris lines selling almost exclusively to commercial customers.
Mercedes was hardly alone in that decision. Smaller vans are virtually dead in America now, with both the Ram Pro Master City and Ford Transit Connect discontinued in recent years.
The brand still builds luxuriously outfitted Sprinters. They’re the new limousines, beloved by celebrities in need of extra room for stylists and elaborate outfits on the way to awards shows. But if you want something smaller, you’d better want it outfitted as an airport shuttle.
But This Could Mean Several
That will end soon, and we have the electric vehicle (EV) platform to thank. Mercedes explains, “Starting in 2026, Mercedes-Benz Vans will introduce its newly developed, modular, and scalable Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA). With VAN.EA, Mercedes-Benz is shaping a completely new era of vans.”
EVs make it easier for automakers to introduce new cars. Because virtually all the moving parts of an EV sit below the load floor, automakers can build one EV platform and use it with many different bodies. Chevrolet, for instance, uses almost the same mechanical parts beneath its electric compact SUV and full-size trucks.
Mercedes has developed one exclusively for vans. The company says it “enables a clear distinction between privately positioned vans in the luxury segment and commercial vans in the premium segment.” That has us thinking we may see luxurious vans for private customers – something like the return of the long-discontinued R-Class.
Mercedes placed its press release about the news on its American media website, indicating that it may come stateside.
We’ll bring more information soon. The company says a world premiere of the new platform “is set for spring 2025.”
