Mercedes-Benz will add a luxurious mid-size electrical van to its U.S. lineup, the automaker mentioned on Tuesday.

Mercedes’ native lineup at present has two vans within the type of the mid-size Metris and full-size Sprinter, although each are stripped-out industrial choices. The luxurious van will likely be geared toward personal consumers, resembling large households, tenting followers, and probably even RV consumers.

The van will likely be primarily based on a brand new devoted EV platform being developed to underpin all future vans at Mercedes. Dubbed Van.EA, the platform is scheduled to spawn its first mannequin in 2026. Timing for any Van.EA merchandise within the U.S., together with the luxurious van, hasn’t been introduced.

The Van.EA platform encompasses a three-module design that permits it to be simply tailored to varied car sizes. A entrance module homes high-voltage energy management {hardware} and an electrical motor, and is widespread to all automobiles primarily based on the platform. A middle module obtainable in several lengths and becoming varied battery configurations determines the dimensions of the automobiles primarily based on the platform. A rear module comprises the rear axle, both with a motor for all-wheel drive or with out for front-wheel drive.

Subsequent-generation Mercedes-Benz eSprinter

An early model of this idea is discovered within the platform of the 2024 eSprinter full-size electric van that begins gross sales within the U.S. within the second half of 2023.

For the luxurious van, consumers can anticipate comparable options to what Mercedes affords in its luxurious vehicles and SUVs. This can embrace automated self-driving expertise, as much as Degree 3 on the SAE scale of self-driving capability.

Mercedes has already had some success within the U.S. with van gross sales. The automaker mentioned it doubled its U.S. van market share from 8% in 2018 to 16% in 2022. Mercedes additionally mentioned it goals to have electrical vans account for 20% of its whole van gross sales by 2026 and 50% by 2030.

Earlier than the luxurious van arrives, Mercedes will replace its present mid-size van line, which incorporates the Metris and a luxurious possibility known as the V-Class that is bought abroad and consists of an EQV electric variant. The replace of the present mid-size van line is scheduled for this summer time. It is rumored the Metris will likely be dropped from Mercedes’ U.S. lineup following the introduction of the replace.