AUTO

Mercedes Builds its 25,000th Electric Van

April 7, 2022

Mercedes-Benz vans have been leading the way in the commercial van business since the Sprinter first landed in the US in the late 1990s. Now, they’re leading another way: with 25,000 electric vans!

When Mercedes first brought its Sprinter to the US (through its alliance with Freightliner and Dodge), the commercial truck competition from Chevy and Ford was a decade behind. That’s not true anymore, with the electric Ford Transit and F-150 Lightning— as well as the lifestyle-focused Chevy Silverado EV— making headlines almost daily.

Headlines are one thing, though, but actually building electric trucks and vans is another. With that in mind, Mercedes-Benz has built and delivered fully twenty-five thousand (25,000) of the things (!), and they’re just getting started.

“We have a clear goal, we want to be the leading manufacturer in the field of electric vans in the long term! And for this we have an excellent starting point: At the end of 2021, we were once again the market leader in both midsize and large eVans in Europe,” says Mathias Geisen, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. “We have clearly aligned our strategy to further expand this position. With the eCitan and, in the future, the EQT, we are completing our product range this year, offering eVans in all segments.”

Expanding electrification is only part of Mercedes’ big van plans this year. Later this month, the company is expected to launch an all-new “T Class” Mercedes-Benz, which is a high-end, lifestyle-focused minivan that they’re trying very, very hard to not call a minivan.

Mercedes-Benz T Class Van

“With this premium small van,” reads the official announcement, “Mercedes‑Benz Vans is expanding its portfolio for the private customer market to include an attractive model for entry into the Mercedes world – for all those who need plenty of space, but still want to drive a vehicle with compact outer dimensions … the youngest member of the Mercedes‑Benz family thereby brings a broad range of design and comfort highlights to the private small van segment.”

Gazing deeper into the crystal ball, Mercedes is going both smaller and bigger. With the eCitan, still under development, MB will offer an electric model variant for commercial and private customers throughout the entire portfolio after eVito, eSprinter, EQV, and (of course) the upcoming EQT.

Look for more Mercedes-Benz Vans announcement here, April 26th.