Mercedes-Benz previews some of the improvements that the new Sprinter will incorporate

The commercial vehicle division of Mercedes-Benz is preparing for a revolution in its electric van range from 2026 onward. Next year will kick off with the launch of the successor to the current EQV, an electric model that will usher in a completely renewed family. Shortly after, the VLS will arrive, a luxury limousine with up to eight seats designed for transporting VIP passengers and for use as a mobile office, aimed primarily at the Chinese market, where demand for this model is expected to be very high. Next, the commercial variants of the new Sprinter will join the range, maintaining their versatility with enclosed bodies and platforms in different sizes.

The Stuttgart-based company revolutionised the commercial vehicle segment three decades ago with the first Sprinter, and since then this model has remained the benchmark against its competitors. The third generation, launched in 2018 and electrified the following year, received a major update in 2024 with a substantial improvement in efficiency, and next year the fourth generation will take a technological leap forward thanks to the 800-volt architecture, which will enable ultra-rapid charging.

Although the German manufacturer initially announced that its new commercial vehicle range would be 100 percent electric, the slower-than-expected growth of the electric vehicle market has led the company to keep versions with combustion engines, including hybrids. Mercedes-Benz will use two platforms, VAN.EA for the electric models and VAN.CA for the combustion ones, with both sharing 70 percent of their components in order to reduce production costs.

What is to come

Although we will still have to wait for the official presentation to learn all the details, Mercedes-Benz hinted at the exterior design of its new electric van range during the brand’s anniversary celebration, in a 6.5-metre stone sculpture called “The Boulder“. This sculpture revealed a rather prominent grille and a longer and lower bonnet than usual for a van, which opens the door to the possible incorporation of a front boot. Both the passenger and commercial versions may be equipped with a steerable rear axle to improve manoeuvrability in tight spaces, thanks to a smaller turning circle.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the new Mercedes-Benz vans will incorporate MB.OS, the operating system already present in electric cars such as the CLA and GLC. It will support over-the-air (OTA) remote updates and integrate third-party applications. This will allow, for example, fleet managers to access tools such as Van Uptime Monitor directly from the screen, which maximises operational availability and efficiency.