More than 50% of Mercedes-Benz midsize vans expected to be electric by 2030
London, 16 April 2024, (Oilandgaspress): – Mercedes-Benz Vans wants to further expand its position as a leading manufacturer of premium vans. In doing so, the company is consolidating a decisive competitive advantage: the customised diversity of its portfolio for commercial and private use – offering a range of fully electric and conventionally powered vehicles in the small, midsize, and large van segments. The introduction of the modular and scalable Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) from 2026 marks the gradual transition to a focused premium strategy for commercial vans. The new Vito, eVito, Sprinter and eSprinter light commercial vehicles are a key step on this journey. They offer more comfort, safety, and functionality, especially thanks to a plus in intelligent, digital networking. This sets the course for further growth at the upper end of their respective segments.
The new Vito and eVito take connectivity and comfort to a new level
The Vito is the versatile all-rounder among midsize vans with a gross vehicle weight between 2.8 and 3.2 tonnes. It is available as a panel van, Mixto and Tourer. As the only model in its class, it is offered in three lengths, with two wheelbases and two drive systems. There are also three equipment lines. With this variety, it also fulfils the requirements of different industries – from tradespeople to maintenance and customer services as well as fleet operators through to upfitters of special transporters for food or emergency medical services. Since 2018, the battery-electric variant eVito has established itself as an alternative to local CO₂ emission-free driving. It is available in two body lengths as a panel van and as a Tourer for commercial passenger transport.
The new Sprinter even safer and more intelligent – the new eSprinter comes with a triad of efficiency, range, and load volume
The Sprinter, which lends its name to an entire segment, is the flagship of the portfolio with a sales share of around 50 percent. It offers a maximum permissible gross vehicle weight of up to 5.5 tonnes. In its basic form, the Sprinter is already available as a panel van, flatbed vehicle, chassis, and Tourer in three lengths and with a choice of front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive. It is also available as a power unit for upfitters, for example as a motorhome. With this versatility, the large van allows for numerous variants and is the perfect basis for different upfitter solutions. Around 75 percent of all Sprinters produced are modified by upfitters.
Whilst retaining maximum flexibility, the new Sprinter offers a significant increase in safety, comfort, and digital networking. It has extended and additional driving assistance systems such as the Moving-off Information Assist[2] and the Sideguard Assist. As standard, it also features the innovative MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system with intelligent voice assistant.
The second generation of the electric van, the new eSprinter, is based on a new modular concept with rear-wheel drive. It consists of three modules (front, centre and rear module), which allow the platform to be easily adapted to a wide range of vehicle variants. The new eSprinter [please see individual press release] allows higher payloads with a gross vehicle weight of up to 4.25 tonnes and a wider range of variants. Customers can choose between two body styles and lengths, three battery capacities (56 kWh, 81 kWh and 113 kWh usable battery capacity) and a peak motor output of 100 kW or 150 kW. It has an electric range of up to 478 kilometres.[3] In addition to the waste heat from the battery, the heat pump installed in the eSprinter also utilises the waste heat from the electric motor. This enables range-saving air conditioning of the interior.
More than 50 percent of vans expected to be electric by 2030
With the systematic electrification of its entire portfolio, Mercedes‑Benz Vans has set the course for a purely electric future. Customers already have a fully electric alternative to choose from for every van model. Mercedes‑Benz Vans is the leading manufacturer of electric vans. Last year alone, sales increased by 51 percent. From 2026, with the introduction of the modular and scalable VAN.EA vehicle architecture, all newly developed midsize and large vans will be exclusively electric. The proportion of eVans in the entire model portfolio is expected to be more than 50 percent by 2030. At the same time, Mercedes‑Benz Vans will consistently adapt its vans with combustion engines to technological advancements – particularly with regard to digital connectivity, safety, and comfort. The new Vito and Sprinter midsize and large vans offer the ideal product substance for this.
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