Mercedes will bring an electric luxury van to the USA

Mercedes-Benz will pivot to its new electrified Van.ea architecture starting in 2026, with new offerings both in the commercial and private vehicle spaces based on the new all-electric modular platform that will eventually replace the platform underpinning the existing Sprinter. And while the company has no name for it yet (in other words, it's probably not going to be Metris), one of the first products to launch on the new platform will be a midsize passenger van with the luxury appointments one expects from the Mercedes-Benz badge.

The Van.ea architecture is meant for midsize and large products, with the former representing the core overlap between private transportation and commercial offerings. Mercedes-Benz says its private Van.ea models will be pure Mercedes-Benz offerings, with upscale cabins and high-tech features, while its commercial vans will continue in the Metris/Sprinter tradition, only electrified. The rollout will begin in 2026, and Mercedes-Benz says America will be part of that transition — a first for the USA.

That's right; the USA (alongside China) will see the new passenger-oriented midsize van. Mercedes cautioned us not to use the existing European V-Class model to frame our expectations; what we see here should be more luxurious, and it will be marketed as part of the core Mercedes-Benz lineup, not as a commercial offering. Separately, Mercedes will still offer upfit packages and coordinate with aftermarket providers for its Sprinter and eSprinter lineups and has plans to remain in the RV space.