Mercedes is preparing to launch its next big van offensive with the VLE and VLS. The new generation of the V-Class is now being built at the Spanish plant in Vitoria — starting with pre-production versions of the fully electric VLE. But the story doesn’t end there.
A Van Strategy for the Future
So far, Mercedes’ electric models have had a mixed reception among customers. Hopes now rest not only on the upcoming CLA EV and the electric GLC arriving next summer but also on the double act of VLE and VLS, both riding on the new Van.ea platform.
After extensive upgrades at the Vitoria plant in northern Spain, preparations for full-scale production are in full swing. Quality is the priority from day one. More than 160 training sessions have prepared the plant’s 5,000 employees for new processes and methods, many in collaboration with other Mercedes sites.
“The new VLE is the first vehicle on our new modular and highly flexible Van Architecture,” explains Thomas Klein, head of Mercedes Vans. “In record time, we’ve taken it from the earliest concept stage to production readiness. By using innovative digital methods throughout development, we’ve achieved significant efficiency gains.”
Flexibility at Vitoria
From late winter 2025/26, the Vitoria site will build the fully electric VLE, the latest V-Class, and the Vito/eVito — all flexibly aligned with customer demand. The VLE and later the upscale VLS will be integrated directly into ongoing production, starting as EVs but later offered with combustion engines as well.
The plant, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2024, covers 870,000 square meters with 665,000 square meters of production space. With the twin models VLE and VLS, Mercedes aims to blend the driving dynamics of a crossover or wagon with the space and versatility of a van. It’s no secret that alongside the family-friendly VLE, due in spring 2026, Mercedes will also roll out more luxurious VLS models wearing the Maybach badge. Commercial-vehicle derivatives are likewise planned, some continuing on the combustion-focused Van.ca (Van Combustion Architecture) platform. Both Van.ea and Van.ca share about 70 percent of components and are built on the same line.
The Van.ea Platform: Swiss Army Knife on Wheels
The Van.ea architecture is designed to be a true all-rounder, covering everything from stripped-down workhorse vans to leather-clad luxury shuttles. Lower costs and reduced complexity are built into the concept, keeping managers just as happy as customers.
By mid-next year, the VLE will lead the rollout, introducing high-end features such as 800-volt technology, up to 500 km range, all-wheel steering, and motor outputs of up to 400 kW. All-wheel drive and next-generation driver assistance systems are also locked in.
Later in the year, a more utilitarian version without chrome trim will join the line-up, while the current Sprinter with diesel engines — refreshed just last year — will continue in parallel on the older platform to satisfy market-specific demand.
Racing Against the Competition
The pressure is real. Competitors like Stellantis and Ford are pushing ahead with new models on flexible EV platforms. Mercedes must keep pace. That’s why the next-generation eSprinter is also expected to migrate onto the Van.ea platform.
Production will begin in Jawor (Poland) and Düsseldorf, followed later by the Charleston plant in the U.S. For a transitional period, diesel-powered Sprinters will continue alongside the EVs, remaining relevant well into the next decade in many markets and use cases.
