Genuinely one of my favorite things about traveling to Europe is getting to ride in Mercedes-Benz V-Class vans. The V-Class is the passenger version of the Metris commercial van we get in the U.S., and they are seriously luxurious. Some versions have a rear-facing second row of seats that makes conversing with your friends easy while others have fancy captain’s chairs, and the V-Class has all the luxury features you’d expect from a Benz. They’re way better to ride in than something like an Escalade or a typical luxury sedan, especially if you’re with a group of people. Luckily, the U.S. will finally get the V-Class with the fully electric next-generation model, which Mercedes is now teasing for the first time.
The next V-Class will use Mercedes’ new VAN.EA platform, a modular electric architecture that will underpin every new Mercedes van, both commercial and passenger models. The V-Class will be the first one to debut in 2026, though its Metris (or Vito in Europe) sibling will likely be revealed alongside it or follow soon after. As the VAN.EA platform is “flexible and scalable,” it’ll be used for the smaller Citan and T-Class and the large and hugely popular Sprinter models, too. Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive will be offered.
Mercedes released a handful of photos of a camouflaged V-Class prototype, and it looks like, well, a van, albeit a sleeker and fresher one. The window glazing looks more flush than the current V-Class, and it has other features like an integrated spoiler, pop-out door handles and smooth underbody to eke out the most range. We can see that the V-Class will have a giant grille like the recently facelifted V-Class and EQV, and hopefully it’ll be offered with Mercedes’ standing star hood ornament like those models too.
The VAN.EA platform will “allow for a clear distinction between privately positioned vans in the luxury segment and commercial vans within the premium segment,” according to Mercedes, with the former category including “VIP shuttles to luxurious and spacious limousines tailored for customers with the highest demands.” Not only will there still be a luxurious V-Class model that’s perfectly suited to be a high-end taxi, hotel shuttle or family vehicle, but Mercedes will finally be making a Maybach model from the factory.
Aftermarket faux Maybach conversions for Metrises and V-Classes have becoming increasingly popular in recent years, especially in the U.S., and Mercedes is looking to cash in on that demand. Hell, Kim Kardashian owns one! Earlier this year at the eSprinter drive event I chatted with an exec from Benz’s vans division who said the goal isn’t to make the most luxurious van possible, but the most luxurious vehicle, period. The van shape will allow designers and engineers to really maximize the amount of lounge space, even more so than what you get in a Maybach S-Class or GLS. Such ultra-luxury vans have become mega popular in China, where some even have partitions with giant TV screens and accommodations that rival the best private jets.
Earlier this summer Mercedes took a specially built prototype from Stuttgart to the North Cape to test the VAN.EA’s battery, chassis and powertrain. Current road testing is focusing on “the interaction of all components within the vehicle,” and next up will be winter testing in Sweden. Mercedes hasn’t said exactly when the V-Class will debut, only that it will be coming out in 2026, so a reveal could happen at some point next year.
