The V-Class, that trusty workhorse from Mercedes, the van that’s ferried more CEOs and footballers than a cabbie could ever dream of. It’s what you drive when you’re too lazy for a regular car but too posh for a bog-standard van. And now, in a world where petrol is as outdated as a fax machine, Mercedes has decided to give it an electric makeover. Enter the VLE, the electric successor to the EQV, which has just taken its first baby steps in the Vitoria factory in Spain. Pre-series production, they call it. Sounds like a baby shower for a car, but let’s be real: it’s just Mercedes doing its homework before the big reveal.
No fluffy introductions here, let’s dive straight into the facts, because they’re exciting enough. Last week, the first pre-production models rolled off the line, all draped in camouflage thicker than a winter duvet. Why? Because Mercedes isn’t ready to show us its curves just yet, obviously. But from the teasers and spy shots, we can tell this beast takes heavy cues from the Vision V concept car, that futuristic bubble on wheels unveiled in April. Sleek, elongated lines, an interior that screams “I’m for people who sip champagne in traffic jams,” and enough space to haul an entire football team, egos included. This isn’t just a van; it’s an electric VIP shuttle, built to impress while gliding silently through the city.
Technically, the VLE sits on the VAN.EA platform, Mercedes’ new electric construction kit for vans. Think modular batteries you can tweak like Lego bricks – more range for long hauls, or more cargo space if you’re running a moving company with a Mercedes obsession. The EQV, its predecessor, was already a taxman’s darling with its electric perks, but slow as a snail on a diet. The VLE promises to fix that: snappier acceleration, smarter handling thanks to MB.OS, the new operating system Mercedes Vans is finally rolling out in series production. And yes, there’s a VLS variant too, the fancier sibling with even more leather and gadgets, plus a good old combustion-engine version for the purists who aren’t ready to kiss exhaust fumes goodbye.
The Vitoria factory? It’s gone full eco-warrior. Sustainable production, optimized lines, and enough solar panels to light up the entire Spanish coast. Starting in 2026, it’ll churn out not just the VLE but also the new V-Class, Vito, and eVito – a mix of electric and old-school, as if Mercedes can’t decide between vegan and a juicy steak. Smart move, because the market’s still split: some want zero emissions, others crave that engine roar under the hood.
But here’s the kicker, and it’s as big as a flat tyre: when will we, the common folk, finally get to drive this beauty? The world debut is slated for the first half of 2026. Yep, you read that right – we’ve got to wait another year, maybe more, depending on how slowly the bureaucracy grinds. While Teslas are already zipping around like rockets, Mercedes is faffing about with pre-series models. Typically German: perfection over speed, reliability over bravado. The result? A van that’ll probably outlast your marriage, with a range that’ll get you from Brussels to Barcelona without a sigh of relief at a charging station.
Still, if you can see past the frustration, this is a masterstroke. The VLE isn’t just an electric upgrade; it’s Mercedes reclaiming the van market in an era where diesel has a worse rep than a cigarette in a lift. More luxury, more tech, less CO2 – and hopefully less noise, because let’s face it, nobody misses the drone of a combustion engine on a family road trip.
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