Not only is Mercedes-Benz coming to market soon with an all-new, modular electrified van architecture — VAN.EA — but it’s also bringing a luxury electric midsize van and “built from factory” camper vans to the U.S. market. It looks like 2026 is going to be a good year for van life enthusiasts in North America!
Mercedes-Benz VAN.EA
We are just now seeing camoed Mercedes-Benz VAN.EA (Van Electric Architecture) vehicles rolling around on public roads being tested. While vans with similar underpinnings have been tested on public roads since June, this is the first time we’re getting a hint at what they might look like — although not much of one with the intense camo.
Next up for the Mercedes-Benz VAN.EA prototypes is winter testing in Sweden.
These vans are built on an all-new electric vehicle architecture that Mercedes-Benz plans to have under all its battery-electric-vehicle (BEV) vans in 2026. The reason why this is so cool is that the architecture is modular and scalable.
In practice, that means it will underpin everything from a luxury midsize van up to a huge commercial delivery van. It also means both front-wheel-drive (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations.
With this new VAN.EA architecture under its vans, the Mercedes-Benz Van “targets an EV share of up to 20% by 2026 and more than 50% by 2030.”
Mercedes-Benz Electric Midsize Van Coming to America
While the U.S. market has the Mercedes Metris midsize van, it hasn’t been a huge seller. Mercedes plans to try again in this market with another midsize luxury van, this time fully electric and with a new, unknown name.
We don’t know much more besides what we can see in these released camoed prototype images. However, we do know Mercedes is planning to give these vans a “planned range of well over” 310 miles.
Factory-Built Mercedes Campervans Coming Soon
Mercedes-Benz Vans USA has stated that it will also “expand the portfolio of RV vans ‘built from factory’ with a new model line of fully electric midsize and large camper vans, based on VAN.EA.” Yes, that means not only can we expect some factory-built and warrantied Sprinter-sized campervans, but also some more nimble Metris-sized campervans from the factory.
It sounds to me like Mercedes is bringing the electrified van life heat, and I’m stoked for it.
