Mercedes-Benz – the benchmark in vans past, present and future

Last week I paid a flying 18 hour visit to Stuttgart, the home of Mercedes-Benz. The occasion was a mission to learn more about the next generation of its vans.

The 30-year anniversary promotions of the legendary Sprinter were naturally very evident at all Mercedes-Benz van facilities I visited in their home city, and with nearly five million Sprinters produced, it deserves the acclaim.

However, on this occasion, it was more the next five years that interested me most.

First up at the Wednesday morning press conference was seeing the next generation Sprinter – literally set in stone. The Boulder sculpture (pictured below) was centre stage. That was all the design information as there is no launch date on the horizon for the next generation of this legend.

The Mercedes-Benz Boulder sculpture is a very early and limited teaser of what the next Sprinter van design will be.

What we did get confirmed was that the fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will be offered with both combustion and electric powertrains and remain especially designed for the needs of the commercial segment.

And as you would expect, it will be available in multiple combinations of wheelbase, body length and roof-height. It will come as a cargo van, crew-cab van, passenger van, and chassis-cab.

A blast from the past – the original Mercedes-Benz delivery van
There was also a real blast from the past on the side stage – a replica from 1899 of one of Carl Benz’s first two inventions – the first motorised transporters in 1896 – the closed delivery van based on the passenger model.

It featured a removable body box that could be taken off and converted into a passenger car in a few minutes. It was powered by one cylinder, four-stroke engine with a displacement of 2.7-litre and three horsepower. It could carry up to 100kg payload plus driver, and could travel between 15 and 20 km/h.

Looking into what Mercedes-Benz Vans tells us about its next generation vans

Today, Mercedes-Benz Vans says that it not only invented the light commercial segment, but it is constantly innovating. And with over 80 per cent of Mercedes-Benz Commercial’s sales being new commercial vans, the brand continues to develop customer-focussed LCVs that add value to the operator. It boasts that it doesn’t aim to meet customers requirements, but to exceed them.

Mercedes-Benz is also set on widening the gap between its big selling commercial vans and its existing van-based passenger and MPV-style models. Both will benefit from technology advancements but the passenger vehicles such as the new VLS and VLE due to be launched next year (first to arrive will be the all electric models, followed by the internal combustion vans), will be more car-like with more more luxurious version options.

Meanwhile, the next generation commercial vans will be even more functional, and target exceeding the many requirements of van buyers. All sprinters will share the same platform but will be built with different commercial and passenger vehicle buyers in focus.

We were given access to an early concept of what will be the next generation van. We also got to see a cutaway of the front cabin of the next VLE/ VLS passenger versions, due next year. Unfortunately, I have been forbidden to write about what I saw in that top secret area.

Mercedes-Benz also confirmed that the final new architecture of its commercial vans will form the basis of all newly developed medium-sized and large Mercedes-Benz vans in the future.

Mercedes-Benz research last year (for all of 2024) shows that a massive 77 per cent of Sprinter owners buy another Sprinter when replacing their existing one. That is big customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. And for that reason, manufacturers that are that fortunate, do not tend to alter designs drastically. However, with vans, the generations last longer so there has to be greater styling and design jumps.

The well disguised next generation Mercedes-Benz VLE/ VLS passenger transporters pictured during testing. They will be launched late next year. Picture complements of Mercedes-Benz.

The next generation Mercedes-Benz vans will be more digital than ever before. In the case of commercial vans, it promises that they will embraces 5G architecture and AI like none have ever done before.

It aims to alleviate a lot of technical frustration that van drivers experience by simplifying systems and also third-party apps that can work with the new Mercedes-Benz operating system.

New MB.OS operating system that’s geared to commercial use

Mercedes-Benz promises new standards in terms of connectivity and software thanks to the group’s new operating system, MB.OS. It says that it is geared to commercial use and that it will redefine the van segment once again.

From 2026 every new Mercedes-Benz van model launched will feature MB.OS
It will result in even more versatility, efficiency and more intelligent operations. It will open many new possibilities and services for commercial users and Mercedes-Benz plan to tailor these to its van customers’ needs.

It boasts that it will redefine digital in the commercial segments. It will allow for customers to build-in their own software and solutions. So customers can integrate their own apps, fleet management and navigation tools.

Mercedes-Benz says that MB.OS will take its van customers to the next level by providing the architecture that enables the experience. It adds that your van becomes another key digital asset: continuously upgradable, intelligence in every domain (that’s Infotainment, automated driving, body & comfort, as well as driving & charging), and enhanced by personalised AI experience that keeps learning. It is designed by Mercedes-Benz but tailored to customer needs.

But what are the real-world benefits for customers? Mercedes-Benz says that van drivers and owners will be always up to date; electric driving will be made easier; There will be less downtimes as the software identifies issues before they let you down and lets your workshop know; and that it will all be your data, so your choice.

Continuing the customer oriented approach, Mercedes-Benz reiterates that it will be digital like never before in tits next generation vans, offering over the air updates, more productive work days, smarter tools, and less downtime. And at no additional cost, as it is included in the vans architecture.