To meet customer demand Mercedes-Benz Vans will offer vans with ICE powertrains alongside electric vehicles (EV) built on a single architecture going forward.

Mercedes EV van architecture

Mercedes EV van architecture

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Starting in 2026, the fully electric models of the Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) will be introduced, with the second variant of the architecture, the Van Combustion Architecture (VAN.CA), using state-of-the-art combustion-engine vans, to follow.

The company says both variants, will share around 70% of common parts and will be produced on the same line.

This addition of ICE powertrains to the architecture marks a change in direction from the launch of the VAN.EA platform in 2023, which at that time marked the start of the “electric-only” strategy. Mercedes says the VAN.EA platform will accommodate both midsize and large vans and should reduce complexity and costs in production.

The OEM says it has reorganised the global production network with its first pure electric light commercial vehicles (eLCV) plant in Jawor, Poland.

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