Mercedes-Benz has started series production of the new VLE electric passenger van in Vitoria, Spain, and deliveries have already begun. The first version on sale is the rear-wheel-drive VLE 300, which pairs a 272 hp motor with a 115 kWh battery and claims up to 713 km of WLTP range. That puts the Mercedes VLE squarely in the long-haul bracket, even before the more powerful all-wheel-drive version arrives.
It is also a very large vehicle that does not drive like one on paper. Mercedes says the VLE needs 6.5 seconds to reach 96.5 km/h, while rear-wheel steering cuts the turning circle to 10.9 meters. For buyers who need limousine comfort rather than a people-mover with ambition, that is the sort of setup that makes sense: big outside, less awkward inside city streets.
Mercedes VLE battery, range, and charging figures
The VLE rides on an 800-volt architecture and supports charging at up to 300 kW. Mercedes says 15 minutes at a fast charger can add about 322 km of range, which is the kind of number that makes route planning far less annoying than in many older electric vans. Range anxiety is not dead, but it is getting more expensive to keep alive.
- Power: 272 hp
- Battery: 115 kWh
- WLTP range: up to 713 km
- Fast charging: up to 300 kW
- Added range in 15 minutes: about 322 km
Cabin layouts from shuttle to luxury lounge
Inside, Mercedes is pitching the VLE as more than a van with nicer trim. The seats sit on a rail system, so they can be moved, rearranged, or removed entirely, and the vehicle can carry between 5 and 8 passengers or switch into cargo duty. That flexibility is the real selling point: one platform, several jobs, fewer excuses to buy separate vehicles.
The Grand Limousine version goes even further with massage seats, lumbar support, wireless charging, footrests, armrests, and integrated cup holders. Premium vans are a niche with surprisingly little patience for compromise, and Mercedes is clearly aiming at that audience rather than the bargain shuttle crowd.
Mercedes VLE 400 4MATIC and pricing in Germany
Mercedes will add the VLE 400 4MATIC in autumn 2026. That version gets two electric motors, 413 hp, and the all-wheel-drive badge that tends to matter once roads turn wet, snowy, or just inconvenient. AMG Line packages and more seating configurations are also due later, which should help Mercedes cover the usual high-end van checklist.
Pricing in Germany starts at 82,260 euros for the VLE 300. Fully equipped versions can climb above 100,000 euros, while a more affordable variant is promised later at 70,500 euros. That puts the VLE in the same general price territory as the new BMW i3 50 xDrive in Germany, a reminder that electric family transport is no longer the cheap-and-cheerful corner of the market.
The bigger question is whether Mercedes can make the VLE feel like a genuine alternative to premium SUVs and executive shuttles, not just a very expensive way to move more people. With this range, charging speed, and cabin flexibility, the company has given itself a strong opening. The next test is whether buyers outside the traditional van crowd will care enough to follow.