{"id":3714,"date":"2024-03-08T18:44:30","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T18:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automarketwatch.com\/?p=3714"},"modified":"2024-03-08T18:44:30","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T18:44:30","slug":"a-new-mercedes-option-for-the-chauffeured-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automarketwatch.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/08\/a-new-mercedes-option-for-the-chauffeured-class\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Mercedes Option for the Chauffeured Class"},"content":{"rendered":"

Based on the Van.EA platform, the new Mercedes vans will offer space and luxury. The automaker hopes the vehicles will succeed where the discontinued Metris failed.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Mercedes Plans to Bring a Luxurious All-Electric Van to America<\/h2>\n

Manufacturing of two new vans based on Mercedes\u2019 new Van.EA platform is set to start in 2026. These vans will be luxurious enough to give modern limousines a run for their money, and passengers won\u2019t have to bend down to move through them.<\/p>\n

Although manufacturing will start in Spain, the automaker expects to bring production to its American plant in North Charleston, SC, soon after. According to Mathias Geisen, the head of the Mercedes-Benz van division, America is one of their core growth markets.<\/p>\n

Demand for Luxury Vans Is On the Rise in the US<\/h3>\n

Europe remains the largest market for Mercedes\u2019 luxury vans today, accounting for around 60% of sales. However, demand is growing in the US. The Sprinter van performs better by sales volume in America than anywhere other than the company\u2019s home market of Germany.<\/p>\n

Mercedes<\/strong><\/a> plans to use the Van.EA platform to support both mid-size and full-size vans<\/strong><\/a>. The automaker will target private clients in addition to courting commercial buyers.<\/p>\n

Last spring, the company promised consumers it would begin production of camper vans built off its new all-electric platform. These new luxury vans will undoubtedly be more expensive, but they will also offer comfort and convenience designed for VIPs.<\/p>\n

Will the New Vans Fare Better Than the Metris?<\/h3>\n

Some critics question whether the new Mercedes<\/strong><\/a> luxury van line will fare better in the United States than the now-discontinued Metris. While the Metris struggled to succeed in the American market, this new lineup promises more.<\/p>\n

Mercedes designed the new all-electric vans to use the VAN.EA-P platform. They will have a range of 311 miles. The highly luxurious vans will become VIP shuttles, mobile offices, and passenger vehicles for wealthy families.<\/p>\n

Carving out this unique niche may help the new vans succeed where the Metris failed. As a commercial van lineup, it had tough competition. However, the luxury van market is wide open.<\/p>\n

What to Expect and When We\u2019ll Have It<\/h3>\n

Mercedes plans to launch the new passenger vans with level 2 automated driving functionality. That means drivers could take a hands-off approach, trusting AI to do most of the work but maintaining focus on the road.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s truly exciting for the future is that Mercedes doesn\u2019t plan to stop at level 2 automation. The automaker is already hard at work perfecting a level 3 automated system that will be ready by the decade’s end.<\/p>\n

Level 3 automation allows drivers to take an almost entirely hands-off approach. The system promises to manage nearly all aspects of driving, including monitoring, without requiring human intervention.<\/p>\n

For now, the new luxury electric van will be built alongside Mercedes\u2019 all-electric eSprinter, already on sale in the United States as of February.<\/p>\n