Mercedes-Benz has mentioned up till now that its future vans could be primarily based on a devoted electrical structure, however on Thursday it confirmed plans for a brand new internal-combustion van structure as nicely.
Electrical vans primarily based on the brand new Van.EA platform will nonetheless debut in 2026, as beforehand mentioned. They’re going to now be joined by different fuel-burning fashions primarily based on a “second variant of the structure” known as Van.CA, for Combustion Structure, Mercedes mentioned in a press launch.
Mercedes-Benz van architectures
Combustion and electrical vans will share 70% of elements, in line with Mercedes, and will probably be produced on the identical meeting traces. That commonality will assist the automaker obtain economies of scale and permit extra flexibility as demand for a given powertrain kind ebbs and flows. At present, Mercedes provides each gasoline and diesel vans within the U.S., in addition to in Europe and different markets.
Just some months in the past, Mercedes was saying that every one of its future medium and huge vans could be primarily based on the Van.EA foundation. That leaves out smaller vans, however there was no point out within the launch of the Van.CA being particular to a given car measurement. And the emphasis on elements commonality implies comparable vans, with solely the powertrains being completely different.

Teaser for Mercedes-Benz Van.EA idea
This would not be the primary time that Mercedes has made has modified course on electrical vans. It as soon as had a cope with Rivian to make electrical vans for Europe, however is now relying solely on the in-house Van.EA platform. An idea car primarily based on that platform will debut this spring, heralding manufacturing fashions that can arrive subsequent 12 months.
In the meantime, the present Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is constructed on the identical chassis as combustion vans. And looking out forward Mercedes seems to be committing to plenty of tailpipes and gas tanks moderately than a way forward for all-electric vans.