Mercedes-Benz is enhancing its Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) to accommodate both electric and combustion engine vans. Originally designed exclusively for electric vehicles, VAN.EA will now integrate a variant called Van Combustion Architecture (VAN.CA), enabling the production of both powertrains on a single, modular platform.
This approach allows for approximately 70% shared components between electric and combustion models, streamlining production and reducing complexity.
The company’s plant in Vitoria, Spain, is being adapted to manufacture these versatile vans, with the first electric models expected by mid-2026 and combustion variants potentially by 2027. This strategy aims to flexibly meet diverse customer needs while achieving economies of scale.
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