The Mercedes-Benz Vitoria factory has successfully started production of the first pre-series vehicles of the new all-electric Mercedes-Benz VLE and is thus preparing for the start of series production in 2026. To meet the requirements of the first vehicle based on the newly developed, modular and scalable Van architecture in production, the Vitoria plant has been comprehensively modernized.
"The new VLE is the first vehicle of our new, modular and highly flexible van architecture. In record time we have brought the VLE from the initial concept considerations to series maturity. In the entire development process we have consistently used innovative, digital methods and thereby created significant efficiencies," says Thomas Klein, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
In more than 160 different training offerings, around 5,000 employees at the site were trained in new processes and procedures, including in collaboration with other Mercedes-Benz plants. Topics included, for example, the integration of
new IT standards as well as the use of new technologies and materials.
Vans and Transporters on a Single Line
The Vitoria plant will from 2026 onward initially produce the all-electric VLE, the V-Class, later in the year also the Vito and eVito, according to customer demand. The VLE will be integrated into the ongoing production at the Vitoria plant, initially as an electric vehicle on the new Van.EA platform, later, as recently decided in view of the weak demand for electric vehicles, also with a hybrid internal-combustion engine on the 70-percent-identical Van.CA platform. The same modular and prioritized electric base should then also be used by the next Sprinter. While the current model will continue to be built and there will also be a transition phase at the Vito during which old diesel and new E-models are built in parallel.
Thus, drivetrain-flexible, various vehicle models run from
the same line. At the site a new, modern body-in-white and a likewise new, fully flexible paint shop have been created. The assembly hall was also modernized during ongoing production. The plant is to set benchmarks in sustainable van production, with production, as at other sites, carbon-neutral in accounting. Purchased electricity has already since 2013 come completely from renewable energy. At the Vitoria plant a PV plant has been installed. For heating the buildings the plant also relies on geothermal energy and uses the waste heat generated during painting of the vehicles. Digital production methods such as artificial intelligence and the creation of a digital twin of the production were used in preparing the new VLE at the plant.
For the first time, the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) is also being introduced into a van in serial production. One is proud that the Vitoria plant could implement the
preparations in the shortest possible time, says Bernd Krottmayer, site manager Mercedes-Benz Vitoria Plant.
Van Premiere for MB.OS Operating System
The VLE is intended to combine the best of two worlds: the driving behavior and handling of a sedan with the versatility and space of an MPV or van. With up to eight seats, the VLE portfolio ranges from flexible vehicles for families and recreation-active customers to exclusive shuttles. The VLE is the first vehicle based on the newly developed, modular and scalable van architecture. In the wind tunnel, best-in-class results for aerodynamics are claimed; during a long-distance trip from Stuttgart through the Alps to Rome, the VLE required two 15-minute charging stops. The platform thus features 800-volt technology, all-wheel steering, outputs up to 400 kW and driver assistance at Level 2+ or even 3 of automated driving, with Drive Pilot capabilities borrowed from the S-Class and EQS.
