Mercedes-Benz VLE 300 deliveries kick off, VLE 400 is next

Mercedes-Benz has officially entered a new category in the EV market with its high-end passenger van, the VLE. Assembly lines for the vehicle started moving last week at the company's historic manufacturing facility in Vitoria, Spain, and first customer deliveries have already started rolling out right alongside the launch of series production.

The German automaker designed the new electric van to provide a lot more room than the typical family minivans. The standard short-wheelbase VLE 300 is 209 inches long, 78.7 inches wide, and 76.5 inches tall. It also has a long wheelbase of 131.6 inches. A long-wheelbase version lengthens the body by an additional 6.9 inches, pushing the total length to 215.9 inches.

During the spring and summer 2026 ordering period, Mercedes-Benz is focusing production entirely on the premium launch editions of the front-wheel-drive VLE 300. This version has a single electric motor that delivers 272 horsepower and gets its energy from a 115 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Because of this massive battery, the van achieves an official WLTP driving range of up to 443 miles on a full charge, depending on the wheel sizes and seating choices selected.

Giant passenger vans are rarely built to set land speed records, but the new VLE provides plenty of everyday performance. The sprint from zero to 60 mph takes 6.5 seconds - slower than high-performance electric SUVs from competitors like Tesla or Lucid, but it is quick enough to startle passengers who expect a sluggish commercial van experience.

Driving a van this large can easily feel like steering a heavy delivery truck, but Mercedes-Benz added clever chassis hardware to fix this problem. The VLE gets a standard rear-axle steering system that can pivot the rear wheels by up to seven degrees, decreasing the turning circle to a tight 35.8 ft, helping the long vehicle maneuver through cramped city streets or multi-story parking garages with ease.

Long cross-country trips require ultra-fast charging capabilities, and the electrical architecture of the VLE easily accommodates high electrical power. The van uses an advanced 800V setup that can accept up to 300 kW of power when plugged into a compatible DC fast-charging station. This allows drivers to add approximately 200 miles of driving range in a brief 15 minutes. Under perfect conditions, the high-voltage battery can add up to 221 miles of range in that same short window - it seems charging stops will take less time than ordering a premium coffee.

The interior focuses on modular flexibility and high-end luxury options for passengers. Owners can easily slide, rearrange, or entirely remove the individual rear seats and benches because they ride on a mechanical rolling track system. This helps to convert the VLE from an eight-person commuter into a massive cargo transporter in just a couple of minutes.

The ultimate Grand Limousine trim gets a pair of electric Grand Comfort Seats in the center row. These seats reward occupants with an extra pillow, individual armrests, integrated cup holders, a wireless smartphone charging pad, pneumatic lumbar support, a massage function, and an adjustable leg rest for your calves.

The VLE lineup will expand sometime around September 2026 as Mercedes-Benz opens up more trims for customer orders. A dual-motor, all-wheel-drive VLE 400 4MATIC will debut over the coming months, pushing total output to 413 horsepower for people who need extra traction in cold weather. Families will also be able to customize their layouts from five to eight seats, while those looking for a sharper appearance can opt for the sportier AMG Line or AMG Line Plus packages.

As expected, all this premium engineering and battery tech inside large EVs comes with a hefty price tag. The high-spec launch edition of the VLE 300 in Germany starts from $96,370, and ticking every single luxury option box will easily push the price past $120,000. For more budget-conscious drivers, a standard entry-level version will arrive later this year, starting from around $82,600 for a five-seat configuration.

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