Mercedes-Benz's Latest Electric Van Completed Testing In Snowy Weather, Launches Next Year

JAKARTA - Mercedes-Benz is preparing a new electric van model based on the new Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) architecture. The latest news is that the car has completed a winter test on a snowy track.

The test took place in Arjeplog, Sweden, which ensures that the vehicle could last for a long time in the most extreme conditions.

Head of Development Mercedes-Benz Vans, Dr. Andreas Zygan said his party had optimized data from real-time testing, which would later become a provision for the car to be launched into production.

"Thanks to the Mission Control Center, we can optimize data from this van trip in real-time. This allows us to shorten the testing period significantly and make significant progress in terms of product maturity in a very efficient way," said Dr. Andreas Zygan, on the official Mercedes-Benz website, Wednesday, March 12.

One of the tests was knowing the behavior of vehicles in slippery road conditions, compared to dry asphalt. According to the manufacturer, the level of grip on ice and snow is 90 percent lower which has an impact on acceleration and braking.

This MPV has an innovative suspension system with rear axis steering increasing control and significantly reducing spins.

The VAN.EA architecture accommodates the 4 Matic drive system which is known to have the ability to run in various conditions. The future van Mercedes-Benz will be equipped with the latest Mercedes-Benz (MB.OS) operating system and can charge with fast-charging DC devices and 22 kW AC chargers.

In addition, the test also tested the vehicle's thermal management system and interior convenience. The manufacturer decided to cool the car in a special cooling room before starting the trip to ensure that all systems were operating smoothly, even at very low temperatures.

The car is planned to be launched globally in early 2026, as well as marking the era for Mercedes-Benz to deliver environmentally friendly multipurpose vehicles.