Mercedes' Concept EQV can transport 8 passengers with its 249 mile range

The premium van is more about moving people than goods.

A single passenger EV is a good way to reduce your carbon footprint. But if you really want to make a difference, you go with a vehicle that transports a lot of humans around. That's what Mercedes is doing with its Concept EQV. a high-end van for moving lots of folks at once.

The van has an expected range of 249 miles via a 100kWh battery pack and has all the trappings of a premium transporter. Mercedes says it can be configured to handle up to eight passengers and is configurable for families or high-end clients. Plus, it can be set up to haul equipment.

Like all new Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the Concept EQV will have the voice-centric MBUX infotainment system. Also, it'll probably have the automaker's driver's assist suite once it goes into production.

While today's vehicle looks currently represent the automaker's EQ concept, the automaker will be showing off a more production ready van at the Frankfurt auto show in September this year.

Mercedes-Benz will finally introduce an all-electric minivan to the United States in 2026, with the successor to the all-electric EQV made available to American customers for the first time.

Company officials told WardsAuto that the third-generation minivan will return to the US as the V-Class, dropping the EQV name used in European markets. The new model will be underpinned by the upcoming VAN.EA platform, which is modular and scalable, allowing Mercedes to base myriad vans of different shapes and sizes on the same architecture.

Like the new V-Class, these commercial and luxury vans will arrive in 2026 and offer customers a wide range of options at different price points. According to the report, the third-generation V-Class will have single and dual motor setups, two different battery sizes, and a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. Customers will also be able to choose from various seating configurations.

CarBuzz has reached out to Mercedes-Benz for confirmation and additional information and will update the article once we receive a reply.

First introduced in 2013, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class recently received its second facelift to keep it feeling fresh. Sales remain strong in Europe and Asia, where buyers demand premium minivans. While the styling updates were kept to a minimum, the interior benefitted from drastic styling updates, MBUX, and other technologies.

The closest thing America had to the V-Class was the Metris Passenger Van, discontinued due to slow sales and a lack of demand. More commercial in its approach, it will be interesting to see whether the automaker can appeal to US consumers with the next-generation electric van, which will undoubtedly be more upmarket than the Metris.

Interestingly, the current V-Class will soldier on with diesel and gasoline power until the end of the decade, receiving extra updates between then and now. US-market models will be built at the automaker's facility in Vitoria, Spain.

Mercedes' VAN.EA architecture has what Mercedes refers to as 'blocks.' There are three of these so-called blocks, with the first block identical in all vans, regardless of size or cost. This segment will contain the front axle and the electric drivetrain, while the second block will determine the length and size of the cabin or cargo area. In the final block, you'll find another electric motor.

The new V-Class will be based on the VAN.EA-P platform (P is for privately positioned). Vehicles underpinned by this architecture will be aimed at private customers, VIPs, and high-end hotels. Mercedes has said it aims for an electric range of 310 miles and Level 2 self-driving technology. Impressively, we could even see Level 3 autonomous driving used in certain parts of the USA in S-Class and EQS models.

For now, Mercedes customers wanting a spacious and luxurious family hauler have to settle for the GLS-Class. It's also worth noting the German automaker has launched an all-electric eSprinter commercial van.