Cars
Mercedes Sets Out to Make Sexy Vans With Yacht-Like Interiors
Turning the van into an object of desire will help justify significant investment in a dedicated platform for electric commercial vehicles.
A sneak peek at Mercedes-Benz’s new midsize van.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
Vans haven’t always been objects of desire. When Fiat launched its Multipla model in the late 1990s, supporters of the soccer team Juventus — many of whom worked for the Italian carmaker — were subjected to stadium banners calling them as unpleasant-looking as the van they built.
While Mercedes-Benz’s passenger car division likes to trumpet its popularity among royalty and world leaders, its vans division has long been more of the people. It’s had a longstanding cooperation with mass manufacturer Renault.