Mercedes-Benz VLE goes on sale: up to 713 km of range and 800 V fast charging

Mercedes-Benz builds the VLE at its Vitoria plant, where pre-series production began as early as September 2025. The same plant will also continue flexible production of the V-Class, Vito and eVito. For Europe, the first clearly confirmed sales market is Germany. The VLE can already be configured and ordered there, although Mercedes stresses that some equipment features and powertrain versions will be added later.

The VLE enters the market at the upper end. In Germany, the VLE 300 with the Advanced Plus package costs 82,260 euros as a five-seater and 82,712 euros as a six-seater. As an alternative, Mercedes offers the EXCLUSIVE version with the Premium Plus package, which adds, among other things, a head-up display, the MBUX Superscreen and DIGITAL LIGHT headlights. Both launch versions come with AIRMATIC air suspension and the Sky View panoramic roof.

That will not remain the bottom end of the range. During the year, a standard-spec five-seat VLE 300 is due to be added in Germany from 70,464 euros, while the six-seat version is expected to start at 70,916 euros. In 2027, an approximately 18 cm longer body version will arrive, along with the VLE 250 with an 80 kWh LFP battery. The source gives the price of the five-seat, front-wheel-drive base model as 64,804 euros.

The VLE 300 uses a 203 kW electric drive, front-wheel drive and a lithium-ion battery with 115 kWh of usable capacity. According to Mercedes-Benz, the VLE 300 with the Advanced Plus package can travel up to 713 kilometres in the WLTP cycle. In standard length, the vehicle measures 5,309 mm, is 1,999 mm wide and 1,951 mm high.

The 800-volt electrical architecture allows DC fast charging at up to 300 kW. Under ideal conditions, up to 355 km of WLTP range can be added in 15 minutes. Mercedes also notes that 400-volt fast-charging infrastructure can be used, but for that the VLE requires the optional DC converter.

During 2026, a 4MATIC all-wheel-drive model with the 115 kWh battery will be added, along with AMG Line and AMG Line Plus packages and new equipment packs. All versions are expected to be available with five, six, seven or eight seats.

According to Electrive, the all-wheel-drive VLE 400 4MATIC will have a 305 kW drivetrain and is expected to arrive later in 2026. That places the VLE squarely in the overlap between VIP transport, hotel shuttles and a premium family car, where acceleration is not the main message, but extra power and all-wheel drive add confidence on long journeys.

Mercedes calls the VLE a "Grand Limousine", rather than simply the electric successor to a van. The model combines MPV spaciousness with sedan-like ride comfort.

At the centre of the cabin is a flexible seating system. Roll & Go allows manually adjustable seats to be moved, folded and removed. In versions with electrically adjustable seats, the rear compartment can be reconfigured via MB.OS using the infotainment system, buttons in the side panels or the Mercedes-Benz app.

The comfort features support its premium positioning. Depending on the version, the VLE gets the MBUX Superscreen, up to three front displays, a 31.3-inch rear-compartment screen, AIRMATIC air suspension, rear-wheel steering, power sliding doors and the Sky View panoramic roof. According to official Mercedes-Benz information, the steering rear wheels reduce the turning circle to 10.9 metres, and AIRMATIC can vary the vehicle's height by 40 mm.

The VLE's commercial logic differs from that of the EQV. In Europe, Mercedes is not selling it simply as an electric minibus, but as a luxurious, spacious vehicle intended to cover the needs of families, business customers, hotel shuttles and VIP transport all at once. The price, 115 kWh battery, 800-volt charging and sedan-like comfort show that Mercedes wants to push the electric MPV into premium-class pricing with this model.