It all started with a chassis, a cargo area and an idea: to transport goods faster, more reliably and more flexibly than ever before. What Karl Benz put on the road in 1896 with the "Combinations Delivery Vehicle" was much more than a vehicle, it was a completely new vehicle category. At the same time, Gottlieb Daimler was also developing commercial vehicles. 130 years later, the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle range extends from fully electric delivery vehicles to large, digitally connected commercial vehicles. And in between, generations of vehicles that have shaped entire industries, changed the world of logistics and helped people in their daily work. This page tells the story of Mercedes-Benz, from its beginnings in the German Empire to today's new van architecture. Fans of Mercedes-Benz classics and fans of modern classics will find a lot to discover here.
The end of the 19th century was characterized by a technological boom. Industrialization was in full swing, cities were growing, and the movement of goods was increasing. Horse-drawn carts still dominated the roads, but the first motorized vehicles were already beginning to appear, still unusual and still attracting attention. In 1896, Karl Benz introduced the first van, setting in motion a change that would change the history of the world of logistics.
Custom-made loading capacity: Benz Gaggenau EK 1 (from 1907)
Starting in 1907, the Gaggenau factory produced a wide range of delivery vans. The EK 1 offered a loading capacity of up to 1.5 tons, demonstrating that even then, Benz saw the van as a vehicle category in its own right.
The first of its kind: Benz Combinations Delivery Vehicle (from 1896)
A delivery van built on the "Velociped" chassis: 1.8 kW power, 300 kg load capacity, and a speed of 30 km/h. Small numbers, big impact, the starting point for 130 years of commercial vehicle history.
A new beginning after the merger: Mercedes-Benz L 1 (from 1926)
In 1926, the L 1 was the first commercial vehicle of Daimler-Benz AG, the new company created by the merger of Daimler and Benz. It was modern, extremely maneuverable, and adapted to urban traffic.
Speed for business: Mercedes-Benz L 1000 Express (1929)
Based on the Mercedes-Benz 260 Stuttgart passenger car, a one-ton delivery van was created, economical, fast and reliable. As the 1930 catalog stated: "Always ready for service."
When design meets functionality: Mercedes-Benz L 300 (1932)
The L 300 was based on the successful 170 passenger car model. It was carefully designed as a mobile advertising vehicle, while at the same time being robust enough to carry delicate goods even on rough roads.
City, village, post office: Mercedes-Benz L 70 / L 1500 (from 1936)
The L 70 series brought a new generation of light trucks to the road, with models such as the L 1100 and L 1500. Whether in flatbed, closed commercial, bus, chassis for dedicated applications or other configurations, they found their place almost everywhere.
Also convenient at work: Mercedes-Benz 170 V commercial vehicle (from 1937)
Independent suspension, swing axle and a proven 4-cylinder engine: in the commercial version, the 170 V expressed a principle that guides Mercedes-Benz to this day, technology designed to serve people.
The factories were destroyed, but demand was huge. Production resumed in 1946, initially with a flatbed truck based on a pre-war model. Thus began a story of an extraordinary new beginning.
Starting over in difficult conditions: Mercedes-Benz 170 V commercial vehicle (1946)
A flatbed truck, based on the proven 170 V passenger car, was Mercedes-Benz's first post-war vehicle, in May 1946. By the end of 1949, 1,650 vehicles had been produced, despite a severe shortage of raw materials.
The correct vehicles: Mercedes-Benz L 319 / O 319 (from 1955)
In 1955, the pioneers of modern commercial vehicles arrived: the "Düsseldorfer Transporter", the Mercedes-Benz L 319, and the Mercedes-Benz O 319 based on it. By 1968, some 123,000 vehicles had rolled off the production lines.
Mercedes-Benz L 206 D / L 306 D, "Harburg Van" (from 1971)
The nickname "Sparbrummer" (economical van) well expressed the spirit of the times. During and after the 1973 oil crisis, the Harburg model stood out thanks to its economical diesel engines, front-mounted engine, front-wheel drive and a level of safety that was acceptable in passenger cars.
252 versions: Mercedes-Benz T 1, "Berman Van" (from 1977)
The T 1 was the "Mercedes-Benz of commercial vehicles": 252 versions, cargo volume of up to 9.6 cubic meters, short nose with a crash zone. A real work vehicle, and also the basis for an entire generation of campers, with about 945,000 vehicles produced.
Big tasks, smart solutions: Mercedes-Benz T 2 (from 1986)
With a total weight of up to 7.5 tons, a cargo volume of up to 15.4 cubic meters and three wheelbases: the Mercedes-Benz T 2 combined high loading capacity with good ergonomics, and remained true to its path even off-road, thanks to optional all-wheel drive.
All-rounder: Mercedes-Benz MB 100 (from 1987)
In 1987, the MB 100 redefined the concept of versatility. With versions ranging from closed vans to motorhomes, it was compact enough for narrow city streets and powerful enough for strenuous daily work.
Mercedes-Benz Vario, when capability meets practicality (since 1997)
The Vario replaced the T 2 and offered a payload of up to 4.4 tonnes and a flexible concept that could be adapted to almost any application. In 1997 the message was: "The Vario that doesn't yet exist has yet to be invented."
Vaneo, a multi-utility based on the A-Class (from 2001)
Based on the A-Class, the Vaneo combined a family car, an SUV and a spacious vehicle. As a multi-purpose vehicle, it offered flexibility that suited a wide range of everyday needs.
Compact and electric: Citan, T-Class and EQT (from 2012)
The Citan was launched in 2012. Its second generation, along with the fully electric eCitan, arrived in 2021. The following year, the T-Class expanded the passenger model range. In 2024, the fully electric EQT also joined.
X-Class, open to new ideas (from 2017)
Mercedes-Benz entered the van category in 2017 with the X-Class. The 470 series, with an open cargo bed, was developed in collaboration with Renault-Nissan and remained in the model range until 2020.
The Sprinter was launched in 1995. In a short time, the Sprinter has become synonymous with an entire vehicle category. 3 generations, more than 5 million vehicles to date, and the story is far from over.
Want to get to know today's Sprinter?
The Sprinter was the first Mercedes-Benz van to bear the star emblem, and also the first to have its own name instead of a numerical code. And the name was not only catchy, it summed up the concept of the vehicle, for example in terms of road handling and comfort. Customers enjoyed a combination that was unique at the time: a unibody, independent front suspension and ABS as standard with automatic braking differential. In 1995, this was a high level of safety on an international scale. The Sprinter also brought the first direct-injection diesel engine to a Mercedes-Benz van. In the fall of 2003, the one millionth unit rolled off the production line in Düsseldorf. The 2000 Sprinter catalogue put it well: "Until now, it was almost impossible to build a van better than the Sprinter. That's why we did it ourselves."
With a larger load capacity, a new design and ESP® as standard, the second generation of the Sprinter raised the bar once again. Known within the company as the NCV3, it offered 3 wheelbases, 4 lengths, 3 roof heights and a gross vehicle weight of 3 to 5 tonnes. New CDI diesel engines with BlueEFFICIENCY technology significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions. In 2016, a 5.5-tonne version was added, further expanding the range of applications. The Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle industry and body builders can now meet almost any customer requirement directly from the factory.
The third generation arrived with a smoother design, an aerodynamically optimized grille and a significant leap in connectivity. As the first Mercedes-Benz van to be equipped with the MBUX multimedia system, “Hey Mercedes” also became part of the delivery work. Front-wheel drive was added as a new option, along with the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC system and a wide range of engines with an output of up to 140 kW. In 2020, the eSprinter joined. Its second generation, launched from 2023, offers a driving range of up to 478 km, depending on the battery size. In 2025, the five millionth Sprinter rolled off the production line at the Charleston plant in the United States. It was the eSprinter.
Since 1995, the Vito has represented a clear idea: a van that combines the demands of the working world with the comfort of a passenger car.
Want to get to know more Vito models?
The 1995 Vito was the first medium-sized Mercedes-Benz van designed from the start to offer passenger car-level comfort. Standard disc brakes on all four wheels, ABS, a driver's airbag and MacPherson strut front suspension also brought the safety level up to that of a passenger car. At 1.89 metres high, it fit in almost any parking space. In 1996 the V-Class joined, clearly aimed at private use and offering a more luxurious version, with air suspension as standard and separate rear seats that could be positioned separately or removed. The same year the Marco Polo was also introduced as a compact recreational vehicle.
In 2003, the Vito came to market in a completely new design, this time with rear-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive, and for the first time in the segment also with a four-wheel drive version. With 3 body lengths, 2 roof heights and engines up to V6, the new Vito really grew along with its tasks. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz positioned the Viano as a more upscale version, with improved noise insulation, high-quality materials in the interior design and a clear focus on families and shuttle services. In 2010, the series underwent a facelift, and with the battery-electric Vito E-CELL it provided a first glimpse of the electrification of the segment.
In 2014, the third generation of the Vito was presented to the world for the first time, larger, safer and more versatile. The wheelbase remained unchanged, but the 447 series was extended by up to 130 mm and offered more space for both cargo and passengers. Uniquely for the category, both the Vito and the V-Class, which was intended for private use, were equipped as standard with front airbags and a seat belt reminder system, even in the basic trim level. The Crosswind Assist system as standard was also a notable feature. In 2020, a comprehensive update arrived, which included the OM654 diesel engine family, DISTRONIC and AIRMATIC air suspension.
As early as 2018, with the eVito, Mercedes-Benz brought electric drive to the everyday work of commercial vehicles. Quiet in city traffic, the eVito proved that electric drive and commercial usability can definitely go together. In 2020, the EQV, intended for private use, joined as a fully electric version of the V-Class for passenger transport. Both models represent the consistent transition from research to series production, from the first trials with the Vito E-CELL in 2010 to a mature electric drive system as part of the regular model range.
The V-Class, intended for private use, was launched in 1996 as a direct continuation of the development of the 638 series. It was based on the same platform as the Vito, but with a different ambition: a luxurious and spacious MPV instead of a commercial vehicle, individual seats instead of a cargo area and air suspension instead of steel springs. Up to 7 adult passengers plus luggage could travel comfortably, and the rear seats could be positioned separately or removed completely. In 1996, the compact Marco Polo, the V-Class in an RV version, also joined. With the third generation in 2014, the 447 series, Mercedes-Benz further refined the character of the model with body-colored bumpers, MULTIBEAM LED headlights and the AMG Line package.
One question has been running through the 130-year history of commercial vehicles from the very beginning: What will the commercial vehicle of tomorrow look like? Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles were born from the desire to answer this question again and again, with every model, every generation and every technological innovation. Today's answer is the "New Van Architecture": a common platform for all future models, both electric and conventional, connected and consistently designed around the needs of commercial and private customers. With the introduction of the VLE as a luxury electric MPV, this vision is starting to take shape. Here you can see that the pioneering spirit of 1896 still drives Mercedes-Benz today.
המידע והנתונים המופיעים באתר זה מתייחסים למגוון דגמים המשווקים במקומות שונים בעולם ומעודכנים למועד הבאת המקור הלועזי לתרגום. ייתכנו הבדלים בין התיאור המובא באתר זה לבין הדגמים המשווקים על-ידי חברתנו, הן מבחינת המפרט הטכני והן מבחינת האביזרים, הציוד והמערכות הנלוות. כמו כן ייתכנו הבדלים בדגם מסויים, בהתאם לשינויים הנעשים מזמן לזמן. חלק מהאביזרים ו/או המערכות המפורטים באתר זה מצוי רק בחלק מדגמי הרכבים, אין בפרסום המובא באתר זה כדי לחייב את היצרן ו/או את החברה בהספקת דגמים שיכללו את כל או חלק מהאביזרים, הציוד והמערכות המתוארים בו והם שומרים לעצמם את הזכות לבטל, להוסיף, לשנות ולשפר, ללא הודעה מוקדמת וללא עידכון באתר זה. נתוני צריכת הדלק, צריכת החשמל וטווח הנסיעה מתפרסמים על פי דין לפי בדיקות המעבדה. צריכת הדלק, צריכת החשמל וטווח הנסיעה בפועל מושפעים, בין היתר, גם מתנאי הדרך, מתחזוקת הרכב, ממאפייני הנהיגה ומקיבולת ובלאי הסוללה, ועל כן הם יכולים להיות שונים בהשוואה לנתוני המעבדה. התמונות באתר הינן להמחשה בלבד. האתר כפוף לשינוי ללא הודעה מוקדמת. ט.ל.ח.
