Each the eCitan, an electrical panel van, and the EQT, a high-roof property geared toward non-public prospects, are merchandise of Mercedes-Benz’s collaboration with Renault, which is nearing its conclusion. Each fashions are manufactured at Renault’s facility in Maubeuge, France, and make the most of the electrical drivetrain discovered within the Kangoo E-Tech Electrical. This setup options an electrical motor with an influence output of 90 kW and a battery that gives 44.5 kWh of power.
The vary is modest, with a WLTP-rated distance of 278 kilometers, usually enough for a supply van however comparatively low for personal shoppers on this worth class. The pricier Mercedes fashions don’t provide any important benefits over their Renault or Nissan counterparts, which share the identical know-how, and are usually extra inexpensive. Furthermore, the electrical variations haven’t met Mercedes’s expectations, nor have the Citan and T-Class combustion variants. In 2024, solely 28,500 small vans have been offered, reflecting a lower of about ten p.c in comparison with 2023. Consequently, this phase represented lower than ten p.c of the whole gross sales in Mercedes’ van division.
Based on Auto, Motor und Sport, a German publication, Mercedes has acknowledged, “In keeping with the ‘progress in worthwhile segments’ technique communicated in Could 2023, we’re deploying our investments in a focused method and additional optimizing our product portfolio. We’re subsequently specializing in the midsize and huge van phase sooner or later and can finish our involvement within the small van phase subsequent 12 months.” This means that the small vans haven’t confirmed worthwhile, prompting Mercedes-Benz Vans to focus on extra profitable market segments from the V-Class upward.
The cooperation with Renault and Nissan started in 2009, throughout the tenures of CEOs Dieter Zetsche and Carlos Ghosn. It coated mild business automobiles, partnerships with Sensible and Renault, and varied engine developments. Most of those tasks have now concluded, with the ultimate collaboration in mild business automobiles set to finish in mid-2026.
Regardless of the upcoming finish of manufacturing, Mercedes-Benz Vans reassures that it’ll proceed to help its small van choices available in the market. The corporate has dedicated to offering spare elements for the Citan, eCitan, T-Class, and EQT for as much as ten years, and mobility-related spare elements for so long as fifteen years after manufacturing ceases.
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