In the run-up to its 130 Years of Transportation celebration, Mercedes-Benz isn’t just dusting off its archives—it’s bridging them to the electric, digital future of commercial mobility. With a side-by-side presentation of the world’s oldest roadworthy delivery van, a Benz Combination Delivery Vehicle from 1899, and today’s electric eSprinter, the brand that literally invented the van is making a statement: progress is tradition.
And to prove it, Mercedes unveiled something unexpected—a 6.5-meter-long stone sculpture called “THE BOuLDER.” Yes, a van carved from rock. It’s a metaphor made tangible, symbolizing durability and craftsmanship while hinting at the sculpted form of the next-generation Sprinter.
Milled from a single block of material, the massive artwork teases the future van’s proportions and contours—a silent but powerful preview of what’s coming next from Stuttgart’s van division. The message? Mercedes-Benz isn’t abandoning its roots in practicality and toughness, but it’s redefining what those qualities mean in an age of AI and electrification.
From the Horse Carriage to the eSprinter
The story starts in 1896, when Carl Benz—already the father of the automobile—created what many now consider the world’s first motorized delivery vehicle. Built in Mannheim under the name Benz & Cie., his “Combination Delivery Vehicle” was a hybrid of sorts: part transporter, part passenger car. Its removable wooden body let it switch from delivery van to two-seater runabout in minutes—effectively the first multi-purpose vehicle.
With a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine making up to six horsepower, it could haul 300 kilograms of cargo and reach 20 km/h—a remarkable feat when most competition involved horses. The first example was sold to the Du Bon Marché department store in Paris for 4,500 marks, marking the birth of commercial automotive transport.
Fast-forward 130 years, and Mercedes-Benz Classic’s 1899 Combination Delivery Vehicle—built under license in the UK by Hewetson’s Ltd.—is once again roadworthy, painstakingly restored for the anniversary. It’s both a relic and a reminder: every van on the road today owes something to this boxy pioneer.
Sprinter: The Name That Became a Segment
If the Benz Combination Delivery Vehicle invented the idea, then the Sprinter perfected it. When Mercedes introduced the first Sprinter in 1995, it revolutionized the light commercial segment. Positioned squarely between cars and trucks, it offered European tradespeople something new: a durable, spacious, yet surprisingly refined workhorse that drove like a car but worked like a truck.
Three decades and over five million units later, the Sprinter has hauled everything from furniture to Formula 1 engines. It’s been a mobile office, an ambulance, a food truck, and a luxury shuttle for the world’s most demanding customers. And with 77 percent of European buyers choosing a Sprinter again in 2024, it’s clear the nameplate hasn’t lost its stride.
The Next Chapter: VAN.EA and VAN.CA
Now, Mercedes-Benz Vans is preparing to reinvent the segment once more. Starting in 2026, all-new medium and large vans will ride on two modular architectures:
- VAN.EA (Van Electric Architecture) – an all-electric platform that will underpin both commercial vehicles and large-capacity people carriers like the future V-Class.
- VAN.CA (Van Combustion Architecture) – a parallel platform for next-generation diesel and gasoline models, ensuring traditional buyers aren’t left behind.
Both will share a common design philosophy hinted at by THE BOuLDER: cleaner, more aerodynamic lines and proportions optimized for efficiency and practicality. Expect a full range of body styles, wheelbases, and drive options tailored to everything from courier work and refrigerated transport to construction and emergency services, and even camper vans.
As Andreas Zygan, Head of Development, puts it:
“We’ve tailored our Mercedes-Benz Operating System specifically to commercial use—and with it, will redefine the van segment once again.”
Smart Vans with a Silicon Soul
That “Operating System” is MB.OS, the brand’s in-house software suite built from chip to cloud. Every new van will run it, giving owners a seamless digital experience across infotainment, safety, and fleet management. Over-the-air updates will keep vehicles current for years—adding new features and improving driver-assistance systems long after delivery.
For operators, it’s a major leap forward. Tools like Van Uptime Monitor and Large Vehicle Navigation will optimize routes, predict maintenance, and even integrate third-party fleet software directly into the in-dash interface. The van becomes not just a vehicle, but a connected business partner.
Rock-Solid Past, Digital Future
Mercedes-Benz Vans isn’t shy about its ambition. Thomas Klein, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, sums it up:
“We’ve been putting all our expertise and experience at the service of our commercial customers for almost 130 years. Their benefit and added value are our top priority—then, now, and in the future.”
From Carl Benz’s first delivery carriage to today’s eSprinter and tomorrow’s intelligent VAN.EA platform, that throughline is unmistakable. The tools have changed—from wood and iron to silicon and cloud—but the philosophy hasn’t.
The van that once replaced horses is now replacing downtime. And if “THE BOuLDER” is any indication, the next Sprinter isn’t just carved from stone—it’s carved from legacy.
Source: Mercedes-Benz