Mercedes-Benz to invest €500m in next generation vans

Mercedes-Benz Vans has announced plans to invest approximately €500 million over the next five years for digitalisation, automation and robotics in vans.

The adVANce initiative will look to adapt the Mercedes-Benz Vans offering to meet the needs of its customers’ changing requirements, with a focus on delivering innovative mobility solutions through increased digitalisation and automation.

Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said: “We are focusing our attention beyond the vehicle on the entire value chain and business environment of our customers. We provide transport solutions for the digital age and evolve the van into an intelligent, interconnected data centre on wheels. In order to do this, we are investing around half a billion euros over the next five years, and we created a separate organisational unit. So far, this approach is unique within the van sector."

Mercedes-Benz also revealed its all-electric Vision van study, which has been developed as part of the adVANce initiative. The Vision Van combines various innovative solutions for last-mile delivery in urban and suburban environments and is the first van to fully digitally connect all people and processes involved, from the distribution centre to the consignee.

The Vision Van is equipped with a 75 kW electric drive and has a range of up to 270km. It also features a fully automated cargo space and integrated delivery drones, which will enable delivery of multiple packages to nearby consignees autonomously by air.

Mornhinweg added: "With the Vision Van from Mercedes-Benz Vans we provide an idea of future generations of vans: the intelligent automation technology connects the entire process, from loading and transportation by road through to delivery to the consignee. This makes it easier for the deliverer to do business and rapidly reduces the delivery time for end customers.

"Equipped with an electric drive system, the Vision Van not only operates locally emission-free, it also moves almost silently. This means that it can be operated in cities even during times when there are traffic restrictions or for late-night deliveries in residential areas. This gives our customers the possibility of offering new services to their customers."