Mercedes-Benz VLE · 1st generation VLE

E449

Eight seats, eight hundred volts, and the turning circle of a CLA.

Production
2026–present
Range
more than 700 km
Seats
up to 8
Body
5-door MPV
Mercedes-Benz VLE (E449)

The E449 VLE begins Mercedes-Benz Vans’ “Grand Limousine” era: a purpose-built electric people carrier intended to move like a saloon while preserving the space, sliding doors and seat flexibility of a large MPV.

The launch VLE 300 electric drives its front wheels with a 203 kW permanent-magnet motor and carries a 115 kWh usable NMC battery. Its 800-volt system charges at more than 300 kW, adding as much as 355 km in fifteen minutes, while WLTP range exceeds 700 km. The later VLE 400 4MATIC electric adds a rear motor for 310 kW and a 6.5-second sprint to 100 km/h.

At 5,309 mm long, the standard VLE can seat five to eight people and carry nearly 800 litres behind three rows or up to 4,078 litres with removable seats. AIRMATIC can vary ride height by 40 mm and seven-degree rear steering cuts the curb-to-curb turning circle to 10.9 metres. Orders for the VLE 300 opened in Germany in April, series production began at Vitoria on 12 June, and a 5,484 mm long version plus two 80 kWh LFP models are planned for 2027.

E449 interior
Five- to eight-seat layouts range from wheeled Roll & Go seats to powered Grand Comfort chairs and a retractable 31.3″ rear screen.

Every model.

Front-drive VLE 300 and dual-motor VLE 400 4MATIC, both with the 115 kWh NMC battery; two unnamed 80 kWh LFP versions follow in 2027.

ModelModel yearsBuiltChassisEngineTransmissionTotal
VLE 300 electric2027–06.2026–449— —
VLE 400 4MATIC electric2027–—449— —
E449 side profile
The 5,309 mm standard body combines two electric sliding doors with a low roofline and a drag coefficient of 0.25.

Year by year.

Vision V, world premiere, German order opening and the start of a new van architecture at Vitoria.

  1. 2026
    • World premiere on 10 March introduced the VLE as Mercedes-Benz’s first “Grand Limousine” and the successor to the EQV’s role.
    • VLE 300 became orderable in Germany in April; series production began at Vitoria on 12 June, the first production vehicle on the new modular Van Architecture.
    • Full technical release on 19 June confirmed 203 kW front-wheel drive, a 115 kWh usable NMC battery, more than 700 km WLTP range and charging above 300 kW.
    • AMG Line, AMG Line Plus, powered Premium Comfort rear seats and an eight-seat configuration became orderable on 23 July.
    • The 310 kW VLE 400 4MATIC was announced to follow later in 2026 with a second motor at the rear axle.
  2. 2027
    • A 5,484 mm long-body VLE and two additional models with 80 kWh usable LFP batteries are scheduled to join the range.
E449 rear three-quarter view
An inverted-U light signature frames a separately opening rear window above up to 4,078 litres of load space.