--- title: "The Next-Gen Sprinter Van Is Mercedes’ Most Important Launch in Years" date: "2025-10-28" modified: "2025-10-28" authors: - name: "Kyle Cheromcha" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-next-gen-sprinter-van-is-mercedes-most-important-launch-in-years" categories: - "Mercedes-Benz News" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Trucks" tags: - "Mercedes-Benz" - "Van" --- # The Next-Gen Sprinter Van Is Mercedes’ Most Important Launch in Years ![Mercedes-Benz Vans “Past meets Future” Neuhausen 2025 / The Boulder Mercedes-Benz Vans “Past meets Future” Neuhausen 2025 / The Boulder]() *\Mercedes-Benz\* Few lineups have run the gamut of cars and trucks like [Mercedes-Benz]() over the decades. That three-pointed star has graced everything from luxurious coupes to tiny compacts to buses, semis, and why not, the [Unimog](). Though the company’s corporate structure means that drivers in the U.S. can’t enjoy seeing the same badge on an S-Class and an 18-wheeler in traffic, there's one obvious place where Mercedes’ passenger and commercial vehicle operations converge on American roads: the [Sprinter van](). And this week, we’re getting a glimpse of its future. As Mercedes celebrates the 30th anniversary of the first Sprinter’s launch, it’s previewing the design of the upcoming fourth generation model with a sculpture named “The BOuLDER”—that’s the last time I type it like that—and sharing a few details on its next cargo van's platform, functionality, and connectivity features. Even if you don't run a delivery business, this is important. Mercedes-Benz is at a crossroads, squeezed by rising trade barriers and a hurried pivot away from an early all-in bet on electric vehicles. Revenue from its vans division had grown by 25 percent since 2019 before dropping in 2024, just after the boom years encouraged the company to plan an ambitious expansion with the new VLE/VLS class luxury vans. The Sprinter name and the image it carries as something that works as a red carpet shuttle and a utility truck is incredibly valuable, and financially, the automaker needs the next Sprinter to be a hit more than it needs to appease anyone by putting a V8 back in the C63 AMG. ![Mercedes-Benz Vans “Past meets Future” Neuhausen 2025 / The Boulder Mercedes-Benz Vans “Past meets Future” Neuhausen 2025 / The Boulder]() ![Mercedes-Benz Vans “Past meets Future” Neuhausen 2025 / The Boulder Mercedes-Benz Vans “Past meets Future” Neuhausen 2025 / The Boulder]() ![Mercedes-Benz Vans “Past meets Future” Neuhausen 2025 / The Boulder Mercedes-Benz Vans “Past meets Future” Neuhausen 2025 / The Boulder]() The Boulder reveals the grille, a bit of the headlights, and chunks of a hi-roof Sprinter’s silhouette: the hood line, A-pillar, roof, and rear end. It looks like… a van, as it should. A closer look brings out some changes though, like a more rounded fascia, a flatter hood to create more of an angle at the A-pillar, and a slightly more slab-sided character overall. Here I’m going to disclose that Mercedes actually gave me a secret preview of a styling prototype in Germany last week showing the full (but not fully finished) design, but I signed a heavy NDA, handed over my phone and recorder, and got wanded down by a stern German, so I can’t say anything about it. They asked for feedback, I gave it, and that’s that. You might see this and think it pretty much looks the same. But it should! Commercial vans need to be two things - good at carrying stuff, and easy to repair and modify. Companies shouldn’t be getting wacky with that design brief. You don’t need the [Rivian RSV’s massive U-shaped taillight]() and the corner-bashing issues it creates to signal that this is the future of vans, or even just an improvement over the one that came before it. All you need is something that does the job better. Thing is, the Sprinter has lots of jobs. Here in America, we mainly see them as trade or delivery vans, camper conversions, and VIP shuttles. Globally, you can add flatbeds, box trucks, ambulances, fire trucks, food trucks, articulated semis, and more to the list. Mercedes has to account for all of those in how it’s setting up the next one. Importantly, the fourth-gen Sprinter will be available in a similar range of roof heights, wheelbases, and chassis configurations. ![Der Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – die ideale Basis für Reisemobile, tenoritgrau metallic, MBUX Multimediasystem, Stoff Caluma schwarz; Landesspezifische Vorschriften zum Wildcampen sind zu beachten The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – the ideal basis for motorhomes, tenorite grey metallic, MBUX multimedia system, Caluma black fabric; country-specific regulations for wild camping must be observed]() ![Der Mercedes-Benz Sprinter hat im Januar 1995 Premiere. 2025 können die ersten Fahrzeuge das H-Kennzeichen erhalten. Genreaufnahme eines Fahrzeugs mit Aufbau als Pritschenwagen. (Fotosignatur der Archive von Mercedes-Benz Classic: A96F608) The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter premieres in January 1995. In 2025, the first vehicles can qualify for the H number plate. Genre shot of a vehicle with body as a platform vehicle. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive: A96F608)]() ![Foodtrucks auf Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Basis, zweite Generation NCV3 – im Bild: Goldini Coffee (Die Mercedes-Benz AG und ihre verbundenen Unternehmen übernehmen keinerlei Haftung oder Garantie für die Inhalte, die ausschließlich vom Aufbauhersteller/Betreiber bereitgestellt wurden) Foodtrucks based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, second Generation NCV3 – in the picture: Goldini Coffee (Mercedes-Benz AG and its affiliated companies assume no liability or guarantee for the content provided exclusively by the upfitter/customer)]() ![Arbeitsbühne auf Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Basis, dritte Generation VS30 – im Bild: Ruthmann (Die Mercedes-Benz AG und ihre verbundenen Unternehmen übernehmen keinerlei Haftung oder Garantie für die Inhalte, die ausschließlich vom Aufbauhersteller/Betreiber bereitgestellt wurden) Operating plattform based on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, third Generation VS30 – in the picture: Ruthmann (Mercedes-Benz AG and its affiliated companies assume no liability or guarantee for the content provided exclusively by the upfitter/customer)]() ![Rettungswagen auf Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Basis, dritte Generation VS30 – im Bild: Fahrtec, ASB (Die Mercedes-Benz AG und ihre verbundenen Unternehmen übernehmen keinerlei Haftung oder Garantie für die Inhalte, die ausschließlich vom Aufbauhersteller/Betreiber bereitgestellt wurden) Ambulance based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, third Generation VS30 – in the picture: Fahrtec, ASB (Mercedes-Benz AG and its affiliated companies assume no liability or guarantee for the content provided exclusively by the upfitter/customer)]() ![Fahrzeugtransport auf Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Basis, dritte Generation VS30 – im Bild: Algema (Die Mercedes-Benz AG und ihre verbundenen Unternehmen übernehmen keinerlei Haftung oder Garantie für die Inhalte, die ausschließlich vom Aufbauhersteller/Betreiber bereitgestellt wurden) Vehicle transportation based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, third Generation VS30 – in the picture: Algema (Mercedes-Benz AG and its affiliated companies assume no liability or guarantee for the content provided exclusively by the upfitter/customer)]() The next Sprinter will also come in both electric and gas versions, riding on the VAN.EA and VAN.CA platforms respectively, which are also shared with the new smaller and passenger-focused VLE/VLS-Class van [Mercedes announced earlier this year](). How may parts will be shared when the Sprinter needs to be built for durability? Mercedes won't say yet, nor will it disclose anything about the ICE powertrains. The electric version will come first, and we expect 800-volt architecture to enable super fast charging. Further, Mercedes will add its MB.OS connected operating system with a number of fleet management focused features, like custom app integration for route planning and realtime maintenance alerts. The van’s new computers will be deeply integrated in a “chip-to-cloud” setup to allow for remote control of everything from the HVAC system to charging settings. Not every Sprinter buyer runs a fleet, and there will certainly be those who think those are needless complications in a work van, but we’ll hold judgment until those systems can be stress tested in the real world. Also, I have to stress how different this kind of preview feels from your average new model teaser. Mercedes isn’t promising a revolution. In fact, these are all advances already found on a lot of new cars today. Mercedes is just saying alright, time to put them in the van. ![Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – erste Generation T1N Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – first generation T1N]() ![Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – erste Generation T1N; landesspezifische Vorschriften zum Wildcampen sind zu beachten Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – first generation T1N; country-specific regulations for wild camping must be observed]() ![Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – erste Generation T1N Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – first generation T1N]() That’s actually been the Sprinter’s thing all along. Like the S-Class, it’s been the first to do a lot of things in its segment that have since become the norm for cargo vans, starting with standard four-wheel disc brakes when it first launched. Speaking of, Mercedes brought a yellow 1995 model out of its museum for a quick spin so I could see where things started. Honestly, apart from the diesel being glacially slow, it was remarkable how modern everything else felt from the driver's seat—the seating position and ergonomics, the car-like touch points, the view over the hood. These changes were big leaps for commercial vans back then. Now, they're just kind of how things are. Thirty years later, it's trying to do it again. The same, just better. We'll see when the full reveal happens sometime next year. *Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()