Mercedes-Benz AG will launch a new line of high-end electric camper vans, the latest move in the German automaker’s bid to boost profit by shifting further upmarket.
(Bloomberg) — Mercedes-Benz AG will launch a new line of high-end electric camper vans, the latest move in the German automaker’s bid to boost profit by shifting further upmarket.
The German manufacturer will add the new battery-powered mid-size and large camper vans to its line-up once its new platform for light commercial EVs starts output in 2026, it said. The vehicles will tap the market for comfortable outdoorsy life that grew during the pandemic.
The division will also target the upper market segment for commercial customers, the company said.
The plan expands on last year’s launch of a special-edition V-Class van with kitchenettes and wooden flooring resembling the deck of a yacht. The move is expected to deliver an adjusted double-digit return on sale through 2030. Last year, the division’s margin was 11.2%.
Mercedes is trying to bolster margins to help fund a costly shift to electric cars. For its passenger car division, this involves focusing resources on top-end vehicles including the Maybach limousines, AMG performance cars and G-Wagon offroader, while shifting away from less profitable entry-level models like the compact A-Class.
The automaker is now extending the strategy to target a growing market for luxury private vans, particularly in China and the US. For commercial customers, Mercedes will expand services such as mobile repair teams. The company is aiming for so-called Level-4 automated driving – where no human intervention is needed – for commercial vans by 2030.
The unit aims for EVs to make up 20% of sales by 2026 and more than 50% by 2030.
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