Two Mercedes-Benz VLE test vehicles have made the trip from Stuttgart to Rome, travelling 1,090km (about 677 miles) in flowing traffic in roughly 13 hours, with two 15-minute charging stops. The route included winding, steep mountain passes through the Alps, long highway stretches, busy rural roads and tight city streets. The VLE performance in the practical test demonstrated its potential for family use and outdoor activities, the auto maker said.
The long-distance tests focused on everyday performance, specifically the efficiency of the electric drivetrain, energy recuperation, thermal management and how rear-axle steering affects handling. The journey started in Stuttgart at 52°F and concluded in Rome, where temperatures reached a summer high of 91°F. The cabin was consistently maintained at a cool 72°F. 
The rear axle steering proved its worth on the winding roads and narrow streets of Italian cities, ensuring stress-free handling in everyday life. “Our future MPVs have once again impressively demonstrated their suitability for everyday use on the long-distance route. With just two short charging stops from Stuttgart to the Alps to Rome, the Mercedes-Benz VLE demonstrates impressive efficiency of the new Van Electric Architecture,” said Dr Andreas Zygan, head of development Mercedes-Benz Vans, Mercedes-Benz.
Previous tests
Test drives such as the long-distance route from Stuttgart to Rome are part of a comprehensive program for testing the performance of the overall vehicle, which includes numerous climatic zones and route profiles. In addition to digital validation of the maturity level and tests at the Mercedes-Benz Vans development campus in Stuttgart/Untertürkheim, the development vehicles are also put through their paces in real operation on the road.
To gain detailed insights into practicality and accelerate the development process to production maturity, the developers and engineers at Mercedes-Benz carry out numerous development drives. For example, the first technology vehicles of the VLE drove from Stuttgart to the North Cape in Norway just over a year ago, and extensive cold testing was carried out in Sweden in the winter of 2025. This time, the VLE went over the Alps to the south, to the Italian capital.
New Era
Starting in 2026, Mercedes-Benz will launch its latest modular and scalable Van Architecture. The platform has been designed to create a clear distinction between luxury-focused Grand Limousines and commercial vans. Future MPVs and transportation vans will be designed to perfectly meet customer needs, offering the right blend of style, functionality and everyday usability.
Grand Limousines
The future models of privately positioned MPVs, also known as Grand Limousines, will be named the Mercedes-Benz VLE and the Mercedes-Benz VLS. While the VLE will accommodate up to eight seats and range from flexible vehicles for families to exclusive VIP shuttles, the VLS will define a unique segment of its own that “bestows true greatness to automotive luxury” Mercedes-Benz said. The auto maker will offer all-electric midsize luxury vehicles in the USA, Canada and China.
In related news, the Alliance des laboratoires d’essai européenne (ALEE) has been officially designated for all test scopes defined by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), covering 651 approved test procedures across the full range of UN/EU and German regulations. Read the full story here