Mercedes unveils electric van concept for growing EV lineup

Mercedes-Benz is giving a sneak peek of an electric van concept that the automaker says is “near series production” ready and is among the models it is adding to broaden its battery-powered range over the next year.

The electric iteration of the Mercedes T-Class, dubbed EQT, will accommodate up to seven passengers and launch in 2022, Mercedes said Monday in a statement.

It will flank the Citan commercial van due to be introduced later this year, a version of which will be full electric.

The EQT “will appeal to families and all those private customers, whatever their age, who enjoy leisure activities and need a lot of space and maximum variability without forgoing comfort and style,” Marcus Breitschwerdt, Mercedes’ van chief, said in the statement.

The brand plans to build eight full-electric vehicles on three continents next year to take on Tesla and keep rivals including BMW at bay.