Update: ‘VW ID. California,’ ‘Kia PV5,’ ‘Mercedes VLE,’ and ‘Hyundai Staria EV’ updated and ‘2027 VW ID. Buzz’ added.
There are at least eight electric MPV and electric minivan models lined up for launch in the next few years, and here is what we know about them.
1. VW ID. California
Following the VW ID. Buzz, Volkswagen will launch an all-electric campervan under the ID. range. Volkswagen Group announced this surprise electric minivan as the ‘VW ID. California’ in Planning Round 70, conducted in December 2021. The company said that it would manufacture it in Hannover, Germany.
Dr. Carsten Intra, the former CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said the company is working on the VW ID. California, but did not announce a release date because it is “waiting for the customer response,” Auto Express reported on May 8, 2024. Demand for an all-electric campervan isn’t strong at the moment, he added.
Speaking to InsideEVs at the 2026 New York International Auto Show, Dr. Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, revealed that the company is in talks with the German headquarters about bringing the camper version of the ID. Buzz to the United States.
2. 2027 VW ID. Buzz
The VW ID. Buzz is skipping the 2026 model year and will be directly updated for MY2027. Based on the recently announced summer updates in Europe, we expect the U.S.-spec 2027 ID. Buzz to get some of these improvements.
Unlike the current model, the 2027 ID. Buzz in the U.S. could have bi-directional charging capability, allowing customers to offload up to 2 kW of power to external devices or use it to charge other EVs.
A more significant upgrade should be the replacement of the touch-operated buttons on the steering wheel with push buttons. Volkswagen may switch to the new Innovision infotainment system with an app store in the updated model.
A new one-pedal driving function will likely be able to gradually bring the vehicle to a stop by simply lifting off the accelerator, making it easier to drive in the city, especially in rush-hour traffic. A new Connected Travel Assist feature should enhance safety, offering the capability to automatically bring the EV to a standstill when detecting a red traffic light.
3. Kia PV5
The Kia PV5 is a midsize electric van developed on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP.S platform for purpose-built EVs. Its futuristic styling, expansive windows, and flat-floor cabin make it practical and quirky. Inside, the minimalist layout accommodates five or seven passengers, with up to 81.8 cu. ft. of cargo capacity.
Two variants are planned initially: a 51.5 kWh battery pack with a 120 hp/184 lb-ft motor and a 71.2 kWh pack with a 161 hp/184 lb-ft motor. The five-seat version manages a WLTP range of 183 miles with the smaller pack, and 256 miles with the larger option.
In February 2025, an Automotive News report cited CEO Ho Sung Song stating that while the U.S. launch is still an option, no concrete plans have been made. A year later, the Kia PV5 was spotted testing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A Kia spokesperson told Car and Driver that this does not confirm a U.S. launch.
At the 2026 New York International Auto Show, the company presented a PV5 WAV New York Taxi concept, co-developed with BraunAbility, a U.S.-based specialist in wheelchair-accessible vehicle conversions. The concept is production-ready, and the two companies plan to carry out real-world validation trials in New York.
4. Mercedes VLE
Based on the VAN.EA dedicated EV platform, the Mercedes VLE replaces the EQV in the Mercedes-Benz Vans lineup.
The successor accommodates five to eight people and comes with MBUX Superscreen, electrically adjustable captain’s chairs with a massage function and electric calf support, a roof-mounted retractable 31.3-inch panoramic screen with 8K resolution, and a panoramic roof.
In Europe, Mercedes-Benz plans to offer the VLE in a 272 hp ‘300’ FWD variant, followed by a 409 hp ‘400 4MATIC’ AWD variant, both with a 115 kWh NMC battery pack chargeable at rates up to more than 300 kW. The company expects the former to deliver a WLTP range of more than 435 miles. In 2027, the company will also add two variants with an 80 kWh LFP battery pack.
In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz plans to launch the VLE in 2027 and may offer it in only the 400 4MATIC variant.
5. Mercedes VLS
The Mercedes VLS will target VIPs and other more affluent customers with a no-compromise attitude when it comes to comfort. The S-Class of the van world, expected to go on sale in Europe by 2027, will focus more on experience than seating capacity.
Higher-quality materials, better sound insulation, more advanced entertainment features like a rear cinema display, improved massaging seats, and a raft of other upgrades should clearly distinguish the VLS from the VLE. Mercedes-Benz is also open to a potential Maybach variant, which tells us that the best of the VAN.EA platform is yet to come.
6. Mercedes large electric camper van
Mercedes-Benz Vans has also confirmed the launch of an all-electric large camper van. The bigger model will be based on the VAN.EA-C platform, and is expected after 2026.
The large electric camper van will be a tall, rectangular top hat, designed to offer the maximum possible space in the available dimensions. It will be available with SAE Level 2 autonomous driving assistance from launch.
In the future, it may gain more advanced autonomous driving, such as SAE Level 3. Built-in navigation that accounts for large-vehicle route restrictions for the route and third-party app support will likely come standard.
7. Hyundai Staria EV
The Hyundai Staria Electric is the brand’s flagship MPV, measuring 5,255 mm (206.9 in.) in length, 1,995 mm (78.5 in.) in width, and 1,990 mm (78.3 in.) in height and having a 3,275 mm (128.9 in.) wheelbase.
In South Korea, Hyundai offers the Staria Electric in 3- and 5-seat cargo versions and 6-, 7-, and 11-seat passenger versions, with prices starting at KRW 57.92 million (approx. USD 39,500).
The Staria Electric has a single electric motor powering the front wheels, tuned to produce 160 kW (215 hp) and 350 Nm (258 lb.-ft.) of torque. An 84 kWh battery pack shared with the Ioniq 5/Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6/Ioniq 6 N supplies energy to this motor.
Charging it from 10% to 80% SoC takes as little as about 20 minutes, and when fully charged, it delivers a range of 387 kilometers (240 miles).
8. Zeekr Beluga
Zeekr, Zhejiang Geely Holding’s high-tech electrified vehicle brand, forayed into the minivan space with the 009 in 2022, and introduced the Mix as the second people mover in 2024.
Following a two-year gap, in 2026, it will release the third such model, codenamed ‘Beluga,’ CarsNewsChina.com said in a report citing Deutsche Bank on June 21, 2024. There’s no word on the positioning or other details of the Zeekr Beluga yet.
A Mechanical Engineer by qualification, I started out as an automotive editor of a regional magazine in 2011. In my 11 years of experience in creating automotive content, I’ve traveled around the world to review, analyze and report on the world’s top electrified cars.
