Mercedes-Benz revamps commercial EV lineup in Singapore
German manufacturer offers its first large electric van, unveils new versions of its existing light commercial vehicle models
[SINGAPORE] Mercedes-Benz launched its renewed electric commercial vehicle range in Singapore on Wednesday (Apr 16).
With its authorised dealer Cycle & Carriage Singapore (a subsidiary of Jardine Cycle & Carriage ), the German automaker debuted three models: its first large electric van and new versions of two existing electric light commercial vehicles.
It pulled the covers off the eCitan small van, eVito mid-sized van and eSprinter large van, which will be sold alongside its conventional diesel versions.
The debuts mark Mercedes-Benz’s largest commercial vehicle product offensive since it officially began selling electric commercial vehicles here in 2022.
Describing the launch as a milestone for the brand, Marcel Luis Mustelier Perez, president and chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz Singapore, told The Business Times that electric models are a “very important element of the commercial vehicle segment in Singapore”, and “having an entire range of offerings is very important for us, strategically, and for our customers and partners as well”.
Wilfrid Foo, managing director of direct motor interests at Jardine Cycle & Carriage, said: “The electrified segment (for commercial vehicles) is growing very fast, with many more players. That is telling towards where it is moving towards in future, plus the government’s focus on sustainability.”
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It is the first time Mercedes-Benz Singapore is offering the eSprinter, a fully electric version of its large van, the Sprinter, which is commonly used as an ambulance or minibus.
It has a range of 267 km from an 81 kilowatt hour battery pack that, at its fastest charging speed, can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 34 minutes. It carries up to 10.5 cubic metres or 1,366 kg of cargo.
With a gross laden weight of 4,250 kg, it is classified as a heavy goods vehicle under Land Transport Authority rules.
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This makes it eligible for the Heavy Vehicle Zero Emissions Scheme (HVZES) and the Electric Heavy Vehicle Charger Grant, which was announced in March and comes into effect in 2026.
These two schemes provide, respectively, a S$40,000 rebate for heavy electric commercial vehicles and co-funding for half the cost of chargers for those vehicles, up to a maximum of S$30,000.
Pricing starts at S$213,888 with Certificate of Entitlement (COE), but excludes the HVZES incentive, which begins only next year.
The new incentives played a part in the decision to introduce the eSprinter, said individuals familiar with the matter, but they also said that the model will offer clients lower total cost of ownership, as electric vehicles (EVs) generally require less maintenance than vehicles with combustion engines.
In response to queries on whether Cycle & Carriage would time registrations for 2026, when incentives kick in, Foo said: “We are not timing anything to the market. Specifically, we are timing our movement with customers and when they need the products.
“For retail, it’s likely the customer will want to time things appropriately,” he added, but sales through tenders, for example, operate on their own timeline. “We will do what is needed, because this segment of the business is about supporting businesses,” he said.
The eCitan small van and eVito midsize van are categorised as light goods vehicles and eligible for the Commercial Vehicle Emissions Scheme (CVES). Under this, they receive a S$15,000 rebate as less-polluting, fully electric vehicles.
The smaller eCitan has a range of around 300 km and can carry up to 690 kg of cargo, while the eVito has a range of 327 km and a maximum payload of 880 kg. Prices start at S$144,988 and S$163,988, respectively, and are inclusive of COE and rebates.
Since CVES began in 2021, the growing popularity of electric light goods vehicles has caused a decline in diesel registrations, with electric vehicles accounting for around half of all new registrations in 2024.
Mercedes-Benz Singapore began sales of its electric light goods vehicles in 2022, with the eVito. Its registrations of electric commercial vehicles has increased to around 24 per cent in 2024 from 9 per cent in 2022. In 2024 and 2022, it registered 259 and 243 commercial vehicles, respectively, in Singapore.
Last year, Federal Express added 31 Mercedes-Benz eVitos to its Singapore fleet.
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