Word from IVOTY jury members across Europe, was that Mercedes-Benz Vans is to discontinue the production supply and sales of the Citan Van and T-Class (passenger version) in mid-2026. This second generation small commercial vehicle, was a collaboration project with Renault Group and based on the Renault Kangoo Van. The joint venture was acknowledged by sharing the International Van of the Year (IVOTY) jury in 2022 with the Citan winning Irish van of the Year 2023.
This decision was both surprising and disappointing to those involved at Mercedes-Benz Vans as the Citan had increased its sales figures this year compared to the same period in 2024.
A Mercedes-Benz Vans spokesperson commented on the matter: “In line with the ‘Growth in Profitable Segments’ strategy announced in May 2023, we are deploying our investments in a targeted manner and further optimizing our product portfolio. We will therefore focus on the midsize and large van segments in the future. We will therefore end our involvement in the small van segment next year. Production of new vehicles will run until June 2026.”
Importers, distributors and dealers had put in a great effort in getting the new and much improved Citan “off the ground and gaining traction, and so this decision is disappointing”, was one of the comments made on a more local level.
Maybe the writing was on the wall for the Citan as Heinz-Jürgen Löw, Renault Van CEO stated recently in an interview with vanexperten.de “Co-operations come and go,” he said. Therefore the partnership, which involved mutual financial participation between both parties, Renault Group and Mercedes-Benz, which began in 2010, with Renault undertaking the production of both vehicles in France now ceasing.
And so this development marks the end of Mercedes-Benz’ participation in the small segment, having tried independently in the past with the innovative yet unloved Vaneo range. The ‘triple star’ brand is currently undertaking the final development of its Van.EA and Vision V model line of medium and large light commercials, due for launch next year.