Vans and transporters

Two electric motors, up to 285 hp and room for large travel groups: With the E-Tourneo Custom AWD, Ford makes its electric large-capacity van fit for snow, inclines and commercial passenger transport. We were on a test drive in the Salzburg region.

The Hyundai Staria has attracted attention since its premiere, particularly due to its striking design. The new electric version in particular is likely to be an ideal choice for shuttle services and large families, because the Staria is swift on the road, charges quickly, and offers abundant comfort for fellow travelers.

The retrofit specialist Adler adds the seven-seat Xpeng X9 to its program. The first Taxi-X9 makes a stop at the taxi trade fair - and then goes to a customer from Munich.

92 countries, almost 100,000 kilometers and not a single technical defect: With a production-spec VW ID. Buzz, the record-setting driver Rainer Zietlow has circumnavigated the world. The tour provides an unusually pragmatic argument in a debate about electric mobility that is often ideologically driven.

At the IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, not only parcel delivery services and trades businesses are in focus. Many of the new vans could soon also operate as accessible and multi-passenger taxis. Faster charging technology, longer ranges, and flexible interior concepts are changing the outlook for electrically powered passenger transport.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has started production of the revised Caddy in Poznań, Poland. The model features a modernized design, considerably more standard equipment and new digital functions. For taxi operators, the high-roof van remains especially interesting due to its flexibility, barrier-free conversion options and the plug-in hybrid drive.

With the conversion of the Kia PV5 Passenger into a taxi, the Oldenburg-based specialist presents another model from Kia. The PV5 from Intax is electric, spacious, and designed for flexible use. And - it can also be fully retrofitted if needed.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Hanover recalls the start of production in 1956 – and at the Maikäfertreffen places historic vehicles in the spotlight.

Mercedes-Benz pushes the boundaries of a familiar segment. With the sales launch of the Mercedes-Benz VLE, Mercedes-Benz is aiming to do exactly that: redefine the classic minivan — as a kind of electric limousine in XXL format.

Anyone who transports many passengers needs, above all, one thing: space. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is now expanding its range with two models that are aimed precisely at this – the Transporter Kombi and the Caravelle as large-capacity taxis. Up to nine seats are possible, eight of which are for passengers. 

World premiere in Stuttgart: Mercedes presents the VLE and VLS — and Die Taxi Heute was there. With the new generation of the V-Class, Mercedes wants nothing less than to redefine the van segment—from the family van through shuttle services to premium transport.

Big things are ahead for the world's oldest car manufacturer. According to Mercedes-Benz, the new VLE marks the beginning of a new era: The all-electric van is set to carve out its own market segment as a "Grand Limousine".

The PV5 is designed as a mobility tool – positioned between a passenger car and a commercial vehicle. This intermediate role shapes its presence: not as much a transporter as many delivery vans, not as much a passenger car as classic vans. In doing so, Kia is aiming for its own niche, where flexibility is not only promised but actively built in. We tested the passenger variant around Barcelona.

Electrification is entering the everyday life of taxi work. With the Kia PV5 from AMF Bruns, a fully electric van now takes the stage, one that also considers people with mobility impairments. With the conversion, the EV van becomes a practical, wheelchair-accessible universal vehicle.

From 2026, Mercedes will expand its van portfolio with the VLE and VLS models. The modular Van.ea platform enables up to 500 kilometers of range, all-wheel drive, and 800-volt technology. The Sprinter will also receive an electric version in the future.

The taxi and rental car packages for the long version of the Nissan Townstar with seven seats can now be ordered free of charge from the Oldenburg-based series manufacturer Intax. For questions about the vehicle, Nissan dealers can help, and all questions regarding taxi equipment are answered by Intax customer support.

Kia continues its course towards modular electromobility – with a new vehicle that is likely to appeal to craftsmen, families, and the taxi industry. The PV5 Passenger is a fully electric minibus that aims to do more than just travel from A to B. It offers space, functionality, and a range of well-thought-out details without drifting into unnecessary gimmicks.

Whether as a taxi, radio hire car, or comfortable travel companion – the new eight-seater Multivan scores with flexible equipment and a generous cargo space of 763 liters.

A statement that sticks: “We are pleased that the Saul is becoming Paul again.” With this biblical phrase, the Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV) welcomes the change of course by Mercedes-Benz – a company that was once considered a reliable partner in the taxi industry and then abruptly distanced itself.

Mercedes-Benz is withdrawing from the small commercial vehicle segment and discontinuing the T-Class and Citan models. This decision marks the end of the collaboration with Renault and is part of a strategic realignment of the company.

The German passenger car market recorded a decline of 7.1 percent in December, with a particularly sharp drop in private new registrations. Registrations of light commercial vehicles and passenger car utilities rose by 21.2 percent.

The Mercedes-Benz Group achieved its best sales quarter of the past year in the fourth quarter of 2024 with 625,800 cars and vans sold. In a challenging global market environment, 2,389,000 cars and vans were sold worldwide in 2024.