Child Crashes Mercedes-Benz VLE Show Vehicle At Paris Motor Show

By Chris Chilton
An exterior shot of a Mercedes VLE minivan Mercedes-Benz
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The new VLE electric minivan is one of Mercedes' most child-friendly vehicles. But one particular child got a little too friendly with a VLE display vehicle at this month's Paris Motor Show. Two children were inside the minivan that was parked on the automaker's display stand, and one of them managed to start the electric powertrain and engage reverse. A short video clip circulating on social media shows a product specialist attempting, in vain, to stop the vehicle from hitting the wall. At least the kids weren't responsible for crashing a Bugatti Chiron.

The incident happened on Saturday during the second to last day for the show at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition center. The VLE was parked in front of a backdrop printed with the words "Redefinir L'Espace," which translates as "to redefine space." And the youngster at the center of the fiasco certainly redefined the space the VLE was occupying on the stand.

After the bronze VLE smashes into the backdrop, there is obvious damage to the wall as the Mercedes employee throws his hands up in frustration. The two boys, who both appeared to be no older than 12, sheepishly exit the van before being approached by a security. What happened to them isn't known, and we also don't know how much damage, if any, was caused to the VLE.

Big on luxury

A still from a video showing a child crashing a Mercedes VLE van ImpactMediaFR/x

Mercedes is pushing the luxury angle hard with the VLE, which goes on sale in the U.S. next year for the 2028 model year. It rides on a wheelbase 10 inches (254 mm) longer than the Chrysler Pacifica, and it is available with a full-width MBUX Superscreen digital dashboard, and a 31.3-inch panoramic screen that swivels down from the headliner.

The base VLE300 has a single electric motor making 272 horsepower (203 kW / 276 PS) and can cover 435 miles (700 km) WLTP on a single charge of its 115-kWh battery. Its VLE400 4Matic big brother gets a dual-motor powertrain with 409 hp (305 kW / 415 PS) and delivers you to 62 mph (100 kph) in 6.5 seconds, instead of 9.5 seconds. Mercedes has so far only shown the VLE in electric form, but we've already spied a hybrid version testing in Europe ahead of a 2027 debut.

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