Mercedes makes cars. Luxury cars. Crossovers and SUVs, too. But it also makes vans, like the Sprinter and Metris. And now it's announced a new one in the works that will be smaller than either.

The German automaker has confirmed plans to follow up on the current Citan with an all-new model. And it will once again partner in its development with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, just as it did with the current one (as well as the X-Class pickup). The question this brings to our minds, at least, is whether this one will be offered in America.

Never heard of the Citan? That could be because, unlike the larger Metris and Sprinter, Mercedes doesn't offer the Citan in the United States. The current model was launched in 2012 and shares its underpinnings (and a whole lot more besides) with the Renault Kangoo. It's about the same size as the Nissan NV200, the Ford Transit Connect, and the Ram ProMaster City – models which are sold in America, demonstrating that there is a precedent and a business case for this type of small van over here, even if Chevy pulled the plug on the City Express.

"The new Citan will undergo a comprehensive new development and clearly be recognisable as a Mercedes-Benz at first glance," said Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. "We will provide for a distinctive brand-adequate identity in the successor of our small van."

Not only will Mercedes offer a new Citan, but it'll make an electric version as well – just as it has with the eSprinter, the eVito, and the new EQV. That'll put the eCitan (or whatever it decides to call the thing) in direct competition with the Nissan e-NV200, but we doubt Nissan will mind too much considering the collaboration.