We're just a few weeks away from the world debut of the production Mercedes EQS luxury sedan. Previewed by the Vision EQS concept, the EQS will be the German automaker's new flagship EV, offering unrivaled levels of luxury in the world of electric cars. Mercedes' electric onslaught will also expand to other segments including SUVs, crossovers, and even minivans and commercial vans.

To compete with the upcoming Ford E-Transit, Mercedes is launching an electric version of the Sprinter Cargo Van that will offer an electric driving range of 93 miles. Now, Mercedes is giving us a first look at a new compact electric city van called the eCitan that will allow the German automaker to dominate the electric van segment.

Shown for the first time in "spy" shots of a camouflaged prototype shared by Mercedes, the eCitan will be a fully electric version of the next-generation Citan van that's coming to Europe. Think of it as the electric equivalent to the Ford Transit Connect and Ram ProMaster City Cargo Van if it was sold in the US. In terms of proportions, the eCitan is smaller than the EQV, which will essentially be an electric version of the Metris minivan.

Visually, the eCitan looks identical to its combustion counterpart, with the exception of the Mercedes badge on the front that can be lifted to access the charging port.

The next-generation Mercedes Citan is being developed in collaboration with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance and will share the same platform as the Renault Kangoo.

Details are scarce, but Mercedes says the next-generation Citan and the electric eCitan will offer "generous space with a high storage volume in the interior" for urban deliveries, as well as wide sliding doors and a low loading sill providing easy access to the cabin. According to Mercedes, the eCitan will also feature "comprehensive safety equipment and a high level of driving comfort."

Performance and range details are being kept under wraps for now, but we'll find out more when the next-generation Mercedes Citan and eCitan will debut in the second half of 2021.