The 2022 Mercedes-Benz Citan light commercial van will get a new design and an electric option.

The smallest van sold by Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. is the midsize Metris, but in other markets the company offers an even smaller variant in the form of the Citan.

A redesign of this small commercial van was announced on Wednesday, with deliveries to Europe set to begin in early 2022. It is currently unknown if the Citan will appear in the United States.

Like the current Citant, the new Citant is essentially a redesigned Renault Kangoo. The updated Renault was introduced this year, so it's no surprise that Mercedes has released an updated Citant.

Unlike the current Citan, Mercedes will offer an electric version of the e-Citane. There will also be a passenger version called the T-Class, which will have its own electric version, the EQT. In May, Mercedes unveiled the EQT as a slim concept version with three rows of seats and seven passengers.

The T-Class (and EQT) will target young families and people with active lifestyles who do not want to upgrade to a large crossover or pickup truck to carry luggage. In Japan, however, the T-Class variants are unlikely to appear at local auto shows, as crossovers are preferred there.

The Citan is only 177 inches long, like the Ford Transit Connect; a longer wheelbase version close to 195 inches will appear later, which is expected to be based on the T-Class and EQT.

Powertrains include diesel and gasoline inline four-cylinder engines, the most powerful of which develops 128 hp. Transmissions include a six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Details on the electric version will be announced closer to the start of sales next year, but it is expected to have a range of about 150 miles and will charge from 10 to 80 percent in 40 minutes.

Mercedes does not currently sell electric vehicles in the United States, but this could change when Mercedes launches an electric version of its full-size Sprinter van in 2023. Electric versions of the Metris sold overseas may eventually appear in the U.S. market as well.