An unusual incident occurred at the Mercedes display area during the Paris Motor Show 2026 (Mondial de l'Auto) on 17/10. Footage of the event, which took place in hall 5 during opening hours, has rapidly spread across social media.
Video footage shows the VLE, Mercedes' all-electric van, reversing into the exhibition booth wall. A male staff member nearby stood stunned and unable to intervene. In the driver's seat was a young boy, who reportedly started the vehicle and engaged reverse.
What happened?
It was surprising that a child could simultaneously press the brake and engage reverse gear. Even more surprising, the vehicle moved. Typically, display cars at such events are configured with a specialized mode that allows infotainment systems to function but disables driving capabilities and prevents engine startup.
Caradisiac reported that a Mercedes France representative confirmed an internal investigation is underway to determine how the VLE was able to move within the display area. "We currently have no official conclusions and are continuing to clarify. The car sustained minor damage and has been removed from the booth for repair. The affected display structure has also been reinforced. No visitors were injured in this incident", the representative said.
By 18/10, the final day of the exhibition, the Mercedes VLE model was no longer present in the company's display area.
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Mau van dien Mercedes VLE tai khong gian trung bay truoc khi xay ra su co. Anh: Mercedes |
The incident serves as a reminder of the risks posed by visitors interacting with, pressing buttons on, and attempting to start display vehicles. This necessitates car manufacturers to anticipate potential hazards.
Online comments on the video largely attributed responsibility to Mercedes and the staff managing the display area. Others raised questions about the vehicle's safety systems.
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