On 15 January 1987 on the island of Majorca, Daimler-Benz presented the new MB 100 - 180 van series designed for payloads from 1000 to 1800 kg. An MB 100 had been built as early as 1980 by Mercedes-Benz España SA. in Vitoria (near Bilbao in northern Spain).

In 1986 the van was technically reworked and its styling updated. The MB 100 was available in Germany as a pick-up, panel van and crewbus. All 1987 models were powered by the same 2.4-litre diesel engine with 53 kW (72 hp).