Two minors starred in one of the most unusual incidents recorded at an auto show when they climbed into a luxury Mercedes-Benz VLE electric vehicle displayed at the Paris event and managed to set it in motion, crashing it into a decorative structure at the booth.
The dissemination of the video has sparked a debate on social media about who should bear the responsibility for the accident. While some users criticize the lack of parental supervision and believe that they should have prevented the minors from handling the vehicle, others question the safety measures of Mercedes-Benz and how it was possible for a car exposed to the public to be set in motion.
The discussion revolves around a question: Did the adults' vigilance fail, or did the car's security systems fail?
The incident occurred during the penultimate day of the 2026 Paris Motor Show, on October 17th. The influx of visitors was at its peak, and unexpectedly, one of the children took the driver's seat, causing the vehicle to reverse until it collided with a panel situated behind the car.
The moment's images, shared by the French publication Paris Match, went viral on social media. A video published on YouTube shows the complete sequence of the crash in just 47 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz France confirmed that there were no injured visitors and that the damage to the vehicle was minor. The company removed the VLE from the booth for repairs and initiated an internal investigation to determine how it could have moved.
The central point of this research is the so-called "showroom mode," a configuration that manufacturers apply to display vehicles to activate screens and tachometers while blocking the transmission and preventing any movement.
So far, the brand has not officially explained whether that mode was correctly activated or what controls were activated by the minors.
The fact that the VLE is a 100% electric vehicle adds an interesting element. It does not emit the characteristic noise of a combustion engine when starting up, and its movement can go unnoticed by both the staff at the stand and those nearby.
The rugged model is one of Mercedes-Benz's major bets in the luxury electric segment. The VLE measures 5.3 meters in length, can be configured with up to eight seats, and boasts over 700 kilometers of range in certain configurations.
Its 800-volt technology allows for the recovery of up to 355 kilometers of range in just 15 minutes under optimal charging conditions. The starting price in Spain is around 83,000 euros.
The vehicle is manufactured at the plant that Mercedes-Benz has in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in Álava, the first facility in the brand's global network to produce this model on its new modular architecture, with an investment of over 1 billion euros. Series production started on June 12, 2026.
The incident reopened a recurring debate in the grand automotive exhibitions: the tension between allowing the public to interact with the displayed vehicles—sitting in them, exploring screens and controls—and ensuring that those cars cannot be set in motion.
The company has not disclosed the cost of the damages or who will cover the repair expenses, and the question that lingered among those present at the venue summarizes the dilemma well: Was the fault with the parents or with the Mercedes team?
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