Mercedes-Benz Sprinter  -  Photo: Paul Clinton

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Photo: Paul Clinton

Mercedes-Benz unveiled its third-generation Sprinter today in Duisburg, Germany, at the junction of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, as a versatile full-size van with a factory telematics service that will arrive in the U.S. later this year.

The new Sprinter will bring an array of updates, including a gasoline engine, more than 1,700 configurations worldwide, telematics offering Mercedes Pro, and available driver assistance systems such as a self-cleaning rear-view camera in the rear-view mirror. 360-degree-view parking camera system, and sensor with Wet Wiper system that improves visibility in the rain.

Mercedes-Benz will begin selling the new Sprinter in Europe this June, with a starting price of 20,000 euros ($24,754).

Mercedes-Benz showed the van to a group of journalists at its new logistics center on Mercator Island, which was named after a 16th century cartographer who lived in the city.l

"The inland port of Duisburg stands for globalism and modern logistics at the highest level," said Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. "It is therefore the perfect environment in which to present the new Sprinter."

In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz will begin selling the vehicle at its commercial vehicle centers and Van ProCenters by the end of 2018. Mercedes-Benz is still determining whether to offer Worker model versions of the new Sprinter.

Mercedes-Benz will provide additional details about powertrains, pricing, trim levels, packages, and specifications closer to launch. Most models will be built in Charleston, South Carolina at a new plant, except for the cab and chassis model, which will come from the Ludwigsfelde factory near Berlin.

The non-U.S. model of the next-gen Sprinter will offer several additional features, including front-wheel drive and an electrified version called eSprinter. Mercedes Pro won't be available on the Canadian Sprinter at launch.

The Sprinter first appeared in the U.S. in 2001 as a Freghtliner. In 2003, DaimlerChrysler offered a Dodge Sprinter that carried a lower price. Daimer AG phased out the Dodge nameplate in late 2009 and offered the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as a replacement.

There are now 289 Sprinter dealers in the U.S. Of those, 247 are Mercedes-Benz Vans dealers and 42 are Freightliner dealers. Mercedes-Benz has 381 passenger car dealers.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

About the author
Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Editorial

Our team of enterprising editors brings years of experience covering the fleet industry. We offer a deep understanding of trends and the ever-evolving landscapes we cover in fleet, trucking, and transportation.  

View Bio
0 Comments