Even if you will not location the legendary Mercedes-Benz a few-pointed star badge, you may assume every single Sprinter van you see in The us is, nicely, a Mercedes. Properly, they are, besides when they’re Freightliners. Mercedes-Benz began selling Sprinters in the States below the U.S.-primarily based truck firm’s identify in 2001 (Daimler has owned Freightliner due to the fact 1981) but will no longer do so immediately after the 2021 product yr. That leaves the Sprinter as a Mercedes-Benz and very little else in America—as Benz’s tagline goes, the finest or almost nothing, ideal?
Why no extra Freightliner Sprinter? Seemingly, Mercedes was offering considerably extra Mercedes-Benz Sprinters than Freightliner versions. And with predicted slowdowns in sales and the kind of economic actions that drive van purchases, Mercedes-Benz determined it was no for a longer time value it to certify and market place a redundant, fairly minimal-quantity product below. Here is the company’s statement on the make any difference:
“We announced the following to Freightliner dealers: The administration of Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), has decided to discontinue distribution of the Freightliner Sprinter solution in the U.S. market place at the conclusion of the 2021 model calendar year. This decision was created soon after substantially careful consideration of a selection of components. Especially, the high homologation expenditures for a single-market place, very low-quantity item like the U.S.-only Freightliner Sprinter were being central to this final decision.”
Interestingly, when the Sprinter released in the U.S., it was underneath the Freightliner name, presumably as a way of ingratiating the decidedly European (tall, slim) van to American fleet consumers utilised to fewer space- and gas-successful domestic vans and cautious of a fancy brand name taking part in in the challenging get the job done-truck scene. (Hardly ever mind that Mercedes has played in the truck, van, and business-motor vehicle spaces for many years.) Customers have grown a lot more fond of the Sprinter generally, and profits are up for the true Mercedes version, and not just simply because of that sweet 3-pointed star. A Benz agent notes Mercedes vans verify the right bins for business prospects, with lower charges of ownership, solid provider, and desirable protection characteristics. We dig the Sprinter for its buttoned-down dealing with, hauling capabilities, and—yes—its available carlike tech and safety features.