The popular and well-established Sprinter commercial vehicles will now be available under the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brands. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Montvale, NJ, announced September 1 it will assume responsibility for the sales, marketing, distribution and service of Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter commercial vehicles in the United States, with the Dodge Sprinter being discontinued.
The company says the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter marks the official return of the three-pointed star to the U.S. and Canadian light-duty commercial vehicle market. Delivery of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to dealers and customers will begin in January 2010.
Central to this announcement is the creation of a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG located in Montvale, NJ, saying the move combines Mercedes-Benz brand awareness and technology with Freightliner commercial vehicle expertise.
Introduced in North America in 2001, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has developed a successful following with more than 130,000 Sprinter vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada.
The Sprinter in the U.S. and Canada is offered in three vehicle lengths on two wheelbases with three GVWRs (gross vehicle weight rating) and two roof heights to accommodate a line-up of cargo vans, passenger vans and chassis cab models.
Powered by an 3.0 V-6 turbo diesel engine, standard equipment includes adaptive electronic stability programs that feature additional sensors that take into consideration vehicle payload, further reducing the risk of skidding and loss of control.
“The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter set standards in the sector for safety, customization and environmental responsibility and we are proud to offer this product in the U.S. market under the three-pointed-Star,” says Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.
