Sprinter 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van to Start at $35,250

The Artist said:

Larger than some folks appartments..

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Mercedes-Benz keeping expectations low for early shuttle van sales

By Daniel Brock

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van line is now a quartet, as company officials have unveiled a shuttle version of the vehicle.

The announcement Wednesday came as part of a two-day media event across the Charleston area during which Mercedes-Benz executives hoped to jump-start the Sprinter’s rebranding.



Mercedes-Benz officially entered the U.S. van market at the beginning of the year, having sold Sprinters under the Freightliner and Dodge brands since 2001. The Sprinter line is now being sold as Mercedes-Benz and Freightliners, a change that took place after a distribution deal between Mercedes-Benz’ parent company, Daimler, and Chrysler lapsed at the end of 2009.

The shuttles will be assembled as cargo vehicles at the Daimler Vans Manufacturing plant in North Charleston before being shipped to Greensboro, N.C., for modifications and then back to the Lowcountry for final inspections, officials said.

The Sprinter Shuttle features four seating configurations — airport, commuter, hotel and paratransit — aimed at specific clientele groups. The airport design, for instance, boasts an 80-inch, two-tier luggage rack, while the commuter shuttle seats 16 passengers and features video equipment.

“It’s a very special market, but for a certain segment, it will do a lot for their bottom line,” said Claus Tritt, the commercial vans general manager for Mercedes-Benz USA.



Tritt said the company was keeping the shuttle’s sales expectations low in the first year, projecting between 100 and 150 units being moved in 2010. The shuttle joins the Sprinter line cargo and passenger models and Sprinter cab chassis currently produced by the company.

More than 110,000 Sprinters have been sold in the United States since 2001, according to Mercedes.

Sprinters are now being offered at a combined 117 Mercedes and Freightliner dealerships across the country, a number that company officials said should reach about 160. There are about 360 Mercedes dealerships nationally, officials said.

Baker Motor Co. of Charleston was one of the dealerships selected to sell the Sprinter. General manager Joe Lynch said Baker Motor Co. has sold five Sprinters since February.

At work

Aftermarket “upfitters” often customize Sprinters for clients, outfitting them for such uses as construction work, delivery service or recreation, officials said. Mercedes also offers myriad industry-specific packages and options on its cargo vans.

In the United States, the Sprinter is targeted toward small businesses, while the Freightliner version continues to be geared toward commercial operators, company officials said.

“Freightliner has a very well-established brand name in the vocational sector as work vehicles,” Mercedes-Benz spokesman Dan Barile said. “On the other side, there might be some places that a Freightliner might not necessarily fit in quite right.”

Barile referenced high-end hotel chains as businesses that might prefer the Mercedes-Benz brand over the Freightliner offering.

The shuttle and cargo vehicles are manufactured in Dusseldorf, Germany, before being disassembled and packaged for shipping by an outside service company there. The vehicles are then transported to the North Charleston plant at Palmetto Commerce Park, where they’re put back together in less than six hours.

Mercedes-Benz ships the cargo vans in pieces to avoid a 25% tariff on commercial vehicles, officials said.

The reason the vans are assembled and then broken down for shipping, as opposed to just being shipped in parts is twofold, according to Barile. First, the Mercedes-Benz plants are set up to build complete vehicles, and removing van components would be inefficient. The second reason is quality control.

“That way, they meet the same build quality and same level of inspection” as the rest of Mercedes-Benz fleet, Barile said.

The North Charleston plant, which employs about 100 people, assembles 28 vans daily on average, or about 8,000 each year. It also processes Sprinter passenger vans and chassis, which are sent to the factory fully built.

Plant production manager Phillip McMillan said that increased employment at the facility would happen “as necessary,” though no firm number has been reached.

Mercedes-Benz assembled the Sprinter at a Freightliner plant in Gaffney from 2001 to 2006 but moved that operation to the Lowcountry when a second generation of the vehicle was launched in 2007.

Reach Daniel Brock at 843-849-3144.

SC Biz News

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There are plenty of Sprinters to choose from at different price points starting in the 37k range for a cargo van to 54k for a loaded wagon.




Here is the service area. It is air conditioned year round. I need to sell my business and join the ranks here!





Notice the higher ceilings in the back area for the Sprinters to clear when up on the racks...





And now for the engineering artform.....





Source: Sprinter-Source.com - The best reSource for Sprinter van owners and enthusiasts.

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Kumho Announced As Original Equipment Fit on New Range of Mercedes Sprinters

SYDNEY – April 13, 2010: Leading tyres manufacturer Kumho has been named as the official OE tyre supplier for the new range of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans. The two companies have recently signed a partnership agreement extending their collaboration for original equipment tyre supply which first began in 2007.

The new Mercedes Benz Sprinter range is fitted with Kumho Radial 857 in Australia, Europe, North America and across Asia. Mercedes Benz chose the Kumho 857 radial for its Sprinter vans up to 3.5 tonnes because of their durability, low wear and strong handling characteristics.

In 2007 Kumho was chosen as the tyre supplier for the Mercede A-Class line-up and in 2008 Mercedes again chose Kumho for its Viano X-Clusive van. In the past year Kumho has been fitted to the Mercedes Benz Actros rigid trucks and prime mover units while Kunho is also a provider for the Mercedes' Smart brand.

According to Kumho Tyre Australia general manager David Basha the decision by Mercedes to choose Kumho will help grow awareness of the quality and integrity of the Kumho brand.

"The Sprinter is one of the best selling vans around the world and Kumho believes that becoming the original equipment tyre supplier will reinforce its growing reputation as a leader in tyre technology and quality," said David Basha. "The company has an aggressive strategy to further increase its OE business especially with the world's premier brand manufacturers and this is an example of the inroads the brand is making," he added.

Meantime Kumho was recently praised by one of Europe's most prestigious automotive magazines Auto Bild in its annual tyre test which saw the Kumho ECSTA HM named as 'highly recommended' in a field of some of Europe's most esteemed tyre brands. Kumho was the only Korean manufacturer to receive the top rating, and was rated third amongst fourteen tyre brands including Michelin, Continental and Dunlop.

The Auto Bild tyre test assessed handling, braking, driving comfort and fuel efficiency. Auto Bild is one of the most influential automotive magazines in Europe, with circulation of 660,000 copies in 35 countries every week.

The magazine's annual tyre test results are widely recognized as one of the most credible source for product quality and the most influential data for European consumers.

The Kumho ECSTA HM received high ratings in all of the test categories including handling, braking, steering and resistance to hydroplaning. ECSTA HM features an upgraded UHP tread compound technology, which enhances driving stability and extends tyre life.

Europe is a key market for Kumho accounting for up 30 percent of the company's export sales.

"The news of Benz OE choice on Sprinter along with the latest Auto Bild ratings reiterate Kumho's technological prowess and product quality," said David Basha. "Kumho celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and it is making a increasingly significant impact in global markets thanks to the continued focus on R&D and improved technology," he added.

The announcements follow Kumho's recent accolade for its concept tyre in the 'Manufacturing and Design Innovation Awards' at the world's largest Tyre Technology Expo in Cologne, Germany last month.

Kumho Announced As Original Equipment Fit on New Range of Mercedes Benz Sprinters

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Wolfgang said:

Schuhmacher European in Arizona is one of the new MBUSA Sprinter dealers.
Here are some pictures, originally posted at Sprinter-Source.com.

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cawimmer430 said:

Wait a second. What happened to the "Oh my god! I am so ashamed that my local Mercedes-Benz dealer sells trucks and vans! I'll go elsewhere instead!" attitude?

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