DaimlerChrysler Commercial Van
Sprinter Comes To U.S. With Freightliner Nameplate
DaimlerChrysler Vans LLC has begun U.S. distribution of a commercial van, already popular in Europe, which will be sold here under the Freightliner brand and assembled at the Freightliner factory in Gaffney, S.C.
Dubbed "Sprinter", the new Class 2c and 3 light commercial vehicle, designed and powered by Mercedes-Benz, is already being used in this country by FedEx, which began accepting delivery on a 1,900-unit order last June
Formed as a new subsidiary, DaimlerChrysler Vans LLC will take on the exclusive role of setting up the dealer network and developing all sales, marketing and aftermarket support for the Sprinter from a newly established headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. It expects to sign at least 160 dealers by mid-2002.
Dr. Rolf Bartke, senior vice president of DaimlerChrysler and responsible for the business unit Mercedes-Benz Vans, said he expects the Sprinter to become a major player in the U.S. It is the market leader in its class in Europe, and in the first three quarters of 2001 more than 105,000 vans were sold worldwide "The Sprinter offers a large load capacity and an attractive, powerful and economical engine, which translates into a competitive advantage for our customers: fleet owners, retailers, delivery companies and other vocational services," Bartke said.
Sprinter is powered by a Mercedes-Benz 5-cylinder common rail direct injection diesel that provides 154 hp and 243-lbs.-ft. of torque, enabling it to perform at the level of competitor's gasoline engines, which are nearly twice its size. It is designed to achieve an average of 22 miles per gallon.
An electronic engine management system controls the CDI solenoid valves, idle speed stabilizer, vibration reduction system, exhaust gas recirculation, start control, immobilizer and boost pressure controller.
The Sprinter comes standard with a 5-speed automatic transmission, said to be one of the smoothest transmissions in a commercial vehicle. It has a torque converter lockup clutch, while the fifth gear has an economy ratio.
The vehicle will be offered as a cargo van or a passenger van in three different wheelbases — 188-, 140- and 158-inch. It will also be available with two different roof heights, a flat-roofed version with an interior height of 64 inches, and a high-roofed version of 73 inches.
The van's front axle has independent suspension with a lower transverse link and damper struts, reinforced especially for the North American market. Tim A. Reuss, President and CEO of DaimlerChrysler Vans LLC, said the decision to market Sprinter under the Freightliner brand in the U.S. was based on its designation as a commercial vehicle and the fact that "Freightliner" is synonymous with commercial vehicles in the U.S." First introduced in 1994, Sprinter has been marketed in Europe under the Mercedes-Benz brand, and will continue to be manufactured in Dusseldorf, Germany. Cargo vans will be shipped semi-assembled to Freightliner's South Carolina plant, but passenger vans will be shipped fully assembled.
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