A design sketch of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is all the three-pointed star is willing to share about its next-generation workhorse at this moment in time. A light commercial vehicle that’s going against the all-new Volkswagen Crafter, the third-gen Sprinter won’t share its underpinnings with the latter.
The second-generation Crafter, which moved away from the co-developed platform of its predecessor, started production in Poland in late 2016. Mercedes-Benz will ups its game with the all-new Sprinter, which will have its market launch in Europe in the first half of 2018. In stark contrast to the current model, the new one will also be made in the United States of America.
Mercedes-Benz took this decision in order to reduce production costs and shorten delivery times in the U.S., a market where vans are adequately popular despite the fact pickup trucks reign supreme. To this effect, the automaker is currently constructing an assembly plant in North Charleston, South Carolina.
"We want to do more than just build the best vehicles. We want to offer the most suitable mobility solution for every sector and for every transport assignment. And that is precisely our focus with the upcoming Sprinter generation as an overall system solution,” said Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, at the 2017 North American Commercial Vehicle Show.
From a design standpoint, the official sketch reveals a front fascia inspired by the X-Class pickup and many traits of the Vision Van concept presented last year. And similarly to the Vision Van, the next-generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will bring forth an all-electric powertrain at some point in the future.
Since the first Sprinter rolled off the line in the mid-1990s, Mercedes-Benz sold more than 3.3 million examples of the commercial vehicle in more than 130 countries. The best-selling model in the Mercedes-Benz Vans portfolio posted a record first half in 2017, moving 96,200 units compared to 95,100 in the same period last year.
Mercedes-Benz took this decision in order to reduce production costs and shorten delivery times in the U.S., a market where vans are adequately popular despite the fact pickup trucks reign supreme. To this effect, the automaker is currently constructing an assembly plant in North Charleston, South Carolina.
"We want to do more than just build the best vehicles. We want to offer the most suitable mobility solution for every sector and for every transport assignment. And that is precisely our focus with the upcoming Sprinter generation as an overall system solution,” said Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, at the 2017 North American Commercial Vehicle Show.
From a design standpoint, the official sketch reveals a front fascia inspired by the X-Class pickup and many traits of the Vision Van concept presented last year. And similarly to the Vision Van, the next-generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will bring forth an all-electric powertrain at some point in the future.
Since the first Sprinter rolled off the line in the mid-1990s, Mercedes-Benz sold more than 3.3 million examples of the commercial vehicle in more than 130 countries. The best-selling model in the Mercedes-Benz Vans portfolio posted a record first half in 2017, moving 96,200 units compared to 95,100 in the same period last year.