To most Americans, the name Mercedes-Benz invokes images of remarkably well-engineered luxury sedans, SUVs, and sports cars. But for tradespeople or those with small businesses that involve local transport, the brand means remarkably well-engineered cargo vans. This is because the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been providing small businesses and tradespeople with high-quality transport for 30 years. Mercedes-Benz of Plano gives you this quick history.
In 1995, Mercedes-Benz first launched the Sprinter. The model had such an impact on the light commercial vehicle segment that “Sprinter” quickly became the nickname for its vehicle category. While it displays little of the luxury lavished on the brand’s passenger cars, the Sprinter has impressed owners with its build quality, reliability, and innovation. Consequently, the Sprinter enjoys a high repurchase rate, partly due to its popularity among businesses and fleet operators, who continue to customize it for various applications. In fact, 75% of all Sprinters worldwide are tailored to specific industry needs.
"With the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, we have had an iconic van in our portfolio for 30 years now. During this time, the Sprinter has written an unprecedented success story and has been sold many times worldwide. We expect to crack the five million mark of sold vehicles before the end of this year. For three decades, it has been shaping people's lives and keeping the world running. Whether in emergency services, delivery services, in the trades or on construction sites - the Sprinter has established itself as the perfect business partner. It has also been available as a fully electric vehicle, operating locally CO2 emission-free," said Klaus Rehkugler, Head of Sales & Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Vans.
The Sprinter wasn’t the first Mercedes-Benz van. Like its passenger vehicles, earlier vans had alphanumeric names, eventually culminating in T1/N1. The 1995 Sprinter was a complete redesign, featuring a new engine and an all-new chassis with independent front suspension. It was also equipped with numerous safety features that were unprecedented in vans at the time, such as four-wheel disc brakes, an ABS anti-lock braking system, an automatic brake differential, height-adjustable three-point seat belts, and seat belt buckles anchored to the seat as standard. A driver airbag was available and became standard for the 2000 model year, along with an optional passenger-side airbag. It was offered as a cargo van and passenger van, with either a flat or high roof and potential seating for up to nine.
The second-generation Sprinter was introduced in 2006. It featured three roof heights, three wheelbases, and various enhancements for efficiency, including a start/stop system particularly beneficial for vans in urban areas. Until this point, all vans had been rear-wheel drive; however, in pursuit of efficiency, a front-wheel drive option became available with the model’s third generation in 2018.
In 2019, Mercedes-Benz introduced the all-electric eSprinter in Europe. This model proved popular for use on vans in urban areas and those with relatively fixed routes. Today, Mercedes-Benz offers a wide range of gas and electric vans in the U.S. The eSprinter is available with two battery sizes, the largest of which provides approximately 297 miles of range.
The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX®) system first appeared on the Sprinter in 2018. The current version is standard on all models. The van is available with several safety and driver assistance technologies, including Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC®, Traffic Sign Assist, and Active Lane Keeping Assist.
Ewing Mercedes-Benz of Plano has one of the largest inventories of Mercedes-Benz vans you will find anywhere. We stock everything from cab plus HD dually chassis to full-size passenger vans. Visit Ewing Mercedes-Benz of Plano and tell us your van needs so you can bring to your business the perfect Mercedes-Benz passenger or commercial van.
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