Daimler Expanding Sprinter Production To North America
When Daimler begins production of its next-gen Sprinter, quite a few of the vans will be leaving an assembly line somewhere in North America.
Automotive News reports the partial shift in production will help the automaker “cover the growing demand for large vans in the North American market economically” by producing them locally “in the NAFTA region,” according to Mercedes’ head of vans, Volker Mornhinweg.
Presently, the U.S.-bound Sprinters are made in Dusseldorf and Ludwigsfelde, Germany, then sent over in CKD form to Ladson, S.C. for reassembly. Around 23,000 Sprinters were sent in this manner to U.S. customers in 2013, the sales second only to Germany.
As for where the new plant will be built, Mornhinweg says the exact location would be chosen in the coming months, with sites in the U.S., Canada and Mexico being examined.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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This may be a worthy vehicle for its intended utilitarian purposes, but if ever something was misnamed, it's surely the Sprinter. How about the Plodder instead? Or maybe MB dropped in an AMG 6.3 engine and didn't tell us?
Have heard nothing but complaints about these vans. They're not suited to the great white north as almost all of them are bleeding red after a few winters. Goes to show you that there's a lot more rotten stuff under the skin. Perhaps the people who design Sprinters should get together with the people who design the Actross and maybe get those people to show them how to make a...truck with a van body.
You mean like the ones built in North Charleston, SC?
I vote for Philadelphia or Baltimore. (I don't get a vote.)