Even if you don’t spot the iconic Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star badge, you might think every Sprinter van you see in America is, well, a Mercedes. Well, they are, except when they’re Freightliners. Mercedes-Benz started selling Sprinters in the States under the U.S.-based truck company’s name in 2001 (Daimler has owned Freightliner since 1981) but will no longer do so after the 2021 model year. That leaves the Sprinter as a Mercedes-Benz and nothing else in America—as Benz’s tagline goes, the best or nothing, right?
Why no more Freightliner Sprinter? Apparently, Mercedes was selling far more Mercedes-Benz Sprinters than Freightliner versions. And with predicted slowdowns in sales and the sort of economic activities that drive van purchases, Mercedes-Benz decided it was no longer worth it to certify and market a redundant, relatively low-volume product here. Here is the company’s statement on the matter:
“We announced the following to Freightliner dealers: The management of Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), has decided to discontinue distribution of the Freightliner Sprinter product in the U.S. market at the conclusion of the 2021 model year. This decision was made after much careful consideration of a number of factors. Specifically, the high homologation costs for a single-market, low-volume product like the U.S.-only Freightliner Sprinter were central to this decision.”
Interestingly, when the Sprinter launched in the U.S., it was under the Freightliner name, presumably as a way of ingratiating the decidedly European (tall, narrow) van to American fleet buyers used to less space- and fuel-efficient domestic vans and wary of a fancy brand name playing in the tough work-truck scene. (Never mind that Mercedes has played in the truck, van, and commercial-vehicle spaces for decades.) Customers have grown more fond of the Sprinter generally, and sales are up for the actual Mercedes version, and not merely because of that sweet three-pointed star. A Benz representative notes Mercedes vans check the right boxes for commercial customers, with low costs of ownership, solid service, and desirable safety features. We dig the Sprinter for its buttoned-down handling, hauling capabilities, and—yes—its available carlike tech and safety features.
