Seeing a new opportunity for a rolling workshop that is smaller than a full-size van but larger than a compact one, Mercedes-Benz has introduced a midsize van that also will be the least expensive vehicle available in the U.S. with a three-pointed star on the front grille.
"We are more or less reinventing the [van] segment," said Bernhard Glaser, vice president and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Vans USA, at this month's Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. With the introduction of the Sprinter in 2001, the German company was the first automaker to bring a European-style cargo van to the U.S. Last year, the nameplate had record sales under increasing competition from Ford, Ram and Nissan. According to Glaser, more than 25,700 Sprinters were shipped domestically last year, an 18% rise over sales in 2013.