Mercedez Benz News Rumorpile: More Vans From Mercedes-Benz

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

November 14, 2013

Automotive News is reporting that Mercedes-Benz could be getting more vans for the U.S. At the moment, Mercedes-Benz currently sells the Sprinter van in the U.S.

Insiders tell AN that Mercedes-Benz debating whether or not to send their next-generation Vito and V-Class to the U.S. sometime after their introduction into the European market in 2014.

The Vito is about the same size as the Ford Transit Connect and Nissan NV 200. This is offered in Europe as a commercial and passenger van. Then there is the new V-Class which is slightly larger than most minivans on sale in the U.S. It would also be one of the more luxurious models available with wood trim, panoramic sunroof, and loads of electronics.

Both models are rear-wheel drive and come available with either four or six-cylinder engines.

We'll be keeping an eye on this and see if anything comes to fruition.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[Drew Dowdell]

I bet SMK will expect Cadillac to chase Mercedes here on volume and then wag his finger when Cadillac's sales numbers aren't as high.

[G. David Felt]

SMK has been drinking deeply from the MB punch bowl lately.

Cadillac can ignor this market, they do NOT need to do vans.

[Robert Hall]

Who knows, maybe compact luxury vans will be the new growth niche after compact luxury CUVs become passe...

Lincoln needs to get out ahead of the market and do an MK* version of the new-generation '14 Transit Connect.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

And just like with FWD, Mercedes finally gets with the program 40 years late.

[G. David Felt]

Maybe MB will kick off these van Trends again.

[Z-06]

Chevroletdes Benz. Luxury pretensions with generic intentions.

[Robert Hall]

Chevroletdes Benz. Luxury pretensions with generic intentions.

Cadillac could put their sharp edges on the llittle Nissan NV that Chevy will be rebadging soon to get into the game quickly...

[pow]

Sprinter belongs to Merc's commercial vans division, which does not compete against luxury passenger car brands. In addition to commercial vans, Daimler also has Mercedes commercial truck and bus divisions, with vehicles like the Actros, Unimog, and Citaro.

In some markets, Mercedes does sell the Viano, a smaller passenger van, alongside their luxury passenger cars. It's quite popular in some Asian markets like China. The closest GM equivalent to the Viano would be the GL8, though that's branded as Buick instead of Cadillac.

Edited November 14, 2013 by pow

[Z-06]

Chevroletdes Benz. Luxury pretensions with generic intentions.

Cadillac could put their sharp edges on the llittle Nissan NV that Chevy will be rebadging soon to get into the game quickly...

Does not disprove Chevroletdes Benz.

[balthazar]

It's so blatantly obvious its pathetic : the badge-whoring...

[Robert Hall]

It's so blatantly obvious its pathetic : the badge-whoring...

It's business...M-B is a full line auto and truck maker..

[balthazar]

Only because they're a badge-whore. No need whatsoever to be in every segment in the auto industry when they have other brands for that and a profit margin that doesn't require such.

[Intrepidation]

Zee Germans will never be able to do build them like the `Mericans.

[balthazar]

Would be interesting if Daimler marketed a van as the 'E350' - could slide right in on an established nameplate.
Oops, they're already using a van nameplate on a "luxury" car.

[Drew Dowdell]

It's so blatantly obvious its pathetic : the badge-whoring...

It's business...M-B is a full line auto and truck maker..

Why not use the Freightliner brand?

[balthazar]

Because it wouldn't show up on the monthly sales report.

My local MB dealer, a multi-brand 'mini auto mall' of luxury nameplates (tho under the MB banner) has a full 2-dozen sprinters parked right out front. Looks like a rental moving van outfit. Why they're not around back or off to one side... wonder what the brand snobs overpaying for a MB sedan or cute ute feel when they see all that Refrigerator Whiteness ifront of their 'luxury service experience center'. lol

[G. David Felt]

GM used to be full service on light, medium and heavy duty trucks, vans and auto's and look where it got them. I say eventually MB will also fall to the weight of trying to be all things everywhere.

[Drew Dowdell]

Because it wouldn't show up on the monthly sales report.

Sure it does... the same way that Cadillac and Chevrolet appear on the same monthly sales report.

[smk4565]

This sounds more like they want a luxury minivan in the USA, and they may be successful with this, but the R-class bombed, so I sort of doubt it. But if a Toyota or Honda minivan can cost $40,000, maybe Mercedes can get people to pay $50,000 for a minivan. I don't see the Vito coming here, that is a small commercial vehicle for Europe.

[Drew Dowdell]

As is the Nissan NV and the Ford Transit Connect..... why wouldn't Benz want a piece of that pie?

[smk4565]

As is the Nissan NV and the Ford Transit Connect..... why wouldn't Benz want a piece of that pie?

They might, Sprinter is from the Mercedes-Benz Vans division, so they could bring others from that group here, but I sort of doubt it. I think Mercedes feels that they can engineer the best product for any segment. Daimler builds the best trucks and buses, Mercedes is one of the standards of the auto industry, I am sure they can build a better van than the Transit or NV200, but just because they can doesn't mean they should.

These vans could have diesel power though, instant win over vans sold in the USA right now.

[Drew Dowdell]

eh.... somewhere along the way MB forgot how to rust-proof their vans for the North American market. They don't hold up well here.

[balthazar]

Because it wouldn't show up on the monthly sales report.

Sure it does... the same way that Cadillac and Chevrolet appear on the same monthly sales report.

But not under the brand name 'mercedees' if it's a 'Freightliner'.

GMC sales don't count as Cadillac sales...