Saw this coming a mile away: Sprinter jumps to Mercedes-Benz Canada from Dodge
Mercedes-Benz has announced that the Sprinter commercial vehicle brand will be axed from Dodge and will join its Canadian lineup as of January 1, 2010.
The move comes as no surprise: The vans were sold under the American brand as part of the DaimlerChrylser merger. Engineered by Mercedes-Benz, the Sprinters basically swapped out their three-pointed star grille for a ram’s head to be sold in North America. With their European diesel powertrain, Benz quality and almost infinite factory customization, they became a hit for Dodge in the light-duty commercial sector.
However, since DaimlerChrylser disbanded and the American automaker went through bankruptcy, the writing’s been on the wall that Sprinter would eventually fall back under its parent brand in North America.
Mercedes-Benz says its Sprinter will be available in Canada with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine and the same myriad of options to suit business, transportation or recreational needs. The German automaker says the vans offer best-in-class cargo capacity, payload, compartment accessibility and the longest maintenance intervals in the industry.
Starting in Jan. 2010, the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters will be sold and serviced through Mercedes-Benz dealers across Canada.
“We are looking forward to integrating the Sprinter business into the Mercedes-Benz
Canada infrastructure. As the most technologically advanced and versatile commercial vehicle on the market, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will offer Canadian businesses a reliable and intelligent transportation solution for their goods and/or services,” said Marcus Breitschwerdt, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada. “Our strong dealer network will be ready and properly equipped to support this additional brand, and I am confident that they will meet the needs of this important market and represent the Sprinter with the same passion and enthusiasm displayed towards our other brands.”
