It will be built in South Carolina for the US and Canada.
Mercedes was rumoured to be seriously considering bringing the electric version of its famous Sprinter van to the United States late last year. Mercedes has now announced that it will do exactly that, introducing the eSprinter in the United States and Canada. The eSprinter, according to the leak, will have a maximum range of 93 miles, which Mercedes did not confirm in its announcement. However, lacking the 126-mile range of the newly announced Ford E-Transit might not be a major disadvantage. “In the transportation field, the future of mobility is electric, particularly in the last mile distribution segment,” Mercedes claims.
The eSprinter is based on Mercedes’ new Electric Versatility Platform and is currently being produced alongside conventionally driven Sprinter models in Dusseldorf, Germany. In Europe, it will be manufactured in Ludwigsfelde, Germany, and in North America, it will be manufactured in North Charleston, South Carolina.
“Our North Charleston plant will be the first in the United States to receive the next generation of the eSprinter,” said Arnhelm Mittelbach, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC. “We are honoured to have won the company’s confidence in producing this vehicle as a key component of the Mercedes-Benz Vans production network. We are also grateful for the state of South Carolina’s and Charleston County’s continued help in the construction of our facility, as well as our team’s efforts to achieve this milestone in our growth.”
“Our North Charleston plant will be the first in the United States to receive the next generation of the eSprinter,” said Arnhelm Mittelbach, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC. “We are honoured to have won the company’s confidence in producing this vehicle as a key component of the Mercedes-Benz Vans production network. We are also grateful for the state of South Carolina’s and Charleston County’s continued help in the construction of our facility, as well as our team’s efforts to achieve this milestone in our growth.”
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According to Mercedes, the eSprinter will also be produced as a chassis model and provide a basic platform for “among other things, ambulances, motorhomes or refrigerated transporters.” Like the current Sprinter, doubtless buyers will convert the eSprinter into all kinds of things, including luxury hotel rooms on wheels.
Unfortunately for Mercedes, it won’t be available until the second half of 2023 in the United States, giving the Ford E-Transit a significant head start. The E-Transit is scheduled to enter the streets in late 2021, according to Ford. Mercedes, on the other hand, should be able to ride the surge, as industry experts expect that annual electric commercial van sales will grow from around 56,000 to around 623,000 by 2030. Mercedes already has a strong reputation for its Sprinter vans, so it is well positioned to enter the market and capitalise on demand.
