Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC announced Sept. 1 it will assume responsibility for the sales, marketing, distribution, and service of Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter commercial vehicles in the U.S. Central to the announcement is the creation of Daimler Vans USA, LLC - located in Montvale, N.J. - a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG.  The Dodge Sprinter will be discontinued.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter also marks the official return of the three-pointed star to the U.S. and Canadian light duty commercial vehicle market.  Delivery of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to dealers and customers will begin in January 2010.

Introduced in North America in 2001, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has developed a successful following with more than 130,000 Sprinter vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada, according to the manufacturer. The Sprinter in the U.S. and Canada is offered in three vehicle lengths on two wheelbases with three GVWRs (gross vehicle weight rating). With a line-up of cargo vans, passenger vans, and chassis cab models, it also offers two roof heights.  Powered by an efficient 3.0 V-6 turbo diesel engine, standard equipment includes ADAPTIVE ESP, which features additional sensors that take into consideration vehicle payload.

The Sprinter, on-sale in the U.S. since 2001, is manufactured in Germany and assembled in Charleston, S.C.