CHARLESTON, S.C. – The DaimlerChrysler plant in Ladson, S.C., just outside Charleston, officially kicked off production of the Sprinter for the U.S. market under the Dodge and Freightliner brands. The plant was inaugurated in the presence of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. The former plant in Gaffney, annual capacity around 22,000 units, no longer could cope with growing sales. A production capacity of 32,000 units now is available at the new plant on the U.S. East Coast, where 180 employees are working to reassemble the Sprinter on a 460,000-sq.-ft. site. $35 million was invested in the plant. Sprinters for the U.S. and Canada are offered in three vehicle lengths on two new wheelbases. With a lineup of cargo vans, passenger vans, and chassis cab models, it also boasts three roof heights. Powered by two all-new V-6 engines, a 3.0L diesel or 3.5L gas engine, standard equipment includes Adaptive ESP, which features additional sensors that now take into consideration vehicle payload, further reducing the risk of vehicle skidding and loss of control. The all-new Sprinter goes on sale this spring.