Freightliner is adding the Sprinter, a light-duty commercial van, to its lineup as of the second quarter of 2001. This Class 2 and 3 van, currently sold by parent company DaimlerChrysler in Europe and South America, is designed for a wide range of applications such as parcel and general delivery, passenger transport and shuttle, and a variety of service applications.
Freightliner President Jim Hebe said Sprinter is being brought to the U.S. market in part due to booming web business. “Due to new distribution logistics driven by e-commerce, we expect the Class 2 and 3 van market to grow tremendously as goods ordered over the Internet are delivered directly to homes,” Hebe said.
Freightliner recently announced an $11.4 million, 58,000-square-foot expansion at its plant in Gaffney, SC, for Sprinter assembly. The addition will be complete by the first quarter of 2001, with assembly start-up following shortly after completion. It will be introduced into the Mexican market soon after.