Mercedes Benz, the next generation eSprinter will be built in US and Germany

With the next generation eSprinter, Mercedes-Benz Vans implements the next stage of its electrification plan in pursuit of its ‘Lead in Electric Drive’ plan. The eSprinter will be produced in North Charleston, South Carolina, Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde in Germany. Based on a new platform announced at the end of 2020, the next generation of the eSprinter targets new customer segments and markets, including the USA and Canada. Mercedes-Benz is investing around €350 million in the next generation eSprinter. The necessary conversion measures in plants and retraining is currently in preparation.

eSprinter, Mercedes Benz shapes the future of last mile distribution

«The future of mobility is electric in the transport sector, especially in the last mile delivery segment. Our share of battery-electric vehicles is constantly growing. We have consistently aligned our strategy accordingly, and underline with our strategic pillar ‘Lead in Electric Drive’ our leadership aim in electric mobility in the vans sector», said Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. «Daimler has decided to expand the next generation of the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter to a total of three locations, creating optimal synergies, taking benefit from the experience already built up in the production of electric and conventionally driven vans on a line at the plant in Düsseldorf. For the adjustment of production, Daimler will invest around €50 million in each of the three plants. The production of the eSprinter will start from the second half of 2023».

The eSprinter also available as chassis model

The current generation of the eSprinter is already being built in Düsseldorf together on one line with conventionally driven Sprinter models. The principle of manufacturing both drive train variants will also be implemented at the plants in Charleston and Ludwigsfelde. In this way, Mercedes-Benz will respond very precisely to the respective market needs in the future. In addition to the previously available variant as a panel van, the next generation of the eSprinter will also be produced as a chassis model and will thus serve as a basic vehicle for, among other things, ambulances, motorhomes or refrigerated transporters.

About the Mercedes plants producing the eSprinter

The Mercedes-Benz Düsseldorf plant will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2022. At the end of 2020, around 6,000 employees were employed in Düsseldorf. This is where the Sprinter panel van and the current generation of the eSprinter run off the production line. The Mercedes-Benz plant in Ludwigsfelde celebrated its 30th anniversary in February this year. At the end of 2020, around 2,000 employees produced the chassis models of the Sprinter. The Mercedes-Benz plant in Ladson/North Charleston, SC, was founded 15 years ago as an assembly plant for Sprinter and Metris vans, and was expanded to part-by-part production for Sprinter vans in 2018. By the end of 2020, the Plant in Charleston had about 1,600 employees.