Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Races to a Fast Finish in 2008

MELBOURNE, Australia – December 5, 2008: The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van and cab chassis range is on track for a record year of sales, and currently shows no signs of slowing before Christmas.

A total of 230 customers made the Sprinter their first choice last month, falling just short of the popular model’s one-month sales record of 259 units (set in July 2004).

Compared to the same month last year, sales of the award-winning Sprinter range from Mercedes-Benz grew by over 40 per cent in November, despite an 18.5 percent decline in its Australian market segment (according to VFacts, Trucks 3,501-7,500 kgs GVM segment, November 2008).

“The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has had a number of sales records this year which has been pleasing to see,” said Ken Matthews, managing director of commercial vehicles at DaimlerChrysler Australia / Pacific.

“The popularity of the Sprinter range this year clearly indicates its solid reputation amongst Australian commercial vehicle buyers, something it has maintained since the Australian release of the current model in 2006.

“Australian customers want to do business with strong brands and companies that can weather these challenging times, and November’s result underlines this. We have already surpassed the best ever annual sales result for Sprinter in our 10 year history in Australia, and we still have many vehicles to be delivered to customers in December.” concluded Matthews.

The result is made all the more impressive considering the current economic climate, and is a clear indication of how many Australian businesses regard models from the innovative Sprinter range not only as an important tool for reliable day-to-day service but also complimentary brand image.

The pioneering Sprinter van and cab chassis range has ushered in several firsts for Australian light commercial vehicle customers, such as Adaptive Electronic Stability Programme ESP® and the first with a comprehensive three-year / 200,000 kilometre warranty, the most extensive in its class.

This range of impressive vans and cab chassis utilities has been the recipient of numerous awards, commended for its position as a safety pioneer and for its hallmark Mercedes quality, durability and performance.

What Van? Magazine awarded the versatile Sprinter Best Large Panel Van in 2006 in its prestigious Van of the Year Awards, stating it represented “the pinnacle of current large panel van design and drivetrain implementation.”

The Sprinter also received Germany’s KEP Van of the Year trophy in 2007.

Four examples of the award-winning Sprinter also demonstrated their durability, economy and strength in late 2006 by completing the grueling 13,000km trek from Paris to Beijing as technical support units to the 36 Mercedes-Benz cars which completed the marathon rally.

This punishing drive was nothing new to the Sprinter, which has also demonstrated its abilities in the hands of so many customers around the globe.

German newspaper courier Klaus Schade had racked up more than 900,000km in his Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van by 2006, traveling the equivalent of more than 22 times around the globe. Aside from regular scheduled servicing, Mr Schade’s Sprinter had not had one part replaced.

And it’s not only small businesses that have made the Sprinter their first choice.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter range has long been the van of choice for many large organisations.

For example, more than 95 percent of Australia’s front-line ambulance fleet is comprised of the award-winning vans, and Australia Post recently selected the Sprinter to make up its new fleet of Australia’s iconic red postal vans, the first time a new marque has held this privileged role in more than 24 years. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito light commercial vehicle ranges are available from all authorised Mercedes-Benz light commercial vehicle dealerships. Visit www.mercedes-benz.com.au for more information.