CCJ

November 2014

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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26 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2014 D uring a roundtable discussion at last month's IAA Commercial Vehicles 2014 truck show in Hanover, Germany, Mercedes-Benz executives said they expect strong growth in the large van market in the United States with its Sprinter offering. Year-to-date through August, Mercedes-Benz van sales in the United States are up 21 percent from 13,200 units to 16,000 units compared to the first eight months of 2013. Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said the overall U.S. large van mar- ket is up 16.8 percent from 170,400 units to 199,000 units. While Mercedes-Benz van sales have achieved double-digit growth in Western Europe (up 16 percent) and China (up 12 per- cent) in the same time period, sales are declining in Latin America (down 23 percent) and Eastern Europe (down 3 percent) where local economies continue to struggle. Sprinter gaining ground The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been available in North America under a number of badges since it was introduced in 2001, and the Euro-style van has challenged the traditional domestic vans in the marketplace, said Bernhard Glaser, president and managing director of commercial vans for Mercedes-Benz USA. Model-year 2015 Sprinters include a new Crosswind Assist feature that uses ESP sensors to brake the wheels and counter wind forces. Optional equipment includes a 7-foot super-high roof, a super-ultra-low-emissions vehicle (SULEV) diesel engine for four-cylinder models and two 4-by-4 packages that will be available in the United States early next year. Mid-sized van coming to U.S. The Sprinter currently is the only van Mercedes-Benz offers in North America, but that will change in fall 2015 when the com- pany introduces its new Vito (VS20) mid-sized van that recently launched in Europe, providing North American customers with a smaller option from Mercedes-Benz. While it likely will come into the United States with a different name, the VS20 will be available in both cargo and passenger versions with a long wheelbase, 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and rear-wheel drive beginning with the 2016 model year. Unlike the Sprinter, which is badged in North America as Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner, the VS20 will bear only a Mer- cedes-Benz logo. It will be assembled alongside the Sprinter at the company's assembly plant in Charleston, S.C. – Jeff Crissey M ark McLean held off challenges from FedEx Freight co-workers Eric Vos and Charles Kerr to become the third repeat winner in SuperTech history at the Technology & Maintenance Council's Fall Meeting in Orlando, Fla. McLean, 25, won three individual stations – drivetrain, service information and wheel end – during the two-day event, the most of all competitors. He took home nearly $25,000 in gift cards and prizes, including an all-inclusive package to the 2015 Daytona 500. Vos took second behind McLean for the second year in a row and won the liftgate division. Despite not winning an in- dividual station, Kerr used a steady performance through the competition to snag third place. Vos and Kerr also nabbed trips to NASCAR races. Former winners Brian Lewis from Walmart and Christopher Tate from Mohawk Trucks rounded out the top five, followed by Matthew Nolan (FedEx), Jeffrey Schlecht (Omaha Truck Center), Chris Barnett (Ryder), Robert Gonzalez (Ryder) and Joseph Calloway (Wal-Mart). In addition to 134 professional techs, this year's 10th annual SuperTech also featured new team and student contests. Behind McLean, Vos and Kerr, FedEx Freight nabbed the first team title; while 23 technicians participated in the student contest, with WyoTech student Gunnar Lueck coming out on top. – Lucas Deal Mercedes-Benz updates North American van market Mark McLean became the third repeat winner in SuperTech history at the Technology & Maintenance Council's Fall Meeting in Orlando, Fla. FedEx Freight's McLean repeats as SuperTech winner Mercedes-Benz's mid-sized van will be available in the United States in fall 2015 in both cargo and passenger versions with a long wheelbase, 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and rear-wheel drive.

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