Category: Automotive

05.

January 2018

Stuttgart

Press Contact for this Press Release (3)

Florian Martens

Head of Global Communications Commercial Vehicles

florian.martens@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-41525

Fax: +49 711 17-52006

Susanne Lenz

Head of Global Business Communications
Daimler Commercial Vehicles

susanne.k.lenz@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-41526

Fax: .

Peter Smodej

Business Communications Commercial Vehicles
Mercedes-Benz Vans, Plants Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde, International Plants

peter.smodej@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-41560

Fax: +49 711 17-79078088

Unit sales up by around 12 percent to around 401,000 vehicles – growth in all regions All models post best-ever unit sales – including the Sprinter in its last full year before the model change Vito and V-Class are the strongest sales drivers Successful market launch of X-Class in November 2017 Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans: “Our ‘ Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global’ growth strategy was very successful once again in 2017. Four consecutive record years represent an outstanding performance by our worldwide team. We have great plans also for 2018: With the new Sprinter, the most important market launch in the van segment from our perspective is coming up soon. We will now open up the digital era in this segment with this new model.”
Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz Vans achieved a new record for unit sales in 2017 and for the first time passed the mark of 400,000 vehicles sold. The division has thus grown continuously for five consecutive years. On the basis of initial December results, the division increased its overall wholesale unit sales by around 12 percent to a total of around 401,000 vehicles. All model series contributed to this growth with best-ever figures. Mercedes-Benz Vans also sold more of the van icon, the Sprinter, than ever before in its last full year before the launch of the new model. The strongest growth driver – in addition to the very successful fleet business – was once again the strong demand for the Vito van and the V-Class multipurpose vehicle. In 2017, both of those models were for the first time fully available in the world’s biggest vehicle market, China. The new Mercedes-Benz X-Class, the first pickup with the three-pointed star, was launched in November 2017. The division’s final figures will be announced at the annual press conference of Daimler AG on February 1, 2018.
Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans: “Our ‘ Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global’ growth strategy was very successful once again in 2017. Four consecutive record years represent an outstanding performance by our global team. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of them. We have great plans also for 2018: With the new Sprinter, the most important market launch in the van segment from our perspective is coming up soon. We will now open up the digital era in this segment with this new model. With the new Sprinter, we will provide exactly those solutions in the vehicle that will help our customers make their business more efficient in a connected world – in the form of hardware in the vehicle and with new, connected services.”
“We are very satisfied with the start of our new Mercedes-Benz pickup in Europe. Customer response is extremely positive. We will launch the X-Class in further markets this year, and that will additionally boost our sales,” continued Mornhinweg.
Sales growth in all regions and many records set
Unit sales by Mercedes-Benz Vans increased in all regions in 2017 and numerous new records were set. In the EU30 region, sales increased by around nine percent to around 273,300 vehicles (2016: 249,900), with an increase of around ten percent in Germany to around 105,800 units (2016: 96,100) – both of these figures are new records. There was growth also in the NAFTA region to the number of around 44,800 units sold (2016: 43,400, +3%), with the new record of around 34,200 vehicles sold by Mercedes-Benz Vans in the United States (2016: 33,700, +1%). The development of sales was positive also in Latin America, with significant growth of around 31 percent to around 16,400 units (2016: 12,500). Driven by the launch in China of the Vito and V-Class in 2016, unit sales there increased very significantly by around 75 percent to around 23,800 vehicles (2016: 13,600).
New record for the Sprinter in its last full year before the model change
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter confirmed its reputation as one of the most successful commercial vehicles of all time and as the bestseller from Mercedes-Benz Vans also in 2017. Mercedes-Benz Vans sold a total of around 200,500 Sprinter vans worldwide – more than ever before in one year (2016: 193,400, +4%) – and that was in the last full year of the model cycle. The Sprinter established the eponymous large-van segment in 1995 and has defined it ever since. It is to be seen on the roads of more than 130 countries and has meanwhile been sold over 3.4 million times. The current generation has been on the market since 2006.
The successor generation of the Sprinter will have its official world premiere in February. The new Sprinter is the first vehicle from Mercedes-Benz Vans to embody the basic principles of adVANce. With this future initiative, the van manufacturer is developing into a provider of holistic transport and mobility solutions. Equipped with the latest connectivity hardware, the new Sprinter becomes part of the internet of things, thus opening up the possibility to implement completely new, customer-specific solutions. For example, individual hardware solutions for the cargo space will be available for specific applications. As of 2019, the new Sprinter will also be available with battery drive.
Midsize models Vito and V-Class are the strongest growth drivers
In the midsize segment, sales of around 171,100 units in 2017 were significantly higher than in the previous year (2016: 140,800, +22%). This means that in addition to the Sprinter, the midsize segment has now become established as a second major area of business for Mercedes-Benz Vans. Sales of the Vito increased significantly by approximately 21 percent to about 111,800 units in 2017, setting a new record for the full year (2016: 92,100). The V-Class multipurpose vehicle also continues to be very popular with customers and surpassed the prior-year record by around 22 percent with sales of around 59,300 units (2016: 48,700). Both vehicles had their first full sales year in China in 2017, which contributed to the strong growth. The two vehicles are “made in China for China” at the plant of the local Daimler joint venture Fujian Benz Automotive Co. Ltd (FBAC) in Fuzhou.
The Marco Polo family also intensified its contribution to the “ Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global” growth strategy this year. The Marco Polo became available with right-hand drive in the United Kingdom in May 2017, and the Marco Polo ACTIVITY was launched in Australia in June 2017, so a Marco Polo model of the current product range is for the first time available overseas. This year, Mercedes-Benz Vans will increase the international availability in the travel van market, for example in right-hand-drive markets such as Japan with the Marco Polo HORIZON.
Electrification of entire vehicle fleet in the commercial segment
In November 2017, Mercedes-Benz Vans announced that it will offer all van models in the commercial segment also with electric drive. This will start with the eVito, for which orders have been taken since late November 2017, with deliveries to start in the second half of 2018. With an installed battery capacity of 41 kWh, the new eVito will have a range of approximately 150 kilometers. Even in unfavorable conditions such as with low ambient temperatures and a full load, a range of 100 kilometers will be available. This means that the midsize van is ideally qualified for urban delivery and passenger transport, as well as for tradesmen. Further electric models of the Sprinter and of the Citan small van will follow in 2019.
Unit sales of the Mercedes-Benz Citan with conventional drive increased to a new record of around 26,100 units in 2017 (2016: 24,900), representing growth of around five percent.
Successful start of sales of Mercedes-Benz X-Class
The new pickup from Mercedes-Benz was successfully launched in the first European markets in November 2017. By the end of the year, approximately 3,300 X-Class vehicles had been delivered – as planned, solely in Europe so far. Mercedes-Benz Vans will enter the markets of South Africa and Australia with the pickup in early 2018, to be followed by Argentina and Brazil in 2019. Mercedes-Benz anticipates further growth potential for the high-volume midsize-pickup segment. According to estimates, the market will grow from its current size of about 2.2 million units per annum (2016) to 3.2 million by the year 2026 (+43%).

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04.

January 2018

Stuttgart

Press Contact for this Press Release (2)

Christian Anosowitsch

Manager Communications SUV

christian.anosowitsch@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-75849

Fax: +49 711 17-98646

Koert Groeneveld

Head of International Product & Technology Communications

koert.groeneveld@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-92311

Fax: +49 711 17-94365

Every G-Class has to conquer the Schöckl. Mercedes-Benz uses the 1,445 metre high local mountain near the Austrian city of Graz as a test track. The 5.6 km route includes gradients of up to 60 percent and lateral inclinations of up to 40 percent. During the development stage, a “G” has to endure a good 2,000 strenuous kilometres on this very demanding course. The new G-Class masters the route with noticeably more control and comfort.
The primary goal of development was to make the new G-Class even more effective off-road. The G thus remains a true G – thanks to its standard ladder-type frame, the three 100-percent differential locks and LOW RANGE off-road ratio. Its suspension is the result of collaboration between Mercedes-Benz G GmbH and Mercedes-AMG GmbH. The result is an independent suspension with double-wishbone front axle in combination with a rigid rear axle. During development work, the engineers had the task of fighting for every millimetre, because off-road capability also means maximum ground clearance. The raised axle with independent suspension decisively contributes to this, and additionally increases the stiffness of the body with a strut brace.
Agile off-road as well
The components of the double-wishbone front axle are directly fixed to the ladder-type frame without a suspension subframe. The attachment points on the frame of the lower wishbone in a Z-direction are positioned as high up as possible. This arrangement ensures good driveability beyond the asphalt. Specifically for the G-Class, the new front axle is designed in such a robust way that the off-road performance and off-road capabilities of its predecessor are maintained and partly even surpassed. The new rigid rear axle is guided with four longitudinal control arms on each side and a Panhard rod. The off-road vehicle stays on track more robustly, and is agile and effortless in off-road applications.
The exceptional handling characteristics and driving safety on account of the driver's high level of control can only be experienced first hand. The following figures, however, clearly show that every little detail to improve the off-road characteristics has been checked and optimised where possible.
As before, high ground clearance and long suspension travel form the basis for the further improved off-road characteristics of the G-Class. The figures speak for themselves:
Slope climbing ability of up to 100% on suitable surfaces Ground clearance between the axles, 241 millimetres, plus 6 millimetres maximum fording depth now 70 centimetres in water and mud passages, plus 10 centimetres Driving stability at angles of 35°, plus 7° Angle of departure: 30°, angle of approach: 31°, plus 1° Breakover angle: 26°, plus 1° Suspension travel: Front axle: Spring/rebound travel of 85/100 millimetres; rear axle: Spring/rebound travel of 82/142 millimetres The new “G-Mode” paves the way where there are none
One of the prerequisites for the improved off-road handling characteristics is the new “G-Mode”. The G-Class changes to “G-Mode” independently of the chosen drive program as soon as one of the three differential locks has been activated or LOW RANGE has been engaged. This off-road mode adapts the adjustable damping of the chassis and the steering as well as the accelerator characteristic, avoids unnecessary gearshifts and ensures maximum off-road capability. A small “G” icon discreetly lights up in the instrument cluster. The G simply swallows up major bumps, and even in extreme terrain the driver does not have to frantically hold on to the steering wheel to effortlessly manoeuvre.
New automatic transmission on board
For the power transmission, the 9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission with torque converter was specifically adapted to meet the needs of the off-road icon. The developers have managed to reduce the shift and response times of the 9-speed transmission by means of a dedicated software application. The wide transmission ratio not only makes driving quieter and more comfortable especially at low engine speeds, it also simultaneously contributes to reducing fuel consumption.
The new transfer case is flange-mounted directly on to the 9G-TRONIC. It is adjusted in such a way that 40 percent of the drive torque reaches the front axle and 60 percent reaches the rear axle. The permanent all-wheel drive ensures maximum traction.
The low-range ratio can be engaged via the LOW RANGE switch in transmission mode N at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The gear ratio of the transfer case is then changed from 1.00 in HIGH RANGE to 2.93. It is possible to switch from LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE at speeds of up to 70 km/h. The gear ratio of the transfer case is 2.93 and thus significantly shorter than in the predecessor model (2.1), which becomes noticeable particularly when pulling away on an extreme gradient.
All-round visibility from a bird's-eye view is possible thanks to the optional 360° camera, the reversing camera and three further cameras. This means that obstacles located below the window line or in front of the vehicle such as a hill crest do not remain hidden. The information is presented clearly in full HD in a choice of different views on the multimedia system's display. Dynamic guide lines show the road and the width of the G-Class. In addition, the off-road screen specially designed for the G-Class also displays data such as height, gradient, angle, compass, steering angle and activated differential locks.
Furthermore, for particularly arduous applications, 18-inch all-terrain tyres are available.

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