Mathias Geisen
The head of the Mercedes-Benz van division expects good business despite ongoing production problems.
(Photo: dpa)
Despite the difficult chip supply situation, the van manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Vans is sticking to its goal of selling more vehicles this year. For the year as a whole, a slight increase in sales, i.e. by up to five percent, is still targeted, as well as an adjusted operating return of eight to ten percent. “I would not deviate from that after the first quarter,” said the new division head Mathias Geisen on Tuesday in Stuttgart. “The order situation is extremely good.”
Due to the lack of computer chips, however, there are always interruptions in production with isolated closing days. “The semiconductor problem will not be over tomorrow,” said Geisen. “The supply situation will not improve significantly in Q2.” The delivery time for a new car is therefore currently around nine months.
As of this year, unlike last year, the results of Mercedes-Benz Vans will again be reported separately. According to Geisen, the smaller division of the Mercedes-Benz Group achieved sales of around 15 billion euros in 2021 and generated an adjusted operating result of 1.25 billion euros, which corresponded to a return on sales of 8.3 percent.
Sales of models such as the V-Class, Vito and Sprinter climbed by three percent to 386,000 units. Of these, only four percent were battery-electric models. “We have a clear goal – we want to be the leading manufacturer in the field of electric vans in the long term,” emphasized Geisen. Important competitors in Europe are Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Ford and Fiat and in the USA the start-up Rivian.
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With the eCitan and EQT models planned for this year, a fully electric vehicle will be offered in all three size classes, from small vans to vans. The second generation of the battery-electric version of the Sprinter delivery van will be launched next year. Depending on the battery size, the range should more than double.
By the end of the decade, the business area, like its big passenger car sister, wants to be ready to completely convert its range to electric – “wherever market conditions allow it”. From 2025, all newly developed vans will be exclusively electric and based on a new, uniform vehicle architecture.
More: Electric vans are conquering the streets