Mercedes 2015 Annual Report Download - page 166

C | THE DIVISIONS | MERCEDES-BENZ VANS 173
vehicles. The popularity of the Marco Polo has also led to awards
from two trade journals. Readers of promobil named the Marco
Polo “Compact Camper Van of the Year” for the second consec-
utive time in 2015, while readers of AUTO BILD REISEMOBIL
put the compact camper van in first place, leading to an award
as “Das Goldene AUTO BILD Reisemobil 2015” at the end
of August. The V-Class and the Vito are also conquering the
market for customized extensions and body types for compact
camper vans by serving as attractive base vehicles. More and
more camper van manufacturers are relying on the two premium
models, both of which feature an all-new pop-up roof.
Portfolio expansion with a new pickup
We will expand our product range into a very promising segment
before the end of the decade by becoming the first premium
manufacturer to build a pickup truck. Within the framework of
our “Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global” strategy, a pickup is
the ideal vehicle for achieving a targeted expansion of our at-
tractive range of products on an international scale. In the
pickup segment as well, we will stand out through an unmistak-
able design and all of our typical brand attributes with regard
to safety, comfort, powertrain quality and high value. Versatile
pickups that boast a high degree of all-round quality and a
payload capacity of around one ton are very popular around the
world and thus offer solid sales potential. The initial target
markets for the new model will be Latin America, South Africa,
Australia and Europe.
Awards for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito
Mercedes-Benz Vans gained a double victory in the competition
“CEP Van of the Year 2015.” The vehicles were assessed by
a panel of experts from the courier, express and postal sectors
(CEP). The Vito 111 CDI and the Sprinter 316 CDI succeeded
against strong competition. The new Mercedes-Benz Vito took
first place in the category “Vans up to 3.0 tons” and the
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter defended its top position of recent
years in the category “Vans up to 3.5 tons.”
Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global: Vito successfully
launched in new markets
The Vito is the second global van from Mercedes-Benz Vans,
following the Sprinter. After its market launch in Europe
in 2014, the mid-size van was introduced in North America in
October 2015 under the name Metris. With its attractive
design and wide range of variants, the model sets new stan-
dards in its segment. The Metris also stands out with its high
payload and efficient engines. The new van expands the Mercedes-
Benz Vans product program below the Sprinter and is thus able
to meet various customer requirements in the North American
market. An important area of application involves parcel deliv-
eries in connection with the growing online retail sector. Vito
models for the Latin American market are built at the Mercedes-
Benz Centro Industrial Juan Manuel Fangio plant near the capital
of Argentina, Buenos Aires. We also offer the Vito Tourer –
a Vito variant designed especially for passenger transport that
optimally meets the demand for shuttle buses and taxis, and
can also be used by limousine companies.
A new chapter in the V-Class success story
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class was presented to the Japanese
public at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2015 and has been available
in Japan since January 2016. The multipurpose vehicle’s launch
in Japan marks its entry into a second major right-hand drive
market after the UK. The MPV was also featured at the Dubai
International Motor Show in November 2015 and will be
launched in the United Arab Emirates and other markets in the
Middle East in the spring of 2016. The V-Class is now sold at
Mercedes-Benz passenger car and commercial vehicle dealer-
ships in more than 90 countries. Beginning in the spring of
2016, additional sales momentum should be generated by the
introduction of new equipment features such as the AMG Line
and the segment’s largest panoramic roof.
Mercedes-Benz Vans on course for success in the
camper van market
Mercedes-Benz Vans is expanding its presence in the camper
van market as well. The Marco Polo and Marco Polo ACTIVITY
models have become quite successful just one year after their
market launch, as evidenced by the great demand for the two
The specialist for professional passenger transport: The compact Vito Tourer convinces with maximum versatility, comfort and quality.