Mercedes 2013 Annual Report Download - page 158

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Continued success of the product range. Worldwide,
Mercedes-Benz Vans sold 270,100 units of the Sprinter, Vito,
Viano, Vario and Citan models in 2013. This was an increase
of 7% compared with the previous year.

D.06 In our core region
of Western Europe, sales increased by 3% to 169,200 units.
Of the Citan city van, which was introduced in the fall of 2012,
Mercedes-Benz Vans sold 17,700 units in Western Europe
(2012: 6,400). Unit sales of medium-sized and large vans
decreased by 4% to 151,500 vehicles, primarily due to the ongo-
ing very difficult situation in the countries of Southern Europe.
In Germany, our domestic market, we sold 71,500 vans (2012:
71,000). In Eastern Europe, especially in Russia and Turkey,
Mercedes-Benz Vans once again posted positive sales results.
Sales in this region rose to 26,900 units, equivalent to growth
of 12%. The Sprinter continued its success story also in North
and South America in 2013. In Latin America, we posted
substantial growth of 40% to 19,600 units, while sales in the
United States rose by 6% to 22,800 vehicles. After a significant
decrease in the previous year, sales figures for Mercedes-
Benz Vans in the Chinese market rebounded energetically, and
with 12,700 units surpassed the prior-year unit sales by
44%. We sold 166,200 units of the Sprinter worldwide in 2013,
which is an increase of 5% compared with 2012. Altogether,
80,900 units of the Vito and Viano models were sold in 2013
(2012: 83,700). The Mercedes-Benz Citan accounted for
20,200 units in its first full year of production. Unit sales of the
Vario, production of which was discontinued in September,
amounted to 2,900 vehicles.
Major capital expenditure in Spain. We are investing almost
€200 million in the van plant in Vitoria, Spain. The investment
will prepare that facility for production of the new V-Class and
the new Vito starting in 2014. The funds are mainly being used
for the modernization and reorganization of the body shop,
the paint shop and the assembly lines. We are also optimizing
the logistics at the site. Another consequence of this investment
is that new jobs will be created at the plant.
The best Mercedes-Benz Sprinter of all time - not only safer, but also more economical, environmentally friendly and attractive than ever.