Rumorpile: More Vans From Mercedes-Benz

I bet SMK will expect Cadillac to chase Mercedes here on volume and then wag his finger when Cadillac's sales numbers aren't as high.

SMK has been drinking deeply from the MB punch bowl lately.

Cadillac can ignor this market, they do NOT need to do vans.

Who knows, maybe compact luxury vans will be the new growth niche after compact luxury CUVs become passe...

Lincoln needs to get out ahead of the market and do an MK* version of the new-generation '14 Transit Connect.

And just like with FWD, Mercedes finally gets with the program 40 years late.

Maybe MB will kick off these van Trends again.

Chevroletdes Benz. Luxury pretensions with generic intentions.

Chevroletdes Benz. Luxury pretensions with generic intentions.

Cadillac could put their sharp edges on the llittle Nissan NV that Chevy will be rebadging soon to get into the game quickly...

Sprinter belongs to Merc's commercial vans division, which does not compete against luxury passenger car brands. In addition to commercial vans, Daimler also has Mercedes commercial truck and bus divisions, with vehicles like the Actros, Unimog, and Citaro.

In some markets, Mercedes does sell the Viano, a smaller passenger van, alongside their luxury passenger cars. It's quite popular in some Asian markets like China. The closest GM equivalent to the Viano would be the GL8, though that's branded as Buick instead of Cadillac.

Chevroletdes Benz. Luxury pretensions with generic intentions.

Cadillac could put their sharp edges on the llittle Nissan NV that Chevy will be rebadging soon to get into the game quickly...

Does not disprove Chevroletdes Benz.

It's so blatantly obvious its pathetic : the badge-whoring...

It's so blatantly obvious its pathetic : the badge-whoring...

It's business...M-B is a full line auto and truck maker..

Only because they're a badge-whore. No need whatsoever to be in every segment in the auto industry when they have other brands for that and a profit margin that doesn't require such.

Zee Germans will never be able to do build them like the `Mericans.

Would be interesting if Daimler marketed a van as the 'E350' - could slide right in on an established nameplate.
Oops, they're already using a van nameplate on a "luxury" car.

It's so blatantly obvious its pathetic : the badge-whoring...

It's business...M-B is a full line auto and truck maker..

Why not use the Freightliner brand?

Because it wouldn't show up on the monthly sales report.

My local MB dealer, a multi-brand 'mini auto mall' of luxury nameplates (tho under the MB banner) has a full 2-dozen sprinters parked right out front. Looks like a rental moving van outfit. Why they're not around back or off to one side... wonder what the brand snobs overpaying for a MB sedan or cute ute feel when they see all that Refrigerator Whiteness ifront of their 'luxury service experience center'. lol

GM used to be full service on light, medium and heavy duty trucks, vans and auto's and look where it got them. I say eventually MB will also fall to the weight of trying to be all things everywhere.

Because it wouldn't show up on the monthly sales report.

Sure it does... the same way that Cadillac and Chevrolet appear on the same monthly sales report.

This sounds more like they want a luxury minivan in the USA, and they may be successful with this, but the R-class bombed, so I sort of doubt it. But if a Toyota or Honda minivan can cost $40,000, maybe Mercedes can get people to pay $50,000 for a minivan. I don't see the Vito coming here, that is a small commercial vehicle for Europe.

As is the Nissan NV and the Ford Transit Connect..... why wouldn't Benz want a piece of that pie?

As is the Nissan NV and the Ford Transit Connect..... why wouldn't Benz want a piece of that pie?

They might, Sprinter is from the Mercedes-Benz Vans division, so they could bring others from that group here, but I sort of doubt it. I think Mercedes feels that they can engineer the best product for any segment. Daimler builds the best trucks and buses, Mercedes is one of the standards of the auto industry, I am sure they can build a better van than the Transit or NV200, but just because they can doesn't mean they should.

These vans could have diesel power though, instant win over vans sold in the USA right now.

eh.... somewhere along the way MB forgot how to rust-proof their vans for the North American market. They don't hold up well here.

Because it wouldn't show up on the monthly sales report.

Sure it does... the same way that Cadillac and Chevrolet appear on the same monthly sales report.

But not under the brand name 'mercedees' if it's a 'Freightliner'.

GMC sales don't count as Cadillac sales...