Mercedes-Benz Vans will stop reassembling German-made “knocked-down” Sprinter vans at its North Charleston, South Carolina, plant in February 2021, The Post and Courier reported on January 31. After that, every Sprinter from the site will be built there from the wheels up.
Background
- Mercedes began shipping knocked-down Sprinters from Europe for reassembly in 2006 to avoid steep import duties on finished vehicles.
- The full production campus at Palmetto Commerce Park opened in September 2018, but it kept reassembling some German-made vans alongside its own line.
- A 2018 ad campaign used the tagline “Built in the USA.” Truth in Advertising complained to the FTC that the ads were deceptive because most vans were still knocked-down versions, and Mercedes-Benz Vans pulled the campaign.
Key details
- A record 41,930 Sprinters were sold in the USA in 2020, up 31.6 percent from 2019.
- The plant runs three shifts with 1,600 employees.
- The paper said the site looked like a front-runner for a planned electric eSprinter for the USA market, though no location had been announced.
FAQ
When does knocked-down assembly end?
In February 2021, according to The Post and Courier.
Why were vans reassembled?
To avoid steep import duties on finished vehicles.
How many people work at the plant?
About 1,600 across three shifts.
Source & credit
Source: The Post and Courier, January 31, 2021: “North Charleston Sprinter vans soon to be all-American”.