Does Mercedes make sprinters?

Yes. Mercedes-Benz makes the Sprinter van, a long-running staple of commercial fleets worldwide. In the United States, it was historically marketed as the Freightliner Sprinter, but today it is sold primarily under the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter badge. The Sprinter is built by Mercedes-Benz Vans and offered in multiple configurations to suit business and upfitting needs.

This article explains what the Sprinter is, where it’s produced, the main variants, and how Mercedes-Benz positions the model in today’s commercial-vehicle market.

What is the Sprinter?

The Sprinter is Mercedes-Benz's flagship line of light commercial vans. It is designed for cargo duty, passenger transport, or specialized upfits, and it is widely used by fleets—from parcel delivery to service technicians and emergency responders. The model has evolved over several generations to improve payload, efficiency, safety, and connectivity.

Primary configurations

Mercedes-Benz offers the Sprinter in several body styles to maximize space, seating, and upfit options. The list below highlights the core configurations commonly available worldwide.

• Cargo van — maximum cargo space for goods, equipment, and tools


• Crew van — seating for a small crew plus cargo area


• Passenger van — multi-passenger configuration for up to nine occupants or more


• Chassis cab — bare chassis for upfitting into specialized vehicles (construction, emergency services, etc.)


• All-wheel drive variants — optional 4x4/4x2 configurations depending on market

These configurations illustrate the Sprinter’s versatility as a platform for fleets, service vehicles, and conversion specialists.

Production and markets

The Sprinter is produced at multiple plants around the world, with a global footprint designed to serve local demand. In Europe, it remains a core Mercedes-Benz product produced at European manufacturing sites. For the North American market, the Sprinter has been assembled in Charleston, South Carolina, to supply the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Mercedes-Benz has pursued localized production in key regions to shorten lead times and better match regional demand, while continuing to export from Germany for other markets.

In addition to conventional diesel variants, Mercedes-Benz also offers electrified options, including the electric eSprinter, to address urban delivery needs and align with broader fleet electrification goals.

Electric and hybrid variants

The eSprinter is the electric version of the Sprinter designed for urban and regional delivery use. Availability varies by market, with fleets adopting it to reduce emissions and noise in city operations. The Sprinter line has also included plug-in hybrid options in some regions as part of the transition toward electrification.

These options reflect Mercedes-Benz’s broader strategy to offer a mixed powertrain lineup—combining traditional internal combustion engines with electrified variants—while preserving the Sprinter’s core strengths: payload, reliability, and adaptability.

Recent updates and the future of the Sprinter

In recent years, Mercedes-Benz has refreshed the Sprinter with updated engines, safety systems, and connectivity features. The lineup has expanded with enhanced driver-assistance technologies, improved load optimization, and more ergonomic interiors to address operator needs. The ongoing introduction of electrified variants and software-driven updates signals a broader push to modernize the van segment while maintaining the Sprinter’s foundational strengths.

These developments show how Mercedes-Benz is balancing traditional reliability with a pivot toward electrification and digital services that fleets increasingly expect from commercial vehicles.

Summary

Yes, Mercedes-Benz makes the Sprinter. The van is offered in cargo, crew, and passenger configurations and is produced in Europe and North America to serve global markets. Its ongoing evolution—encompassing efficiency improvements and electrified variants—underscores its role as a flexible, work-ready platform for fleets and upfitters around the world.

What car company makes the Sprinter?

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van Lineup
With its innovative features, reliable performance, and renowned German engineering, the Sprinter Van lineup continues to set the standard for excellence in the commercial van market, providing a trusted solution for businesses worldwide.

Are Dodge Sprinters and Mercedes Sprinters the same?

Yes, a Dodge Sprinter is the same as a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, as they were manufactured by Daimler-Chrysler/Daimler AG and sold under different brand names in North America. They are identical except for minor badging and styling differences, as all Sprinter vans were built in the same German factory.
 
This video explains the relationship between Dodge and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans: 59sThe Benz Shop YouTube · Jun 8, 2025
How they are the same

• Manufacturing: All Dodge, Freightliner, and Mercedes-Benz branded Sprinters were built on the same assembly line in Germany. 
• Components: The vehicles share the same components, with the only significant differences being the badging on the steering wheel, grille, and back of the van. 
• Purpose: They were all original Mercedes-Benz designs, but were sold under the Dodge and Freightliner names in the U.S. market to avoid luxury taxes on imported vans. 
• Shared Parts: Because they are the same vehicle, parts are often interchangeable between the different brands. 

Why they were sold under different names

• Tax Avoidance: Mercedes-Benz imported the vans as "complete knockdown kits" (disassembled parts) and then reassembled them in the U.S. to avoid a 25% light truck import tariff. 
• Brand Image: Daimler-Chrysler initially chose to use the Dodge and Freightliner names to protect the luxury image of the Mercedes-Benz brand in the U.S. commercial vehicle market. 
• Company Mergers: The name changes were a result of company mergers. When Daimler AG merged with Chrysler to form DaimlerChrysler, it sold Sprinters under the Dodge brand. After Daimler sold Chrysler, Dodge could no longer sell the Sprinter because it was now a product from a competitor. 

What this means for you

• If you own a Dodge Sprinter, you own a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with Dodge badging.
• You can find parts and service information for a Dodge Sprinter through Mercedes-Benz resources, as they are the same vehicle. 

Are Sprinter vans made by Mercedes?

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle (van) built by Mercedes-Benz Group AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a large van, chassis cab, minibus, and pickup truck. In the past, the Sprinter had been sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, and Freightliner nameplates.

Did Mercedes discontinue the Sprinter?

No, the Mercedes Sprinter has not been discontinued, but specific versions have. The gasoline-powered Sprinter was discontinued for the 2024 model year in the U.S., replaced by diesel and the all-electric eSprinter. Additionally, the V6 diesel engine was replaced by a more powerful four-cylinder diesel, and the traditional 4x4 system was replaced with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. 

• Gasoline Engine: The gas-powered Sprinter was discontinued after the 2023 model year to make way for an updated lineup and to focus on electric models. 
• V6 Diesel Engine: The V6 diesel engine was dropped and replaced by a new, more powerful four-cylinder diesel for the 2023 model year. 
• 4x4 System: The traditional 4x4 option was replaced by an improved all-wheel-drive system, starting with the 2023 model year. 
• Freightliner Sprinter: The Freightliner-branded Sprinter was discontinued in the U.S. after the 2021 model year, as Mercedes-Benz sold the majority of its Sprinter vans under its own brand.