The Sprinter blows out its 30 candles

Then as now, it stands for quality and innovation. The Sprinter retains customer loyalty worldwide and generates a high repurchase rate, not least thanks to its popularity among bodybuilders, conversion companies and motorhome manufacturers. All these specialists continue to customize it for a very wide range of applications. 75% of all Sprinters worldwide are bodied or converted. Mercedes-Benz is kicking off the anniversary year celebrations with a special presentation of the first-generation Sprinter, the current Sprinter and its all-electric derivative, the eSprinter, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

For Klaus Rehkugler, Director Sales & Marketing Mercedes-Benz Vans: "With the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, we have had an iconic van in our portfolio for 30 years. During this time, the Sprinter has enjoyed unprecedented success worldwide. We plan to pass the five million mark in 2025. For three decades, it has been shaping people's lives and making the world go round. Whether emergency services, delivery companies, craftsmen or on construction sites, the Sprinter has established itself as the ideal partner. For around five years now, it has also been available as a fully electric vehicle, operating without local CO2 emissions."

For 30 years, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been shaping the urban landscape – and beyond – all over the world. It is built on three continents: in North America (Charleston, South Carolina), South America (Buenos Aires in Argentina) and Germany (Düsseldorf for the vans, Ludwigsfelde near Berlin). Here are the most important milestones of the individual generations.

1995: the beginning of a new era in the world of utilities

The Sprinter was launched in the spring of 1995 and was therefore eligible for an H registration plate in Germany. The year 1995 was a milestone in many ways. The Sprinter was the successor to the legendary T1/TN that had been born in 1977 and was the first van with a star design to adopt a name rather than numbers combined with a letter. It only adopted the basic technical concept of its predecessor, with everything else being designed and drawn from scratch. The combination of a self-supporting body and a high-grip rear-wheel drive architecture, a modern chassis with independent front suspension and powerful engines was unique at the time. In addition, no other van offered as many safety features at the time. The first Sprinter was already equipped as standard with disc brakes, an ABS anti-lock braking system, an automatic braking differential, height-adjustable three-point seat belts and seat belt buckles attached to the seat. A driver's airbag was available as an option. The first generation of Sprinter was also launched in 1995 as a chassis, flatbed or tipper, each with a single or double cab, as a panel van - in flat or high roof version - or as a five- or nine-seater minibus. The wheelbases ranged from 3000 to 4025 millimetres. The maximum permissible weight (GVW) was initially 2590, 2800 or 3500 kilos.

Mercedes-Benz also placed great emphasis on the topic of safety in the comprehensive update of 2000, which included new CDI engines and a new dashboard: the driver's airbag was now also part of the standard equipment, while an optional passenger airbag optimised the protection of the occupants of the double bench seat at the front. With the introduction of the ESP® electronic stability programme as a world premiere (for an LCV) as standard in 2002, the Sprinter set new standards in active safety. Windowbags and ASR traction control were offered in the mid-2000s.

2006: Technology and safety upgrade for the second generation

The second generation was launched at the beginning of 2006. Customers could enjoy even more variety. They could choose between three wheelbases, four lengths, three roof heights and a gross vehicle weight of 3,0 to 5,0 tonnes. In addition, the electronic stability programme ESP® was introduced as standard in the closed versions up to 3,5 tonnes gross vehicle weight. Two years later, it was also standard on the chassis up to 3,5 tonnes gross vehicle weight.

An optional air suspension system to increase comfort and safety was added to the range from 2008. Another milestone followed in 2009 with the introduction of BlueEFFICIENCY: the technology with the new six-speed manual transmission and the automatic start-stop system increased dynamics and significantly reduced consumption. In 2013, the crosswind assist was introduced as a world premiere, a completely new safety system in a van. From 2016, the Sprinter was available in a 5,5-tonne version.

2018/2019: connectivity and variety at the heart of the third generation

The third generation of the Sprinter was launched in 2018. The Sprinter not only retained its existing range of variants, but expanded it, partly through the introduction of front-wheel drive and thus the new head-drive variant (especially aimed at camper vans and horse trailers). The 2018 Sprinter set new standards, particularly in terms of infotainment and connectivity, thanks to the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system, available for the first time in a commercial vehicle of the brand. Since then, the Sprinter has been voice-activated and allows the use of central fleet, vehicle, driver and location services. In terms of safety features, Mercedes-Benz has once again raised the vehicle to a new level, for example with the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC.

The next step took place in 2019: the first production-ready eSprinter van was launched, offering the possibility of local mobility without local CO2 emissions for last-mile delivery.

2024: more versatile than ever

The triad of efficiency, range and load volume makes the current eSprinter an extremely versatile vehicle. The all-electric Sprinter has been available in its current form since last year, in two body styles and lengths, three battery sizes and a range of up to 100 kilometres (WLTP). [478] It is based on a new concept consisting of three modules that allow the platform to be easily adapted to other vehicle variants. This also opens up completely new possibilities for bodybuilders and conversion specialists to develop trade-specific solutions based on the eSprinter. With a load volume of up to 1 cubic metres and a gross vehicle weight of up to 14 tonnes, the eSprinter proves to be just as functional as its combustion engine counterpart and is convincing more and more operators.

Since last year, updates in terms of connectivity and safety have also been available for the eSprinter – as well as for the conventionally powered Sprinter. Both models benefit from an updated MBUX multimedia system – which is now standard – and new connected services. The safety and assistance systems have also been enhanced with additional and, in some cases, new functions, most of which are part of the standard equipment. For example, the standard Active Brake Assist now includes the cross-traffic function.

With the latest modifications, a 22 kW AC charger and a driving assistance package are now also available as an option. The latter includes, for example, additional functions of the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC (including route-based speed).

Special presentation at the Mercedes-Benz Museum

From February 4 to March 30, visitors to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart will be able to discover the history of the Sprinter family. On display: the first-generation Sprinter as well as the current Sprinter and eSprinter. The first visitors can look forward to a special birthday present when purchasing their tickets. There will also be a pop-up corner in the museum shop with items for Sprinter fans.

Did you know?

It was Mercedes-Benz France that first used the name Sprinter. This was in 1994, when the MB 100 compact van was discontinued. Also in France, the combi version (passenger transport) of the latter was called the "Reporter". In 1995, the parent company in Stuttgart then adopted the term Sprinter for its new large-volume utility vehicle.

[1] The specified values ​​were determined in accordance with the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure) measurement procedure. The values ​​stated refer to the German market. The actual range also depends on individual driving style, road and traffic conditions, outside temperature, use of the air conditioning/heating system and may differ.