DIMO launches Third Generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van

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Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO), the only authorised General Distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Sri Lanka, officially launched the all new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van at the ‘Cinnamon Future of Tourism 2019 Summit at Cinnamon Grand Hotel. The launch of the new Sprinter at the summit helped showcase Mercedes-Benz and DIMO’s commitment and promise to uplifting the standards of transportation of tourism sector in Sri Lanka.  

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is the global bestseller, the innovation leader and namesake for an entire class of vehicles. Based on the new Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz is ringing in a new era of passenger transport. The new Sprinter is the most successful model in terms of Mercedes-Benz vans globally. The model falls under one of the main categories of Mercedes-Benz vans, Commercial Passenger Transportation, which comes as a 14-seater mini coach and ideal for use by customers in the tourism sector for the transport of tourists, VIP clientele and corporates. By opting for a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, customers from the tourism sector will be able to experience lower operational costs as well.

With its power, enhanced safety features, improved comfort, interior adaptability and low operational cost, it is expected that the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will attract a wide spectrum of potential customers, from luxury fleet operators, hotel shuttle operators and tour operators. There is no doubt that the new Sprinter will continue to be the benchmark of their class in the future.

The new Sprinter accommodates a high roof which offers more headroom, interior dimensions that can vary depending on the type of variant the buyer seeks to get, a fuel economy where the driver can cover 15 km per litre and a payload which comes in a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of five tonnes. Buyers of the new Sprinter from DIMO will benefit with an exclusive five-year warranty and a five-year free services package. 

When compared to other global vehicle brands in the market today, Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles are best known to be efficient and safest in the context of luxury transportation. With the changing business landscape in Sri Lanka and the penetration of multiple international hotel chains, the country needs to be able to match up to international standards and equip those entities with state-of-the-art mobility solutions. Mercedes-Benz is a brand that is able to deliver this to the tourism industry.

DIMO Chairman and Managing Director Ranjith Pandithage addressing the audience at the summit mentioned, “Mercedes-Benz is all about reliability, safety and comfort. At DIMO, we are proud to represent the inventor of the automobile and one of the most researched brands, which looks into the type of products which can be introduced into the market depending on customer needs and requirements.”

Mercedes-Benz Vans Sales and Daimler South East Asia Customer Service General Manager Kenny Lim stated that since its market introduction in 1995, the company has sold 3.4 million Mercedes-Benz Sprinter units all over the world. The new Sprinter will offer a host of safety assistance systems which previously were only available with the passenger car. 

DIMO Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Business Unit Manager Shamal Fernando stated, “Sri Lanka is currently going strong with the flow of ongoing development and when speaking of the expansion of international hotel chains into the country, the level of service delivery has to be consistent, whether it is transferring tourists from airport and between hotels, or round trips. Utilising a product such as the new Sprinter helps add a level of sophistication and professionalism to the transportation service whilst also elevate the relevant company’s or individual’s image extensively.”

Special Features

Moreover, displaying an impressive array of comfort and safety features, the new Sprinter leverages on the concept of versatility where these vans can be specifically modified to suit any type of business entity requirement relevant to the customer. The panel van, tourer, pickup, chassis, or traction head as body types, three drive configurations, cab designs, body lengths, tonnages, load compartment heights and equipment features; these parameters alone allow a further increase in the number of possible Sprinter variants. More than 1,700 different versions can be configured as a result. This maximised modularity defines the core of the new Sprinter concept, reflecting both sector-specific requirements and different customer segments. The product range includes solutions for courier services on the last mile delivery, goods transport over longer distances or service technicians using their vehicle as a mobile replacement parts store. These different variations cover a range of different models of the new Sprinter, and can be adapted to cater to any type of task or business domain, spelling a new era of next-level transportation. 

The new Sprinter also offers Single Cab and Crew Cab utility vehicles which come with a flatbed for the transport of cargo and can also be modified for vehicles such as ambulances or mini fire engines. Another model is the Cargo Van Application utility vehicle which comes as a two-seater and can be modified to include a three-seater bench at the back to seat five people in total. This vehicle is also utilised for the transport of cargo such as pharmaceuticals and delivery of goods. The new Sprinter can be modified to suit any type of industry with various applications and requirements.

The Sprinter also includes features such as Active Brake Assist, where radar sensors would notify, Attention Assist where sensors would detect signs of fatigue of the driver and even through their driving patterns and give the driver an early warning. The new Sprinter incorporates a progressive design and unparalleled modernity with its connectivity and incomparable variability, making it the first end-to-end system solution for commercial fleets, both for Mercedes-Benz Vans and for the entire industry. The popularity and efficiency of the new Sprinter had also proved viable when Amazon recently confirmed an order for 20,000 new Sprinter vehicles. This type of initiation is a testimony to the brand’s position as a world class automobile brand.