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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter on the manufacturing line
North Charleston, S.C. — Mercedes-Benz Vans has opened its new Sprinter plant for the North American market. After considering the high market potential for the new Sprinter in North America, the decision to build a new production facility in time for the launch of the new Sprinter model in the USA was announced in March 2015. The facility is now up and running following a two-year construction period.
The total investment adds up to approximately $500m, and more than 900 people currently work at the expanded North Charleston site, although that number is set to grow up to 1,300 by the end of 2020. According to estimations, suppliers will create an additional 600 new jobs in and around North Charleston.
"The USA is already the second largest market for our Sprinter today. With the new, state-of-the-art production site in South Carolina, we will be able to supply our customers in North America even faster and with more flexibility in the future. This makes better use of the dynamic market potential, placing our new plant in North Charleston as a central component of our growth strategy," said Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
"The new plant in North Charleston combines our global expertise and experience resulting in a state-of-the-art facility in every respect. It is a valuable asset that completes our global production network. Our priority at Mercedes-Benz Vans during the planning process for this facility was maximum flexibility. This enables us to react in an agile and anticipatory manner to current developments and customer desires. Additionally, it guarantees excellent quality within our proven, standardized production system," said Frank Klein, head of operations Mercedes-Benz Vans.
To coincide with the opening, Mercedes-Benz Vans also announced it will be producing Amazon branded Sprinter vans for the retail company's new Delivery Service Partner program at the new plant. Small business owners will work with third-party fleet management companies to procure their customized vans and get special leases in order to keep their startup costs low.
Amazon is now the world's largest Sprinter customer
"We're proud to partner with Mercedes-Benz Vans to contribute to local economies through the order of Amazon branded Sprinter vans produced at their new plant in North Charleston," said Dave Clark, Amazon's senior vice president of worldwide operations. "Thanks to the tremendous response to Amazon's new Delivery Service Partner program, we are excited to increase our original order of branded Sprinter vans to 20,000 vehicles so new small businesses will have access to a customized fleet to power deliveries of Amazon packages."
The opening could not come at a better time—2018 marks the U.S. market launch of the new generation of the highly acclaimed van.
The third generation of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter defines the top class of large vans in all sub-disciplines. Its classic strengths have been improved upon and are complemented by new intelligent products and services.
Among the outstanding innovations in the North American market are the new multimedia systems MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience), the control and display concept in the cockpit, as well as ergonomically shaped seats and modern assistance systems - some of them were taken over by the car sector and, for the first time, found their way into a Mercedes-Benz van.
New standards are being set in the field of digitization and connectivity, which is why the new Sprinter can be described as the first van in a new category with a holistic overall system solution. The previously available version of the proven Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was in high demand among customers in the USA, the second largest market in the world for Sprinter vans.
Since 2006, Semi-Knocked-Down kits have been assembled in North Charleston for imported Sprinter vans and since 2015 also for imported Metris Midsize Vans (known in other markets as "Vito"). With the new plant and the "made in USA" vehicles, the business area will be able to serve the growing demand of North American customers more economically and significantly reduce delivery times in this market.
The new Sprinter will be made under the brands Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner.
Visit mbvans.com for more information.
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NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi awards NELA 2nd Vice President Tina Benson of L.A. Limousine with a trophy for her team’s first-place victory in the 19th annual George Colarullo memorial Golf Tournament this past August
Saugus, Mass. — The New England Livery Association (NELA) returned to the Kowloon Restaurant for its quarterly meeting September 11. Flagship Motors of Lynnfield sponsored the event, which was attended by 60 members, vendors, and guests. Chauffeur Driven served as the cocktail hour sponsor for the night, and was represented at the meeting by Publisher Chris Weiss.
With the meeting held on the 17th anniversary of 9/11, NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi of Lexian Management started the meeting with a moment of silence to honor the memory of those who died at the Twin Towers, Shanksville, and the Pentagon. Next, Szilagyi welcomed the attendees, and introduced a number of guest speakers. First, Tina Benson of LA Limousine accepted a trophy on behalf of her foursome who took home first place at NELA’s 19th Annual George Colarullo Memorial Golf Tournament, which was held August 7. Next, Arthur Kloack from Flagship Motors filled in the attendees on the company’s new Sprinter facility in Peabody, Mass.
CD Publisher Chris Weiss (right) with 2018 CD Show Pass winner Kevin Cronin of Above All Transportation/Boston Car Service
Weiss was next to speak, and used the opportunity to provide some insight into the CD Show coming to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center just outside of Washington, D.C. on October 7-10. He raffled off a pass to the show, which was won by Kevin Cronin of Above All Transportation. Before new NELA President Jason Dornhoffer of United Private Car was welcomed to the podium, Carl Restivo of Access Commercial Capital provided an overview of his company’s services to the membership.
Dornhoffer thanked the operators and vendors for attending the meeting, and encouraged NELA members to become more involved with the association. In addition to offering his help to anyone interested in seeking a board position, he also made the appeal for the membership to take a role in the various active committees within the organization. Next, An NLA update was provided by Mike Campbell of Grace Limousine, who shared some recent industry updates from the national stage.
NELA President Jason Dornhoffer of United Private Car
In a continued effort to foster good relations between NELA and the Massachusetts-run transportation organizations, Szilagyi met with officials from the Massachusetts Port Authority (MassPort) on September 7, and gave attendees an overview at Kowloon.
“We have a good relationship with MassPort,” says Szilagyi. “They actually listen to us and our concerns, and we meet at least quarterly. Currently, we’re working with MassPort to improve the long practice involved with Private Sector Identification (PSID) badging for chauffeurs. Also, we talked about how TNCs continue to clog the airport, which hurts everyone, just not the operators.”
Following his recap, Szilagyi welcomed Brian Cristy and Liz Leaman of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, who were the featured speakers of the evening. They addressed the department’s updated computer system for the motor vehicle registry that will go into effect on October 1, 2018, as well as the Unified Carrier Registration process. Cristy and Leaman then fielded many questions from the membership.
Brian Cristy and Liz Leaman of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
As always, the night concluded with the raffles, which were sponsored by DavEl/BostonCoach, Transport the People, and Access Commercial Capital. Brett Barenholtz of Boston Car Service was the winner of a wine giveaway, an assortment of scratch tickets were taken home by Mike Curtin of Don Brown Bus Sales, and Mark Mollica of Black Tie Limousine Worldwide won the 50/50 raffle and generously donated the proceeds back to the NELA.
NELA’s next meeting will be its holiday party, scheduled for December 11.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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Prevost New Coach Regional Sales Manager, Western Canada and Northwestern US Dale Paziuk
Sainte Claire, Quebec — Prevost takes pleasure in announcing the recent addition of highly respected 19-year veteran Dale Paziuk to the new coach sales team. Paziuk stepped into his newest position as new coach regional sales manager, Western Canada and Northwestern US, in early September.
Paziuk resides in Ladner, B.C., and is very familiar with his territory, which includes British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba provinces, and dips into Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Wyoming in the Lower 48 of the U.S.
Paziuk joined Prevost in 1999, beginning as a field service representative serving the Northwest, after earning his degree in mechanical engineering and working several years for other organizations within the bus and coach industry.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better, more thorough introduction to Prevost,” says Paziuk. “Traveling extensively through this large territory has provided so many excellent opportunities to talk to many owner-operators. My work during those years was primarily with the mechanics and technicians performing maintenance and training on their coaches.”
When the company opened its Prevost Service Center in 2010 in the Delta area near Vancouver, Paziuk was called up to fill the branch manager position. During his six-year tenure he assisted with the expansion of the facility and oversaw its eventual relocation to the current, larger six-bay facility in Richmond.
In 2016, he moved into Parts Sales as Regional Sales Manager, Northwest, which took him further north into his new territory that included Alaska; a move that further prepared him for his current role in new coach sales.
“All combined, Dale’s background, capabilities, experience and lasting relationships will serve him well in his transition into the complex realm of coach sales,” says Director New Coach Sales, Western Region Keith Hayward. “He comes very well-equipped to help customers throughout his region determine their best options for Prevost and Volvo products; and he is prepared to continue to serve and assist with their needs as they arise.”
Paziuk says looking back, it was always his intent to eventually work for Prevost in new coach sales, and is now eager to apply all he has learned and experienced from a technical capacity to serving his customers in areas that, for now, are somewhat new to him.
Visit prevostcar.com for more information.
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