DaimlerChrysler Opens Sprinter Assembly Plant in Charleston, SC
27 Mars 2007 - 6:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
- Inauguration with Governor Mark Sanford CHARLESTON, S.C., March
27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The DaimlerChrysler plant in Ladson,
South Carolina, just outside Charleston, today officially kicks off
production of the Sprinter for the U.S. market under the Dodge and
Freightliner brands. The plant was inaugurated in the presence of
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. The benchmark in its class,
the Sprinter has been assembled and sold in the U.S. since 2001 and
has captured a firm commercial customer base of knowledgeable
business owners, fleet managers and van buyers looking for even
more from their work vehicle. The former plant in Gaffney, annual
capacity around 22,000 units, no longer could cope with the growing
sales. A production capacity of 32,000 units now is available at
the new plant on the U.S. east coast where 180 employees are
working to reassemble the Sprinter on a 42,780 square meter
(460,000 sq. ft.) site. $35 million was invested in the plant. "The
Dodge Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter set standards in their
sector for safety, variability and environmental protection. We are
proud to be able to offer our latest product in the van segment
also on the American market so soon after its presentation. I thank
all colleagues who made the opening of this plant possible today
through their personal effort and commitment," said Wilfried Porth,
Head of the Mercedes-Benz Vans Business Unit of DaimlerChrysler AG
on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony. North America's
top-performing van, Sprinters for the U.S. and Canada are offered
in three vehicle lengths on two new wheelbases. With a line-up of
cargo vans, passenger vans and chassis cab models, it also boasts
three roof heights - the most among full-size vans. Powered by two
all-new V-6 engines, a 3.0-liter diesel or 3.5-liter gas engine,
standard equipment includes ADAPTIVE ESP. Taking electronic
stability programs to the next level, ADAPTIVE ESP features
additional sensors that now take into consideration vehicle payload
further reducing the risk of vehicle skidding and loss of control.
The all-new Sprinter goes on sale this spring. DATASOURCE: Chrysler
Group CONTACT: Randy Jones of Chrysler Group, +1-248-512-5061, or
Web site: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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