Mercedes-Benz Vans USA officially launched its new "Master Solutions" vocational upfit program this week; a program unveiled by the OEM back in July during a ground-breaking event for a new assembly plant it plans to build in South Carolina within four years.
The “Master Solutions” program is available through authorized Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner dealers and offers vocational work body configurations for Metris and Sprinter vans from Auto Truck Group (ATG), Knapheide and Smartliner.
In order to ensure prompt delivery to customers, ATG is investing in a new “ship-through” upfit facility near the current Daimler Vans Assembly Plant in Ladson, S.C.
Located just seven miles away from the Daimler plant in Summerville, S.C., ATG’s facility will be over 60,000 sq. ft., in size Mercedes said.
Mathias Geisen, general manager of product management for MBUSA Vans, added that Smartliner and Knapheide are currently investigating locations and timing for opening their own “ship-through” facilities near the OEM’s van assembly plant as well.
"With the Master Solutions program, ordering a van with a turn-key upfit solution will be easier than ever,” he said in a statement.