Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

- Vehicle deliveries commenced in December 2010
- Deutsche Post DHL to use Mercedes-Benz Sprinters for parcel delivery
- Service contract concluded for up to nine years

Stuttgart/Bonn, Germany, Dec 22, 2010 – In its biggest order in Germany this year, Mercedes-Benz Vans will deliver a total of 1,300 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters to Deutsche Post DHL. Delivery of the Sprinters to the customer commenced in December 2010, and the last vehicles are scheduled to go into operation in one year’s time. Mercedes-Benz Vans won over the customer by offering the most economical solution and the best technology, putting it far ahead of the competition. The first vehicles were officially handed over today by Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, to Thomas Zuber, Head of the Letter and DHL Parcel Delivery unit at Deutsche Post DHL. The handover took place at one of the Mercedes-Benz dealerships for Cologne and Leverkusen in Frechen.


“We’re very happy about this major order and are also proud that an important customer like Deutsche Post DHL is relying on our vehicles,” said Mornhinweg. “Mercedes-Benz Vans thus continues to grow as it has done throughout the year, allowing us to gain additional market share in Germany.”

The main reason why Mercedes-Benz Vans obtained the order for the parcel delivery vehicles is that the Sprinters meet very high technological standards and fulfill the customer’s special wishes. For example, the vehicles get good marks for their high durability and low-emission Euro 5-compliant engines. In the design of the cabs, the engineers focused on enhancing working place ergonomics. As a result, the Sprinters have raised roofs, which provide drivers with more headroom when they stand up. In addition, the vans have a lower rear entry.

“The modernization of our fleet is an important part of our corporate strategy,” says Zuber. “The new vehicles meet Europe-wide standards and will allow us to cut emissions and reduce the amount of pollution in road traffic. This makes the new vehicles particularly well-suited for long-term use in sensitive areas of Germany's inner cities where particulate emissions are strictly curtailed.”

The order encompasses a total of 1,300 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 310 CDI/4325 chassis with 3.5 tons GVW and integral box bodies that have been optimized for parcel delivery services. The Sprinters in question are being produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Ludwigsfelde near Berlin. SAXAS Nutzfahrzeuge Werdau AG manufactures the bodies with shelves mounted on both sides and a passage connecting the cab to the cargo area. All of the vehicles come with the latest version of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard. This system determines the weight and position of the freight and optimizes the vehicle’s stability. The Sprinters are also equipped as standard with adaptive brake lights that flash rapidly during emergency braking. This provides an additional warning signal to following motorists and can therefore help reduce the number of rear-end collisions.

The contract also encompasses a comprehensive service package with a duration of up to nine years. The package includes the maintenance and repair of the 1,300 vehicles, the delivery and pickup of the vans, a tire service, and the associated vehicle management.

About Deutsche Post DHL

The corporate brands Deutsche Post and DHL offer an unparalleled range of logistics (DHL) and communication-related (Deutsche Post) services. The Group provides its customers with easy-to-use standard products as well as customized, innovative solutions, ranging from dialogue marketing to industrial supply chains. This is possible thanks to the some 500,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories, who make up a global network that offers superior service and quality, while also ensuring sustainability. The Group accepts its social responsibility by supporting programs for climate protection, disaster management, and education. Deutsche Post DHL generated revenue of more than €46 billion in 2009.

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