Volkswagen and Daimler will not collaborate any more in the utility vehicles
- Volkswagen plans to terminate its partnership with Daimler. This partnership , which relates to the manufacture by Daimler (Mercedes) of the utility vehicle Volkswagen Crafter, is due to expire in 2016.
- Volkswagen would not wish to pursue its cooperation with Daimler. The Volkswagen utility vehicles (which includes Volkswagen-Nutzfahrzeuge, MAN and Scania) division could develop the next model taking over the Crafter.
- Volkswagen confirmed it would favour MAN (of which it owns more than 75% of shares) rather than Daimler. Until now, the Volkswagen Crafter and Mercedes Sprinter (these vehicles are quasi identical) were assembled together in the Düsseldorf and LudwigsfeldeDaimler plants.
- The Volkswagen version of the Mercedes Sprinter accounted for approximately 20% of total sales of the model taking into account both brands. It is not certain that Mercedes can reclaim the Crafter’s clientele in the future.
Data source: File #52 - Registrations in Europe by make and model