Inovev plans 40,000 units per year of the new Mercedes T Class
- Mercedes had reached an agreement ten years ago with the Renault-Nissan group to market a light commercial vehicle derived from the Renault Kangoo and positioned in the Mercedes range under the Vito (segment N1-2) and Sprinter (segment N1- 3). This utility vehicle called Citan (segment N1-1) which succeeded the Vaneo was launched in 2012 and its production was carried out at the Maubeuge site (France) alongside the Renault Kangoo. The sales of the Mercedes Citan have never been very high as its production stabilized around 25,000 units per year before collapsing in 2020 due to falling markets.
- Due to this low sales level (Kangoo sales are about 150,000 units per year), the collaboration between Mercedes and Renault-Nissan on this type of vehicle could have been stopped, but the German manufacturer did not want to invest in the replacement. of the Citan and asked Renault-Nissan to continue its collaboration on this type of vehicle.
- The Mercedes Citan will therefore be replaced in 2021 by a rebadged version of the all-new Renault Kangoo which has just been presented. Its new name is T Class, a name which fits better into the Mercedes lineup. It will be a rival to the new Volkswagen Caddy and will take over the CMF-C / D platform from the Renault Kangoo and Mégane. Its engines will be the 1.3 liter petrol and 1.5 diesel Renault origin already known and fitted to the Renault Kangoo. But, unlike the old Citan, the new T Class will also be offered in a 100% electric version called EQT. This engine will be shared with the Renault Kangoo Z.E. The Mercedes T Class will be manufactured at the Maubeuge site, at a rate of 40,000 units per year in the long term according to Inovev.
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