Who We Are
Welcome to Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston
Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC (MBV Charleston), is the only Mercedes-Benz Vans production facility in the United States. Since 2006, the Ladson-based facility has assembled more than 400,000 Metris, Sprinter, & eSprinter vans for delivery to destinations across the U.S. and Canada — making it the second largest market for Sprinter vans after Germany.
In 2018, MBV Charleston invested more than 500 million U.S. Dollars in the expansion of the Mercedes-Benz Vans production facility. This expansion included the addition of a Body Shop, a Paint Shop, and an extension to the existing Assembly Shop 7mdash; allowing for full part-by-part assembly of the Metris & Sprinter vans.
Shortly after the expansion in 2021, the plant celebrated its 15-year legacy of the SKD (semi-knockdown) production in South Carolina. In 2022, they celebrated production of the 100,000th part-by-part Sprinter. And in 2023 the facility marked a plant milestone with a record-setting 50,000+ vans assembled.
Subsequently, MBV Charleston was selected to be the first plant in the Mercedes-Benz Vans global production network to produce the all-new eSprinter van — representing an additional nearly $60 million U.S. dollar investment. Production of the eSprinter started in January of 2024 and four months after, the MBV Charleston team celebrated production of the 1,000th eSprinter van.
Today, MBV Charleston has more than 1,600 team members and provides at least 500 additional on-site jobs through its suppliers with an estimated additional impact of 16,200* jobs with suppliers and service providers in the region.
Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston also continues investing in the local community with over $2,100,000 dollars donated to local non-profits & schools via STEM programs since 2006 and over 1,100 volunteer hours.
*Based on estimates from the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) that every direct job in vehicle manufacturing supports 10.1 additional American jobs.
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Our History
With the success of the Sprinter van in the U.S. market, the decision was made to expand the current re-assembly operation to a full-scale production plant for the Sprinter van, which opened in 2018. In addition to our current operation, the Mercedes-Benz group has had a presence in North Charleston for longer than you might think, starting with the assembly of Western Star trucks in 1999.
Below is a timeline of both our facility’s and Mercedes-Benz Vans’ history as a whole.
1999
Western Star plant to produce heavy trucks in Charleston, SC.
2006
Daimler Chrysler Manufacturing International established in Charleston, SC.
2006
The second generation Sprinter enters the European market.
2007
Production start of Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter Vans begins under Daimler Vans Manufacturing in Charleston, SC.
2010
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter enters the U.S. market.
2015
The mid-size Mercedes-Benz Metris enters the U.S. market.
2016
Groundbreaking for the new body shop, paint shop, and expanded assembly in Charleston, SC, under Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC.
2018
Grand opening of the newly expanded Sprinter plant in Charleston, SC, under Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC
2021
Mercedes-Benz announces the all-new eSprinter
2022
2023
Mercedes-Benz all-new eSprinter enters the U.S. market
2024
1999
Western Star plant to produce heavy trucks in Charleston, SC.
2006
Daimler Chrysler Manufacturing International established in Charleston, SC.
2006
The second-generation Sprinter enters the European market.
2007
Production start of Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter Vans begins under Daimler Vans Manufacturing in Charleston, SC.
2010
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter enters the U.S. market.
2015
The mid-size Mercedes-Benz Metris enters the U.S. market.
2016
Groundbreaking for the new body shop, paint shop, and expanded assembly in Charleston, SC, under Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC.
2018
Grand opening of the newly expanded Sprinter plant in Charleston, SC, under Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC.
2021
Mercedes-Benz announces the all-new eSprinter.
2022
2023
Mercedes-Benz all-new eSprinter enters the U.S. market.
2024
1000th eSprinter assembled.
Facts & Figures
Size of MBV Charleston: Nearly 2 million square feet on more than 200 acres of land
Original Total Investment: $500 million
Additional Investments for eSprinter: Nearly $60 million
Plant Operations: Body Shop, Paint Shop, and Assembly Shop
Current Employment: Over 1,600 Team Members
Current Vehicles Assembled: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van, Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Van