Mercedes-Benz axes Citan, T-Class

MERCEDES-BENZ will discontinue production of the Citan light commercial van – and its T-Class passenger counterpart – as the brand’s cooperation with Renault comes to an end.

Based upon the Renault Kangoo, the Mercedes-Benz Citan and T-Class are produced at Renault’s Mauberge facility in northern France. The decision will not impact production of the Kangoo range.

In the meantime, German publication Automobilwoche says the axing of the Mercedes-Benz Citan and T-Class will allow the German manufacturer to focus on its more profitable Vito, V-Class, and Sprinter ranges as it pursues growth in more profitable segments.

Total sales of Mercedes-Benz vans fell nine per cent to 405,610 units in 2024 with sales of the Citan down three per cent to 23,351 and the T-Class down 31 per cent to just 5117 units.

Automobilwoche reports that Mercedes-Benz is to reuse a number of components from its existing electrical architecture in its new Van.EA electric platform that will underpin a new generation of all-electric light commercial vans by mid-2026.

It is understood the company plans to present a “near production” version of the Vision V van at next week’s Shanghai Auto Show.

Mercedes-Benz and Renault are reducing their industrial partnership that also included the Smart ForFour based on the Renault Twingo until 2021, and the use of Renault engines in Mercedes-Benz models including the A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, CLA-Class, GLA-Class, Citan, and Vito.

Locally, sales of Mercedes-Benz light commercial vehicles are tracking well, up 12.8 per cent on this time last year to 1126 units.

Highlights include the Sprinter bus with Q1 sales of 22 units (up 69.2 per cent), Vito and e-Vito van with sales of 108 units (up 16.1 per cent), Sprinter van with sales of 885 units (up 9.3 per cent), V-Class passenger van with sales of 79 units (up 14.5 per cent), and Vito and e-Vito Tour passenger vans with sales of 22 units (up 214.3 per cent).

With Automobilwoche and VFACTS