(Stuttgart, 09.04.2008)
The "Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP) Services Van of the Year" contest was conducted for the eighth time last Sunday and Monday. A jury comprised of thirty experts from the CEP industry rated the fourteen vehicles entered and selected the winners in three weight classes. The event, which took place as part of the AMI automotive trade show in Leipzig, was organised and run as in previous years by publisher ETM, which is based in Stuttgart.

The participating vehicles were tested on three different test tracks under real-life conditions which the CEP industry considers to be key criteria. The categories of functionality, comfort, handling, design and of course economy were listed on the evaluation form which had to be completed after each drive. After two days, 420 test drives and around 7000 kilometres the winners were determined.

Both the Sprinter and the Vito represented the Mercedes-Benz brand in this established contest. The Sprinter was able to confirm its top position from the previous two years and was named first in the "van class of up to 3.5 tonnes". The Mercedes-Benz Vito also received top honours from the expert panel of judges and repeated its win from 2005 and 2007 as the top of the "vans up to 2.8 tonnes" class. Wilfried Porth, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, accepted both first-place awards at the awards dinner in Leipzig.