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Luxury auto retailer has a mobile office solution for your business

By: Donna Wick
| Published 05/29/2015

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas – In the days of old, what could only charitably be termed as “mobile offices” were essentially note pads suction-cupped to the windshield interior and perhaps a passenger seat-side tray that might keep files from spilling to the floorboard. “Upscale” models included a car phone that was expensive and unreliable. Today, technology may have improved to the level where an office could conceivably be run literally from the driver’s seat, but even that might not be enough to remain competitive. One red traffic light can conceivably kill a business deal.

Auto enthusiasts may be surprised to find out who makes the most sought-after commercial-use van on the road today


Mercedes-Benz of The Woodlands, however, has a solution that can keep your office fully functioning even while dodging rush-hour traffic between meetings. Local drivers may have noticed a distinctive commercial vehicle traversing the area freeways lately. This tall, sleek van turns a lot of heads, especially when people see the legendary three-pointed star on the grille. “Some people don’t realize that Mercedes-Benz makes the most versatile and well-appointed commercial van in the world,” said Adam Harris, Commercial Fleet Manager for Mercedes-Benz of The Woodlands (MBOTW). “These vehicles are becoming a ‘need,’ not a ‘want,’ for area businesses.”

The Sprinter is the commercial flip side to the Mercedes-Benz line of luxury passenger vehicles and until recently was found primarily on European highways. Harris said U.S. sales are booming as more people discover the Sprinter’s unique abilities. “What can it do? What do you need it to do?” said Harris. “You don’t have to adapt your expectations because of the limitations of the vehicle. For a lot of businesses, the Sprinter opens up possibilities that weren’t there before.”

The Sprinter boasts immense hauling capacity—the best payload and cargo volume in its class. Its generous height allows people to stand fully upright inside the cargo area. Harris said the Sprinter’s sure-footed ride on rougher terrain makes it a practical choice for construction and oil field sites. With 29 packages and 110 individual factory options from which to choose, it’s easy for businesses to create the ideal hauling, passenger or combination configuration.

Because the Sprinter is so adaptable, it really brings out the creativity in buyers, said Harris. He said that after-market customization is a hot trend among Sprinter owners. Attorney Bill Voss of The Woodlands had a Sprinter customized for his law practice about a year ago. Voss said that now he couldn’t do without his “office on wheels,” which is outfitted with pull-out work desks, mobile broadband Internet and three 44-inch flat screen TVs with satellite and Apple TV capabilities. Voss said he and his staff travel to Dallas and McAllen on a weekly basis and are able to work all the way to their destination and back without missing a beat: “This is the kind of luxury that provides value. Even when we figure in the cost of a driver, the Sprinter saves us money compared to the total cost of transporting our people by plane. On top of that, we are maintaining a continuous workflow, like we never even left the office.”

Harris said that the Sprinter comes with a host of active and passive safety options, many of them industry firsts. Standard as part of the Sprinter’s Load Adaptive Electronic Stability Program is the Crosswind Assist feature, a course-correcting brake application which gently stabilizes the vehicle to prevent it from leaving its driving lane during strong gusts of wind.

Harris said the Sprinter also has the best mileage in its class. “These vans get up to 28 mpg, and they have a longer life than similar vehicles.” Harris said that where Mercedes-Benz has really outdone itself is with the service interval— a remarkable 20,000 miles—making for less time away from the road.

When the service date does roll around, Harris said that MBOTW offers free pickup and delivery to its service center, the largest Sprinter service facility in the Houston area. In the future, MBOTW will offer a mobile technician who makes “house calls” and performs maintenance onsite. “Some businesses do not have the downtime to bring their vehicles in, and we get that,” said Harris. “Our team is dedicated to providing the kind of service that makes owning these great vehicles a hassle-free experience.”

Harris said the goal of the Commercial Fleet Division at MBOTW is to serve customers in a way that goes beyond the outstanding driving experience. In that spirit, Harris and his team are going out to meet with business owners and decision makers at the job site. “When people are running a business, it’s hard to get away. Plus we’re able to see firsthand what they need from a commercial vehicle,” said Harris. “We’re working to provide our commercial customers in Houston and The Woodlands with a van that integrates seamlessly with their business focus.”

For more information: Visit the Mercedes-Benz of The Woodlands showroom at 16917 Interstate 45 North, or view their website at the link provided below.

www.mbotw.com

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