The popular Dodge Sprinter appears to be the latest casualty of Chrysler LLC’s merger with Italian automaker Fiat S.p.A. Starting in January, the work van will be sold only through Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner dealers, according to Daimler AG, which has built the Sprinter for North America since 2001 and offered it as a Dodge since 2003. Chrysler would not comment on the decision, but Fiat is rumored to be considering two similar vehicles—the Fiat Ducato and Iveco Daily—to fill the hole. The German-built Sprinter replaced Dodge’s full-size Ram van and still offers a major fuel-economy improvement of up to 25% over traditional-style work vans built by U.S. companies like Ford and General Motors.

Photo: Dodge