Mercedes-Benz will drop the Metris mid-size van from its U.S. lineup after the third quarter of 2023, the automaker advised sellers in a memo despatched on Thursday and seen by Automotive Information (subscription required).

The acknowledged motive is the tip of manufacturing of the van’s 2.0-liter turbo-4, an engine that is additionally out there within the Sprinter full-size van. The engine has been constructed at a Nissan plant in Tennessee since 2015.

Mercedes will proceed to supply the Sprinter with the van’s present diesel 2.0-liter turbo-4 choice and a brand new electrical choice slated to reach within the second half of 2023. Based on Automotive Information‘ sources, the diesel accounts for 75% of Sprinter gross sales within the U.S. The Metris by no means provided a diesel choice.

The Metris, which is on the market in each business and passenger configurations, is not an enormous vendor within the U.S. Mercedes bought simply 9,898 examples in 2021, versus 43,574 Sprinters over the identical interval. For the Metris, the low determine was the van’s greatest right here because it was launched again in 2015.

Mercedes markets the business model of the Metris because the Vito in different markets, and the passenger model because the V-Class. Each the Vito and V-Class additionally supply electrical choices in different markets. Up to date variations of each ought to arrive in markets the place the Vito and V-Class are at the moment provided at about the identical time because the demise of the Metris within the U.S. A prototype for the up to date electrical V-Class, a mannequin dubbed the EQV, has already been noticed.

The Metris is not the one mannequin Mercedes is phasing out within the U.S. The A-Class sedan shall be dropped right here after 2022, with the timing set to coincide with the arrival of an up to date model in different markets. The present C-Class and E-Class coupe and convertible fashions may even make their very own exits shortly, however shall be changed by a single new mannequin dubbed the CLE-Class.