Makes sense to me !
Yes. My local ProMaster mail truck appears to be a bare bones stock truck with a bit of racking inside. I suspect that's all they need in my area, where the letter carriers park the truck and walk our tightly packed suburban neighborhoods.I think I have seen a few PM with the USPS logo on it, but not converted like the Transit in the link.
Why should a service like the US Postal Service buy German vehicles? Bad enough they are using ProMasters.Tough break for mercedes-Benz.
I think that was one of Trump's first requirements he signed. GOV agencies had to buy American?Why should a service like the US Postal Service buy German vehicles? Bad enough they are using ProMasters.
Probably ain't no surprise since look who's operating the vehicle's. I was never kind to rental or company cars.The Vanco office was full of PG&E Transits undergoing upfits the day I was there, so I struck up a conversation with the fleet manager about their vans. He indicated the Sprinter had a lower total operating cost than the competition but said upper management chose to buy a fleet of Ford Transits due to customer perception of employees driving Mercedes vehicles. Not sure why they didn't look at the Freightliner version.
I have to question if USPS is getting away from the Promaster due to reliability problems. My Postman drives one and he said all of their Promasters are taking turns puking transmissions and cylinder heads.
The Vanco office was full of PG&E Transits undergoing upfits the day I was there, so I struck up a conversation with the fleet manager about their vans. He indicated the Sprinter had a lower total operating cost than the competition but said upper management chose to buy a fleet of Ford Transits due to customer perception of employees driving Mercedes vehicles. Not sure why they didn't look at the Freightliner version.
I have to question if USPS is getting away from the Promaster due to reliability problems. My Postman drives one and he said all of their Promasters are taking turns puking transmissions and cylinder heads.
BUTI think that was one of Trump's first requirements he signed. GOV agencies had to buy American?
BUT
What is buy American?
The statement is easy to make by any standards, but in today's world of globalization that is not easy to achieve.
Speaking of vans; On this topic there can only be three practical choices.
Chrysler's Ram Promaster-made at the Saltillo Works in Mexico. A manifestation of the Nafta agreement and the global operations of the company now called Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
or the FCA group;. a global operation. Essentially the Promaster is a Mexican product only the name on the front is can be construed as American.
Ford's big Transit Van.
Made at a plant founded originally in 1951; called the Claycomo Plant.
The V6 Eco Boost is made in Ohio, the smaller engines are made on Europe.
Component suppliers are worldwide.
So this van passes the litmus test for made in America ,but its made out of parts/components sourced worldwide including the USA.
The MB Sprinter.
Assembled in the USA from CKD & PKD units made in Germany.
This is a curious operation by any standards!
In the past by using other major manufacturers examples operating worldwide & using that example as a benchmark . This MB plant establishment locally is there to meet local territory requirements on trade restrictions, local content, (particularly labor element ) and laws.
In the case of the USA notably the "chicken tax" and its implications are probably paramount here.
American material content is minimal. Just about squeezes through by "design planning " as assembled in the USA.
As a commentary footnote & not connected in any way to Made in USA litmus test .
it can be stated from a quality perspective PKD/CKD from previously "built" fully assembled units (CKD especially) , potentially present huge quality control nightmare scenarios upon re-assembly.
So the Ford by any measure meets the litmus test of Made in America of parts sourced locally worldwide.
The MB product meets enough in the labor content to met a bare minimum, just!
The FCA Chrysler product is just about wholely made out of the USA, has some American content but made in Mexico a NAFTA partner.
Does it pass the Made in America litmus test?
-Well hardly!
Digressing a bit in to the realm of auto manufacturing in the USA and American content, the Toyota Camry is just about all made in the USA!
Welcome to the curious world of the automobile.
Dennis
Really, I did that?Well you have moved somewhat off topic with vans and the USPS, plus made in the USA litmus test.
Not wanting to turn this into yet other acidic exchange, the figures are at best hyped by the US President.
A clearer picture can be obtained obtained from US Gov sources who track these things.
Your numbers are a bit bit skewed with the EEC as mentioned .
Take a look at this:-
https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/europe-middle-east/europe/european-union
Dennis
Grumman Long Life VehicleI always thought it was odd that the USPS used those...mail trucks...instead of a readily available, easily repairable vehicle. What are those type vehicles called? Commercial durable vehicle or something?