The launch follows the start of local production last month, with the Vito to be ready for delivery to dealers at the end of September.

The carmaker said the launch marks another important stage of Mercedes-Benz Vans’ expansion into the market.

Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said: “With the launch of the new Vito in China, we completed the roll-out of our highly successful mid-size segment in this growing market. This is another milestone of our ‘Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global’ growth strategy. We have successfully entered numerous markets with the new Vito since its launch in 2014 – over 65 in total – and we have significantly increased unit sales ever since. We are convinced it will be as compelling to customers in China, too.” 

Alongside the Sprinter, the Vito is now Mercedes-Benz Vans’ second ‘world van’ and has been available in Latin America plus the USA and Canada – where it is known as the Metris – since 2015 following its introduction in Europe and in other global markets in 2014.