Mercedes-Benz is unveiling the prototype of a battery-powered van based on the Mercedes-Benz Vito at the informal EU Competitiveness Council meeting in San Sebastián from 7 to 9 February. During this event, European ministers of economic affairs meet to discuss issues relating to the economic viability of future technologies. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, will be giving a speech on the sustainability of electric vehicles in his capacity as current president of the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association).

Daimler FleetBoard has been developing and marketing profitability-boosting telematics solutions for commercial-vehicle fleets for the past 10 years. The company with a 140-strong workforce has to date equipped more than 60,000 vehicles with telematics services. After 10 years on the market, it is strengthening its position as one of the pioneering European telematics providers: in 2009, the company sold over 8000 hardware units, including deals with companies from the foodstuffs, construction and distribution industries such as Edeka Rhein-Ruhr, Tesco UK and Hasenöhrl in Austria.