Dana Inc (www.dana.com) has announced that it has been selected by Daimler AG to supply front and rear propshafts to the all-new Mercedes-Benz X-Class pick-up truck and the latest-generation Sprinter van.

Dana was awarded the propshaft business for the Sprinter’s all-wheel-drive vehicles in North America and Europe, as well as rear-wheel-drive vehicles in North America and Argentina.

Dana customised its lightweight Spicer propshaft to address these vehicles’ “unique packaging constraints”, while ensuring that it met the high durability, reliability and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) requirements of the luxury vehicle segment.

To accommodate the three different wheelbase configurations of the Sprinter, Dana engineered both two- and three-piece rear propshaft assemblies.

For the three-piece assembly used in the longer wheelbase model, Dana designed a new direct pinion mount, which makes assembly and service easier (and reduces weight).