You don't need to wait until dark to "see the stars" in Berlin thanks to 27 Mercedes-Benz city minibuses, which were recently delivered to the Berlin Taxi Drivers' Guild at the German Automobile Club (ADAC) Safety Centre in Linthe.

The Sprinter City 35 models will be used on routes that transport a low number of passengers – generally shift workers, "night owls" and the occasional tourist, all of whom rely on public transport on the outskirts of the German capital.

"Our job is above all to provide a link to the public transport system and bring people home at night from the underground and suburban train stations," says Bernd Dörendahl, Chairman of the Berlin Taxi Drivers' Guild. The deployment of the Mercedes Sprinter City marks a completely new approach for the Guild, particularly when it comes to certification, technology and staff training. Guild managers opted to use Mercedes-Benz vehicles due to their reliability, the high degree of driver and passenger safety, and their outstanding comfort. The contractor was also impressed by the brand's efficient all-round service – something the taxi industry has already come to know and appreciate. As Dörendahl puts it, "It's reassuring to have contacts right here on the spot."

For reasons of economy, the routes on which Sprinter City minibuses are scheduled to be employed used to be served by taxi minivans. After the transport company Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) established that the number of passengers on these routes was constantly rising, however, management decided that it was time to take action. The BVG issued a call for tenders. EvoBus GmbH, the company responsible for brand distribution of Mercedes-Benz buses and coaches, put in a bid – and was awarded the contract. With twelve seats and space for ten standing passengers, the Sprinter City 35 also accommodates a wheelchair or pushchair. It was a requirement of vehicle operators – private taxi and bus companies that are members of the Berlin Taxi Drivers' Guild and have provided services on less frequented routes in the past – that their vehicles should be equipped to accommodate disabled passengers.

The interior equipment in the minibuses is also geared to the latest requirements. The Sprinter City 35, for example, is equipped with a computer-aided control system that links individual vehicles with a central control centre and bus stops. The ticketing system is completely electronic, and a radio control system and alarm button are available as special equipment. This should come as no surprise, given that Mercedes-Benz channelled its vast experience from the city bus sector into development of the Sprinter City.

Like all Mercedes-Benz minibuses, the 27 Sprinter City models for Berlin were manufactured at the brand's minibus plant in Dortmund, which is operated under the name Mercedes-Benz Minibus GmbH and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EvoBus GmbH (itself a 100% subsidiary of Daimler AG). One of the leading suppliers in its segment in Europe, Mercedes-Benz Minibus GmbH offers a 24-month warranty for material and equipment defects across the complete minibus range.