The world’s largest private provider of ambulance services, Falck Group, has taken control of the emergency medical service in and around Barcelona. Starting this very autumn and for the next six years, more than 340 Sprinter vans will cover mobile emergency situation and patient transportation services in three districts in Barcelona.
The deal has been closed just as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van is celebrating its 20th anniversary, soon after a world record sales figure of 186 000 units in 2014. The Falck Group uses 344 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles, Sprinter 313 CDI and 316 CDI equipped with the latest medical technology, but also with the latest road safety features. All vehicles come with the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic gearbox, ensuring a smooth transfer of power, while reducing fuel consumption and having low emissions.
120 of the 344 Sprinter fleet will be classified as emergency ambulances according to the EN 1789 European standard and will be equipped accordingly. The other 224 vans will be converted into patient transportation ambulances by local bodybuilders.
The Copenhagen-based private company Falck Group operates in 19 states, assisting local populations on behalf of the public authorities. In its home country Denmark, Falck Group has been using the Sprinter vans for years already. Two years ago, Falck strengthened its emergency activities in Germany by merging with the Hamburg-based service G.A.R.D., that also uses a large fleet of ambulances based on the Mercedes-Benz vans.
