• by Tanya Gazdik , Yesterday

Mercedes-Benz USA has appointed Jee-Seop Kim as head of sales and marketing, Mercedes-Benz Vans North America.

He succeeds Heike Scheuble, who will retire from Mercedes-Benz on Sept. 2 after more than four decades with the brand.

Kim, who is currently vice president of customer services, Mercedes-Benz USA, takes on the new role effective Sept. 1. He reports to Sagree Sardien, the global head of sales and marketing, vans, in Germany. Melody Lee remains CMO of Mercedes-Benz USA, heading up the marketing of the automaker’s non-van vehicles. 

Scheuble held a series of pivotal leadership roles in both Europe and the U.S., including key positions in warranty, product management and aftersales. 

Since joining the Mercedes-Benz USA Vans team in 2015, Scheuble drove continual profitable growth, built a high-performing and diverse team, launched new aftersales strategies, and played an essential role in strengthening customer and dealer relationships, according to the automaker. 

Worldwide sales of Mercedes-Benz Vans rose by 16% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 105,700 units, the best quarterly results of the year despite global macroeconomic challenges. For the full year 2024, Mercedes-Benz Vans sales reached 405,600 units, according to the automaker. 

Kim has more than 20 years of international leadership experience with the brand. Since joining Mercedes-Benz in 2002, he has held key roles in sales, aftersales, and customer service in the U.S., Germany and Korea. He spent 18 years as vice president at Mercedes-Benz Korea, including interim president and CEO in 2020. H

He has helped drive stability, growth, and enhanced performance in the U.S. dealer network during a period of significant change for the automotive industry, according to the automaker. 

Mercedes-Benz promotes its vans lineup in part via Vans Ambassadors, who post about how vans fit into their lives. Each ambassador represents a different facet of adventurer. “Whether it is through extreme sports, non-profit work, or simply exploring the unknown, our ambassadors are living life to the fullest with their Sprinters,” according to the automaker.

Significantly, despite the threat of tariffs driving up costs, Mercedes-Benz announced in April that the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of all new 2025 Mercedes-Benz vehicles will remain the same until further notice as part of its "Customer First" promise.