Mercedes-Benz has officially announced plans for an entry into the mid size pickup truck market.

As of now, the Mercedes-Benz picked has no name but the company's target date for its release would be around 2020. Its main markets include Latin America, South Africa, Australia and Europe. The German automaker made the decision based on the significant amount of sales generated by one-ton pickups, such as the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton/Strada, Volkswagen Amarok, Chevrolet Colorado and Ford Ranger across the globe.

Another reason is the shifting customer preference for pickups worldwide, they are becoming popular as daily drivers and there is market clamor for a more car like specification. While not specifically targeting the current players in the market, Mercedes-Benz aims to become "the first premium manufacturer to respond to this market shift."

The basic platform, according to a report The Wall Street Journal, will be based on the Nissan NP300 Navara. A likely possibility as the two automakers (Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler AG) signified to extend their partnership for years to come during last year's Paris Auto Show. 

The new pickup will be under the direction of Mercedes Benz's Van divisionm which is in charge for models like the Sprinter, Vario and Vito. "We can perfectly serve customers looking for a vehicle that offers a high level of utility and at the same time has the comfort, safety and design of a Mercedes Benz passenger car," says Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes Benz Vans.