C-Class (W203) DaimlerChrysler to cut Mercedes C-Class production

[Alx]

FRANKFURT (AFX) - DaimlerChrysler AG is cutting back the output of Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars in the main production facility in Sindelfingen from January, Handelsblatt said, citing a company spokesman.

It said the spokesman declined to give any reasons for the decision.

The report added that although it is normal for a car to post declining sales towards the end of a 7-year life cycle, sales of the C-Class have fallen more steeply than expected. A new C-Class will be launched in two years.

In the first ten months of this year, C-Class sales have declined by 13 pct to 335,600 units.

newsdesk@afxnews.com

Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2005/12/05/afx2368432.html

So much for a C63 in current form.

 

[Zafiro]

lol when I first read the headline I thought you meant they wont produce the C-class anymore

 

[Alx]

lol when I first read the headline I thought you meant they wont produce the C-class anymore

Thats why you cant judge a book by its cover...

 

[Matt]

Im looking forward to the next C class! The E class should come out before the C class right, or is the order going to get screwed up....

 

[PHYBENZ]

The redesigned C class will come before the redesigned E class like it has the last couple of times, there will be no screw up. The facelifted E class will be released before the redesigned c class.

 

[Alx]

Well there you go... i guess there some logic to that....

 

[Matt]

The redesigned C class will come before the redesigned E class like it has the last couple of times, there will be no screw up. The facelifted E class will be released before the redesigned c class.

o ok. thx

 

[gustavo]

That's strange because it's selling relatively well in Germany (sold numbers for Jan - October 05) :

AUDI A4, S4 82.102
BMW 3ER 74.495
MB C-KLASSE 67.505

Maybe B-Class ist stealing some C-Class customers, but that's ok for MB
( no Audi , BMW competitor here ):

B-Class (Feb-Okt) 22.560
FORD GALAXY 10.814
OPEL ZAFIRA 34.979
VW SHARAN 12.275
VW TOURAN 65.220

and other numbers I currently found:

AUDI A3, S3 55.296
BMW 1ER 47.164
MB A-Class 75.338
OPEL ASTRA 101.551
VW GOLF, JETTA 203.223

Sorry for beeing a little bit OT.

(source : http://www.kba.de/Stabsstelle/Presseservice/Pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilungen2005/SegmenteModelle/segmente_10_2005.pdf )

 

[Imhotep Evil]

For Germany that may be true, but globaly, the E90 (as well as the B7) is destroying the competition.
From what I heard some dealers in the USA are pissed of cause they can't get enough E90s.

 

[Zafiro]

That's strange because it's selling relatively well in Germany (sold numbers for Jan - October 05) :

AUDI A4, S4 82.102
BMW 3ER 74.495
MB C-KLASSE 67.505

Maybe B-Class ist stealing some C-Class customers, but that's ok for MB
( no Audi , BMW competitor here ):

B-Class (Feb-Okt) 22.560
FORD GALAXY 10.814
OPEL ZAFIRA 34.979
VW SHARAN 12.275
VW TOURAN 65.220

and other numbers I currently found:

AUDI A3, S3 55.296
BMW 1ER 47.164
MB A-Class 75.338
OPEL ASTRA 101.551
VW GOLF, JETTA 203.223

Sorry for beeing a little bit OT.

(source : http://www.kba.de/Stabsstelle/Presseservice/Pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilungen2005/SegmenteModelle/segmente_10_2005.pdf )

you are aware of that there is more markets and countries than just Germany?

 

[gustavo]

you are aware of that there is more markets and countries than just Germany?

Thx for the education
But overall in the world, the sales numbers are closer than they are .e.g. in the US.

 

[Zafiro]

Thx for the education
But overall in the world, the sales numbers are closer than they are .e.g. in the US.

apparently there is a problem or are you saying the article isnt correct?

 

[Snake Vargas]

IIRC, over here, the E90 is somewhat-killing the C-class, but somewhat surprisingly the C-class is doing better than the B7 A4. Then again, the B7 A4 isn't exactly a new car itself anyway.

I'm not really surprised at this news. The pre-FL W203 was doing well here, but post-FL, I haven't seen that many new ones.

 

[gustavo]

apparently there is a problem or are you saying the article isnt correct?

Read my statements again und you will understand it

 

[warot]

IIRC, over here, the E90 is somewhat-killing the C-class, but somewhat surprisingly the C-class is doing better than the B7 A4. Then again, the B7 A4 isn't exactly a new car itself anyway.

I'm not really surprised at this news. The pre-FL W203 was doing well here, but post-FL, I haven't seen that many new ones.

I agree with that, I still see a lot more C classes than the A4... while the E90 is dominating. While I was working in SA, it was just ridiculous because I saw a whole bunch of 3ers... 1 week after launch date!

I'm very surprised that Benz is taking so long to do something about the C-Class. They are (IMO) at the bottom of the 3 German brands when it comes to this category. I'm surprised they didn't anticipate this.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

IIRC, over here, the E90 is somewhat-killing the C-class, but somewhat surprisingly the C-class is doing better than the B7 A4. Then again, the B7 A4 isn't exactly a new car itself anyway.

I'm not really surprised at this news. The pre-FL W203 was doing well here, but post-FL, I haven't seen that many new ones.

Really snake? I notice a lot of new w203's up here. And according to RACQ sales figures, the C-class is still performing well, as is the E-class. The w203 equipment upgrades, engine upgrades and facelift have really helped it hold a bit of ground against the A4 and the 3-series. Luxury car sales here are:
1. 3-Series
2. C- Class
3. E-class

The 5 at one stage looked like it was going to replace the E as the mid-level luxury vehicle of choice, but the E-class has fought back.

What should be interesting is to see how the new IS is accepted.

 

[gustavo]

I'm very surprised that Benz is taking so long to do something about the C-Class. They are (IMO) at the bottom of the 3 German brands when it comes to this category. I'm surprised they didn't anticipate this.

Don't agree here. MB has launched C320 CDI, C350 etc. which also won comparison tests against their 3er competitors. Even the Edmunds consumer rating for the 2005 C-Class is very good (average 9.1, compared to the 3er = 9.2 ). So the C-Class is at the same eye level.

 

[warot]

Don't agree here. MB has launched C320 CDI, C350 etc. which also won comparison tests against their 3er competitors. Even the Edmunds consumer rating for the 2005 C-Class is very good (average 9.1, compared to the 3er = 9.2 ). So the C-Class is at the same eye level.

I understand. I'm not saying that it's obsolete but I think they might want to work a bit faster at it. Since the C Class is not supposed to come until 2007, it's not going to be doing well against its competitors I don't think by then.

 

[cawimmer430]

My current Auto Motor und Sport explained that A and B-Class sales have cannibalized C-Class sales.

 

[SDNR]

My current Auto Motor und Sport explained that A and B-Class sales have cannibalized C-Class sales.

Hmm, that is interesting Chris - do you think MB will eventually drop the C class model altogether?