Global Sales : September 2012 : Audi, BMW, MB

[Merc1]

Yes Mercedes is an import (apart from the ML/GL/R), but there is nothing exotic about a Mercedes-Benz in general. The only exotic Mercedes are the Black Series cars and the SLS, all the rest a very common in the luxury car world. These people you talk with seemingly have no clue about what a Mercedes is.

Let me get this straight, these wealthy Europeans aren't bothered by buses, dump trucks and taxicabs Mercedes, but they're bothered by the A & B Classes?

Secondly their perception is just now changing in Europe? Their new perception of Mercedes because of their downmarket moves, yet the A-Class has been around since 1997? But in 2012 they're all of sudden worried about Mercedes image?

Mercedes doesn't operate in the same space as Rolls-Royce anymore, they haven't in years and years. Hence Maybach was created. Seems like the perception is extremely outdated.

Mercedes is the king of the working-rich brands, that doesn't include Rolls, Bentley, Aston, Maserati, Lamborghini or Ferrari.

You're going to have to look at the car in question and not just the brand anymore. Same goes for every luxury car brand in the space Mercedes plays in. They're all moving downmarket.

If the new S-Class arrives and it is all that and more, tech, styling, performance etc. and it trumps the class (like the S always does), and someone doesn't buy it because of an A-Class or B-Class they're just dumb IMO because they're a badge snob only. Utterly clueless decision.

A S, CL, SL is no less capable because of a A/B/C/GLK/CLA etc. Long as the upper cars do what they're supposed to do, Mercedes will be able to sell premium cars in the lower segments all day long. They've done it in Europe for years, yet they're image is still higher than that of BMW and Audi when it comes to prestige.


M

 

[MAJESTIC]

I say let Audi and BMW become the new Toyotas because I honestly couldn't care less who is the "sales king". Honestly, I don't know why the premium brands are sooo focused on this title. I'm especially disappointed in MB's grab for this title, since they have never been about mere sales numbers, because the brand's core values are virtually being thrown out the window in order to claim this title. It's such a shame such a prestigious brand would want to be in the same company of two Yuppie fueled brands.

 

[mini_cooper4]

I say let Audi and BMW become the new Toyotas because I honestly couldn't care less who is the "sales king". Honestly, I don't know why the premium brands are sooo focused on this title. I'm especially disappointed in MB's grab for this title, since they have never been about mere sales numbers, because the brand's core values are virtually being thrown out the window in order to claim this title. It's such a shame such a prestigious brand would want to be in the same company of two Yuppie fueled brands.

BadBadGirl, I have to agree with you on everything as you look too good not to
I'm driving my Yuppie Bimmer every single day

PS: I'm sure we'll see a MB-RN saga in the near future that will hurt the brand's name but will most probably helpt it to survive thus downmarketing MB and using MB-RN MSB platforms throughout the core models of both brands... RN will surely move upmarket

 

[K-A]

I say let Audi and BMW become the new Toyotas because I honestly couldn't care less who is the "sales king". Honestly, I don't know why the premium brands are sooo focused on this title. I'm especially disappointed in MB's grab for this title, since they have never been about mere sales numbers, because the brand's core values are virtually being thrown out the window in order to claim this title. It's such a shame such a prestigious brand would want to be in the same company of two Yuppie fueled brands.

Totally agreed. I said the same thing in the W222 thread actually....

Dr. Z's biggest failure will be that stupid thing he said about "reclaiming the #1 spot". Not only did he admit that Mercedes is "behind", and make M-B look weak and desperate, but he pulled the covers on that arrogance that they used to seem to have, of "we don't care how many cars we sell, we're Mercedes, our prestige level is above all others therefore mass sales aren't a necessity", which was exactly what people like to see from Premium Manufacturers (confidence, even it's just at face value). What he said was a big turn off, and chances are Mercedes might not meet that goal, so he opens himself up to be called a "failure", and Mercedes as well. They should have never said publicly that they care.... they should have simply saved that for the boardroom.

 

[Sunny]

I say let Audi and BMW become the new Toyotas because I honestly couldn't care less who is the "sales king". Honestly, I don't know why the premium brands are sooo focused on this title. I'm especially disappointed in MB's grab for this title, since they have never been about mere sales numbers, because the brand's core values are virtually being thrown out the window in order to claim this title. It's such a shame such a prestigious brand would want to be in the same company of two Yuppie fueled brands.

Well, you can sort of lay that on the feet of modern western corporate culture where the rewards are based on "numbers" you put out every 3 months and hardly much thought goes into long term sustainability. I mean imagine having a earnings call where you state, 'hey, our numbers suck this quarter and probably for the next 8 too and possibly for ever, but our brand will be a little more exclusive". Dr. Z will probably have to rely on his moustache for a living after that.

Not to mention with out sales and a big fat profit and the advantages of scale, you can't probably be competitive in the more exclusive markets either and you will probably be soon in a death spiral.

 

[MAJESTIC]

BadBadGirl, I have to agree with you on everything as you look too good not to
I'm driving my Yuppie Bimmer every single day

PS: I'm sure we'll see a MB-RN saga in the near future that will hurt the brand's name but will most probably helpt it to survive thus downmarketing MB and using MB-RN MSB platforms throughout the core models of both brands... RN will surely move upmarket

Hahaha, didn't mean to come off as condescending, my ex boyfriend/best friend drives a 2007 750Li and he is the ultimate Yuppie

 

[Giannis]

Dr. Z will probably have to rely on his moustache for a living after that.

Good one!

 

[mini_cooper4]

Hahaha, didn't mean to come off as condescending, my ex boyfriend/best friend drives a 2007 750Li and he is the ultimate Yuppie

Glad to hear you like us Yuppies

 

[Poverty]

My European friends already say it has. I mean everybody I spoke to still say M-B has ultimate cachet, but EVERYBODY I asked had that same hesitation, that sigh of "welll, yes they still do, but it isn't the same as before". This will only get worse as they flood more cheap cars and FWD cars in. American's might not be there YET, but remember, everything when it comes to Mercedes and the like is multiplied tenfold in the States, when it comes to "cachet-factor". Americans see M-B as an import, as somewhat of an "exotic mass manufacturer" still. If M-B's were Taxi's in the U.S, guaranteed they would never sell expensive cars again. If Americans get a whiff that M-B is moving downmarket, they'll have a harder time spending big bucks on M-B. That's what I think. And I know wealthy Europeans who already say that's the case for them.

Especially in America, "Mercedes" has almost as high a "snob value" as Rolls Royce. American's love that about it, they love the vanity of it. M-B have to be careful not to mess with that when it comes to moving their more expensive units.

The thing is at one point, perhaps 5 years ago Mercedes wasnt desirable to british youngsters at all! They were seen as boring old mens cars. Then the c63 AMG came up, the new design language, and now mercedes is a hit with younger generations. Benz' are seemingly more lusted after than BMW's now by younger users.

Alot of previously staunch VAG audi buyers have actually moved over to mercedes. Particularly the C63 AMG and and the e-class coupes. Now younger buyers are excited about the new shape A class and everyones waiting for the AMG version.

So now we are seeing people who are big on the VAG tuning scene, and people who carry influence via their exposure and projects, now buying into mercedes range.

The only way I can see this current trend declining is if Audi start to release some crazy engined, exciting fresh design cars, or if mercedes reduce quality or downgrade the brand image through lack of exclusiveness.

Id just like to say that Halo cars do indeed work. Young brits are easily influenced, if everyone who is deemed cool on the scene starts buying AMG's then others will follow and start looking at mercs when they previously hadnt, to see what the fuss is all about.

 

[MBFanToDeath]

Blood brothers: GM VAG TOYOTA Who's next?