Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Deleted member 57437]

Even though I like the little A-Class (Niece recently purchased an A220 Sport), It's time for Mercedes to get back to the top end of the market. I know they will never be able to recapture the Mercedes-Benz essence/mystique of the 80s and 90s, (cheapest model was nearly $60,000 adjusted for inflation) but all these lower tier FWD models are bad for business and image. The goal should NOT be a Mercedes in every driveway; leave that to BMW and Audi.

I'm a fan of the A-Class (and especially the slow-selling 4 door sedan) myself. But...yes...it's the sort of automobile that may have contributed to a certain erosion of M-Bs' "brand mystique". Being old enough to clearly recall the brands' pristine reputation (although, in reality, M-B did not always produce the "best -in- all attributes- in class" automobiles even way back then), nothing came close to M-B when it came to the degree of desirability in upper executive/luxury segment sedans. And nothing smaller than the W115 was offered. That car sold like sliced bread from the get-go, despite some serious rust issues-as did its' larger W108/109 sibling (which actually wasn't the most technically advanced luxury sedan of its' day-arguably being upstaged by the BMW E3, FIAT 130 and Jaguar XJ in that particular aspect).

German automotive industry analysts are applauding Ola Källenius' game plan of moving the brand upmarket. It could work. Of course, provided that a return to immediately palpable material and assembly quality is ensured and that future vehicles are visually more palatable.

And incidentally, Audi is also embarking on an "upmarket move" strategy.

 

[LaArtist]

Some rumors flying around about Tesla buying a share in Daimler..

Interesting.

 

[fortuner]

Some rumors flying around about Tesla buying a share in Daimler..

Interesting.

I think it’s a old story being rehashed

 

[MAJESTIC]

I'm a fan of the A-Class (and especially the slow-selling 4 door sedan) myself. But...yes...it's the sort of automobile that may have contributed to a certain erosion of M-Bs' "brand mystique". Being old enough to clearly recall the brands' pristine reputation (although, in reality, M-B did not always produce the "best -in- all attributes- in class" automobiles even way back then), nothing came close to M-B when it came to the degree of desirability in upper executive/luxury segment sedans. And nothing smaller than the W115 was offered. That car sold like sliced bread from the get-go, despite some serious rust issues-as did its' larger W108/109 sibling (which actually wasn't the most technically advanced luxury sedan of its' day-arguably being upstaged by the BMW E3, FIAT 130 and Jaguar XJ in that particular aspect).

German automotive industry analysts are applauding Ola Källenius' game plan of moving the brand upmarket. It could work. Of course, provided that a return to immediately palpable material and assembly quality is ensured and that future vehicles are visually more palatable.

And incidentally, Audi is also embarking on an "upmarket move" strategy.

It's a win-win honestly, especially regarding profitability and prestige. I must say, I really love reading your posts. They are always so full of knowledge and history and if you wrote a book about classic Mercedes-Benz, I would totally read it.

 

[Deleted member 57437]

It's a win-win honestly, especially regarding profitability and prestige. I must say, I really love reading your posts. They are always so full of knowledge and history and if you wrote a book about classic Mercedes-Benz, I would totally read it.

That's very kind of you,@BigBenzGirl . I will remain an eternal student. The established German brands are so rich in history, that it is arguably a display of hubris to attempt to claim "authority". But embarking upon the quest for ever-increasing knowledge is so enjoyable. I'm learning new things every day on these forums.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

From an article written by Georg Kacher published in Automobilwoche february 14th

– all combustion engines out by 2032, both diesel and petrol. Without discussion
– 2028 next S-Class Electric Only
- Compact class from 2024 on MMA platform (also suitable for combustion engines)
- Prices still high for the compacts, double-digit returns, which is why they are being repositioned: B-Class gone from 2024, as well as four-door A Class sedan and CLA Shooting. There remain: Compact-A, CLA, GLA, GLB, The SUS "Sport Utility Sedan" is finished, but no longer comes (because almost as spacious as the SUS iteration of the next E-Class, which promises more margins) .

China gets long version CLA instead of A Class long sedan. GLB also gets a long wheelbase. It is possible that the Shooting Brake will get a second chance there - then with a more retracted long tail and silhouette of the EQXX study (at least similar).

The GLG should come if necessary.

At the same time, the article speaks of the MMA matrix for transversely installed 4-cylinders and electric motors front and rear as well as a battery pack with a volume of 250 liters in the underbody. 800 volts, batteries up to 920 Wh from CATL.

All MMA models will be significantly flatter with a central star in the future.

PS While BMW continues to propagate openness to technology, Mercedes wants to phase out the combustion engine by 2032. Guess which brand is getting my sympathy more and more...

 

[Serpens]

Not too much new news there, but good insight nonetheless. I was still thinking the smaller SUS was coming.

This does confirm what I said earlier about the EQ models having a full lifecycle.

 

[fortuner]

From an article written by Georg Kacher published in Automobilwoche february 14th

– all combustion engines out by 2032, both diesel and petrol. Without discussion
– 2028 next S-Class Electric Only
- Compact class from 2024 on MMA platform (also suitable for combustion engines)
- Prices still high for the compacts, double-digit returns, which is why they are being repositioned: B-Class gone from 2024, as well as four-door A Class sedan and CLA Shooting. There remain: Compact-A, CLA, GLA, GLB, The SUS "Sport Utility Sedan" is finished, but no longer comes (because almost as spacious as the SUS iteration of the next E-Class, which promises more margins) .

China gets long version CLA instead of A Class long sedan. GLB also gets a long wheelbase. It is possible that the Shooting Brake will get a second chance there - then with a more retracted long tail and silhouette of the EQXX study (at least similar).

The GLG should come if necessary.

At the same time, the article speaks of the MMA matrix for transversely installed 4-cylinders and electric motors front and rear as well as a battery pack with a volume of 250 liters in the underbody. 800 volts, batteries up to 920 Wh from CATL.

All MMA models will be significantly flatter with a central star in the future.

PS While BMW continues to propagate openness to technology, Mercedes wants to phase out the combustion engine by 2032. Guess which brand is getting my sympathy more and more...

Whats the GLG ??

 

[fortuner]

Not too much new news there, but good insight nonetheless. I was still thinking the smaller SUS was coming.

This does confirm what I said earlier about the EQ models having a full lifecycle.

Sounds like there will be a letger version of the SUS ??

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Whats the GLG ??

All I know is, that according to an older article in Autobild.de Mercedes plans to expand its line of off-road vehicles. One of the novelties will be the medium-sized SUV Mercedes GLG. Built on the GLE platform, it will have a more brutal design, as well as a third row of seats.

Also see:

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[fortuner]

All I know is, that according to an older article in Autobild.de Mercedes plans to expand its line of off-road vehicles. One of the novelties will be the medium-sized SUV Mercedes GLG. Built on the GLE platform, it will have a more brutal design, as well as a third row of seats.

oh yes I remember that one yes like a modern smaller G class

 

[leylandi]

Mercedes News direct from Ola

Mercedes boss announces interesting details about MMA, AMG.EA and the Mercedes G-class handbag

Mercedes compact car family (MFA2) becomes Mercedes-Benz entry models (MMA)
In 2024, the Mercedes compact car family will be successively replaced by the MMA Platzform. While models such as the A-Class sedan, the B-Class and the CLA Shooting Brake should not be given a successor, Ola Källenius reports that at MMA one can no longer speak of a compact car family - rather of Mercedes entry models. It requires that all models have a length of 4.50m + x cm. This means that the new A-Class will be around 10 cm longer. In addition, new body shapes such as an SUV sedan (SUL) are also available. According to the rumours, they are limited to 48 volt mild hybrid models and purely electric variants. There will probably no longer be a 250e plug-in hybrid successor

Ola about the E-class sedan in Germany:

He confirms the order freeze for the E-Class sedan (W213) for Germany . This is due to the built-to-order market. So production to order. The other markets – where customers buy the vehicle from the showroom – will continue to be supplied. There is also no stop in China, because the E-Class is produced locally in Beijing and the changeover to the new W214 series takes place there some significantly later than in Sindelfingen. This is also the reason why you can still order the E-Class Estate in Germany. It is also only later replaced by the S214. The start of production of the W214 in Sindelfingen is scheduled for the end of 2022 .

The sale of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix brings money to the coffers
Mercedes has not only sold the smart plant in Hambach to the chemical group ineos, but also around 33% of the MB Grand Prix Formula 1 team. This brought the group cash proceeds from the sale of EUR 700 million. This sale price also resulted in a revaluation of the remaining Mercedes shares of EUR +200 million (only EBIT effect, no liquidity).

AMG.EA is coming in the second half of 2025
The first electric models based on AMG's own electric architecture called AMG.EA with the innovative and extremely powerful axial flux motor should be available from the second half of 2025 and further models will follow in the years to come.

2. EQE SUV (X294) production location confirmed
The Mercedes-Benz plant in the USA in Tuscaloosa (specifically in the suburb of Vance) currently produces the GLE, GLE Coupé and GLS. The new C-Class W206 will no longer be launched in the USA. The EQS SUV (X296) and the Maybach version of the EQS SUV are produced there for this purpose. The EQE SUV (X294) will also start there in 2023. Now explained that in Beijing not only - as already known - the EQE sedan (V295) but also the EQE SUV (X294) comes off the assembly line there.

 

[Merc1]

Good reading/info. All I ask is that these products, look and feel like a true Mercedes-Benz. Tech will continue to move about as fast as we breathe, so that will sort itself out, but the design, look, feel of quality needs to be focused on, especially if you're building less units and pricing them accordingly. There can't be any more expensive, but cheaply made Mercedes-Benz vehicles. It will (further) destroy the brand over time.

M

 

[Deleted member 57642]

"In addition, new body shapes such as an SUV sedan (SUL) are also available."

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Mercedes News direct from Ola

No W206 for the US? That's pretty big news.

 

[Merc1]

No W206 for the US? That's pretty big news.

No, they're saying it won't be built in the U.S. factory like the W205 was. The W206 will still be sold in the U.S.

M

 

[fortuner]

No W206 for the US? That's pretty big news.

Do you think that statement was a ytoe error maybe they meant the w206 will not ve produced anymore in the USA. You never know thought somw strange decisions have been happening recently at Mercedes but i find it strange no w206 in USA.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

No, they're saying it won't be built in the U.S. factory like the W205 was. The W206 will still be sold in the U.S.

M

OK that makes more sense. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Some rumors flying around about Tesla buying a share in Daimler..

Interesting.

I wish it happened.

If MB had Tesla EV Battery and Drivetrain tech, they could concentrate their resources on the things that define Mercedes. Quality, luxury, design and technology.

 

[leylandi]

February sales +%4