Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Swissbob]

Mercedes has been successful at selling expensive cars. They sell 50,000 G-Class and 25,000 Maybachs a year. The XM was a joke. BMW isn't as bold as Mercedes in creating expensive cars. The M supercar has been awaited for years, but they haven't been able to deliver.

I fully agree.
As the owner of both I must admit, that both are really fun to drive although being incredibly different. G and Maybach GLS.

I am curious what BMW will do with Alpina. There are already rumors regarding V12 engines.

 

[MAJESTIC]

And not only that, MB as a brand has lost a lot of equity, can't see them selling well a product if it competes in price with Lambo and other super-SUV brands.

BMW has tried to move upmarket with the XM and has failed miserably. It would be wise for MB to take good note of that IMO.

BMW has always failed in the upmarket area, though, so this isn't anything new. Mercedes has a higher level of perceived prestige than BMW, so Mercedes has an easier time selling $200k+ cars.

 

[klier]

BMW has tried to move upmarket with the XM and has failed miserably.

Don't know about Spain, but over here an X5 M is like 100k more expensive than XM

 

[Esp5]

BMW isn't as bold as Mercedes in creating expensive cars. The M supercar has been awaited for years, but they haven't been able to deliver.

Mercedes doesn't mind launching projects that, given the type of company it is, sometimes lose money; that's why it's been laying off 20,000 employees since last year, while BMW hasn't.

Although, just to see a new M1, I wouldn't mind BMW losing some money investing in an icon.

Mercedes has a higher level of perceived prestige than BMW, so Mercedes has an easier time selling $200k+ cars.

That's simply not true anymore. They maintain the same well-earned prestige they've had for a long time. In fact, Mercedes has been losing it; they're no longer the best designed, the best built, the highest quality, the most capable, or the most luxurious.

$200,000? Mercedes abandoned the "luxury strategy" and doesn't even mention it anymore because they probably "sold too much."?

 

[Merc1]

Mercedes doesn't mind launching projects that, given the type of company it is, sometimes lose money; that's why it's been laying off 20,000 employees since last year, while BMW hasn't.

Although, just to see a new M1, I wouldn't mind BMW losing some money investing in an icon.

That's simply not true anymore. They maintain the same well-earned prestige they've had for a long time. In fact, Mercedes has been losing it; they're no longer the best designed, the best built, the highest quality, the most capable, or the most luxurious.

$200,000? Mercedes abandoned the "luxury strategy" and doesn't even mention it anymore because they probably "sold too much."?

Nonsense. When they can’t sell Gs and Maybachs at the prices they’re getting then they’ve lost it. That’s the true measure of market position and prestige. BMW can’t give away the XMs for similar prices. BMW maintaining their image doesn’t mean it equals Mercedes at the high end. It doesn’t. Two separate things. BMW has never done well at the top end vs Mercedes despite some beautiful cars like 850i and Z8 back in the day.

M

 

[Merc1]

Uh Lotus is irrelevant. No brand could be more irrelevant in the SUV market. Means nothing pertaining to Mercedes’ chances in the same space. Most people here can’t tell you where a Lotus dealer is or what they sell.

M

 

[Esp5]

BMW has never done well at the top end vs Mercedes despite some beautiful cars like 850i and Z8 back in the day.

That's true. Regarding the 850i, I think it was because IMO its competitor, the R129 SL, was better in every aspect and stole the entire market share. I never understood why the Z8 didn't sell more, nor did the M1 or the 507, despite that, years and good hard work build prestige, and I think BMW is in a much better position today to do crazy things, as the Skytop / Speedtop demonstrated.

BMW can’t give away the XMs for similar prices.

I don't know if it's the wrong product, because the top versions of the 7 series sell without problems at similar prices.

 

[Uygar]

BMW never had the prestige of a Mercedes. It was always seen more as an enthusiast brand. Though recent Mercedes models are far from being the best in terms of quality and design, but still. People are willing to pay much higher prices just because it’s a “Benz”

 

[Esp5]

BMW never had the prestige of a Mercedes. It was always seen more as an enthusiast brand. Though recent Mercedes models are far from being the best in terms of quality and design, but still. People are willing to pay much higher prices just because it’s a “Benz”

That was the case a few decades ago, but it hasn't been for a long time.

 

[Dopebouy]

No offense but i don’t see so many i7 M70, Alpina XB7 & BMW XM units selling as much as the S63e & GLS63/GLS600, so BMW really isn’t doing well at the upper market.

 

[Esp5]

No offense but i don’t see so many i7 M70, Alpina XB7 & BMW XM units selling as much as the S63e & GLS63/GLS600, so BMW really isn’t doing well at the upper market.

Do you have the figures for those models? Where did you see them?
The only model that makes a difference right now is the stellar G-Class

 

[Uygar]

No offense but i don’t see so many i7 M70, Alpina XB7 & BMW XM units selling as much as the S63e & GLS63/GLS600, so BMW really isn’t doing well at the upper market.

Depends on the market.

 

[Dopebouy]

Do you have the figures for those models? Where did you see them?

What’s the ratio of Alpina XB7s & BMW XMs that you have seen in the real world compared to the GLS63/GLS600? that alone should tell you.

The only model that makes a difference right now is the stellar G-Class

Ah yes & the G-class also to that list. Mercedes is on top my good sir, you need to cope soon enough

 

[Dopebouy]

Depends on the market.

Let’s not lie nobody has seen more XB7s & XMs than GLS600s worldwide. Mercedes just simply sells more in that type of financial bracket

 

[leylandi]

I think BMW is in a much better position today to do crazy things, as the Skytop / Speedtop demonstrated.

The redesigned 8 Series is absolutely crazy, yes.

 

[Uygar]

Let’s not lie nobody has seen more XB7s & XMs than GLS600s worldwide. Mercedes just simply sells more in that type of financial bracket

Well none of those models are sold in Turkiye so I don’t see any of them, lol. Unless you have the official figures it’s basically a nonsense.

 

[Esp5]

Let’s not lie nobody has seen more XB7s & XMs than GLS600s worldwide. Mercedes just simply sells more in that type of financial bracket

What’s the ratio of Alpina XB7s & BMW XMs that you have seen in the real world compared to the GLS63/GLS600? that alone should tell you.

That's what I'm asking you, because the X7 outsold the GLS in 2025, so I don't understand what you're talking about.
You mention the GLS 63 AMG when BMW M sold 60,000 more cars than AMG, the X7 M surely sold more. The GLS 600 is a Maybach and sold just over 6,000 units in 2024 while the XM sold 7,813 units

Ah yes & the G-class also to that list. Mercedes is on top my good sir, you need to cope soon enough

As I said, the only difference in the top end (as Mercedes calls it) is marked by the G-Class; if it weren't for that, they'd be tied in that league.

 

[leylandi]

That's what I'm asking you, because the X7 outsold the GLS in 2025, so I don't understand what you're talking about.
You mention the GLS 63 AMG when BMW M sold 60,000 more cars than AMG, the X7 M surely sold more. The GLS 600 is a Maybach and sold just over 6,000 units in 2024 while the XM sold 7,813 units

As I said, the only difference in the top end (as Mercedes calls it) is marked by the G-Class; if it weren't for that, they'd be tied in that league.

The S-Class sells twice as much as the 7 Series. Mercedes is the undisputed leader in the upper segment. There's no room for debate.

 

[Esp5]

The redesigned 8 Series is absolutely crazy, yes.

$500,000 per crazy piece, remind me which Mercedes they're selling for that price these days....

 

[Dopebouy]

That's what I'm asking you, because the X7 outsold the GLS in 2025, so I don't understand what you're talking about.
You mention the GLS 63 AMG when BMW M sold 60,000 more cars than AMG, the X7 M surely sold more. The GLS 600 is a Maybach and sold just over 6,000 units in 2024 while the XM sold 7,813 units

Source?