Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[Esp5]

The 7 doesn’t sell for G or Maybach prices tho. Skytop is a one off not a series production model. Not remotely the same thing.

M

The top versions of the 7 series sell for $170.000 in the US similar to those of the G-Class, the advantage of the Maybach in reaching those higher prices is being a trim level "above Mercedes," which BMW will try to compete with through Alpina, will be difficult but not impossible.

 

[klier]

Can we just focus on MB's upcoming projects? This is so tiresome...

 

[Esp5]

Why did Mythos fail? We can debate its design, but if people are lining up to buy it, that's a success.
Furthermore, the SLS and SLR were mass-produced cars. Even they couldn't be as exclusive as the Mythos. Therefore, the price would be very high.

The SLR and SLS are the crown jewels and a complete success. The Mithos came out over a year ago and it was never announced that it would sell out, nor was it ever mentioned again. In a limited edition like that, it's a failure.

 

[Merc1]

The top versions of the 7 series sell for $170.000 in the US similar to those of the G-Class, the advantage of the Maybach in reaching those higher prices is being a trim level "above Mercedes," which BMW will try to compete with through Alpina, will be difficult but not impossible.

Are you not understanding that Maybachs sell for more than that? The top versions of the 7 series are rare as hens teeth. Not sure why you’re arguing this. You can’t spin it. I didn’t ask what the will be doing. It’s irrelevant to the point made.

M

 

[leylandi]

The top versions of the 7 series sell for $170.000 in the US similar to those of the G-Class, the advantage of the Maybach in reaching those higher prices is being a trim level "above Mercedes," which BMW will try to compete with through Alpina, will be difficult but not impossible.

No idiot in the US would pay $170,000 for an i7 M70, my friend. You need to wake up from this dream.

 

[McLaren64TR]

So if Mercedes sells so many luxury cars, why has its profitability plummeted? Despite luxury vehicles having a much higher profit margin, Mercedes has been making significantly less profit than BMW for the past few years. And if BMW sells fewer luxury cars, why is it making more profit? Isn't there something strange about this?

 

[Esp5]

Are you not understanding that Maybachs sell for more than that? The top versions of the 7 series are rare as hens teeth. Not sure why you’re arguing this. You can’t spin it. I didn’t ask what the will be doing. It’s irrelevant to the point made.

M

Maybach is a more expensive and exclusive type of vehicle for which BMW has no competitor; it has a higher price than the normal BMW range for that reason, I'm not arguing that.

 

[Merc1]

Maybach is a more expensive and exclusive type of vehicle for which BMW has no competitor; it has a higher price than the normal BMW range for that reason, I'm not arguing that.

No shit and water is wet. That wasn't the point. The point was that Mercedes can still command a higher price than BMW at the top end. Period.

M

 

[leylandi]

The SLR and SLS are the crown jewels and a complete success. The Mithos came out over a year ago and it was never announced that it would sell out, nor was it ever mentioned again. In a limited edition like that, it's a failure.

PureSpeed is priced at $1 million and only 250 units will be produced. That has to be crazy for you....

 

[Esp5]

PureSpeed is priced at $1 million and only 250 units will be produced. That has to be crazy for you....

Only 250 units and they couldn't sell them all? That's crazy.

 

[Merc1]

So if Mercedes sells so many luxury cars, why has its profitability plummeted? Despite luxury vehicles having a much higher profit margin, Mercedes has been making significantly less profit than BMW for the past few years. And if BMW sells fewer luxury cars, why is it making more profit? Isn't there something strange about this?

Do you all just like switch off all critical thinking when making these type of posts? I mean seriously. Pay real good attention here. The discussion was about who is more successful, i.e. able to command a higher price at the top end, not who sold the most luxury vehicles. BMW sells more luxury vehicles overall we know this by their blazing sales numbers profitability. That Mercedes moves more cars or gets higher prices at the top end doesn't mean they're automatically going to be more profitable. Profitability comes from a myriad of things not just who sells the most expensive cars. Clearly BMW is a more efficiently run business than Mercedes is right now, but again that was not the point being made or argued here. Prestige in the market, and how to measure it, is how this discussion got started. Two things can be true at once.

M

 

[leylandi]

Only 250 units and they couldn't sell them all? That's crazy.

How do you know they couldn't sell them? You're still trying to create drama. You just found out there's a Mercedes even crazier than Skytop.

 

[McLaren64TR]

Here is a small consolation prize for the Mercedes fanboys, considering they sold 370k fewer units than BMW. Mercedes saw a 10% drop in sales compared to 2024. Their Head of Design was fired, and surely the shareholders aren't saying, 'Everything is great, we're selling more luxury vehicles,' right? The debates here are comical because the Mercedes board of directors and shareholders already acknowledge that the company is failing.

 

[Esp5]

No shit and water is wet. That wasn't the point. The point was that Mercedes can still command a higher price than BMW at the top end. Period.

M

I disagree with that point, since it has no direct competitor to either the G-Class or the Maybach. We'll see when the already announced competitors are launched, and I'll be the first to admit I was wrong if that were the case.

I agree that XM didn't work, and that may be the constant and the added risk.

 

[Merc1]

Here is a small consolation prize for the Mercedes fanboys, considering they sold 370k fewer units than BMW. Mercedes saw a 10% drop in sales compared to 2024. Their Head of Design was fired, and surely the shareholders aren't saying, 'Everything is great, we're selling more luxury vehicles,' right? The debates here are comical because the Mercedes board of directors and shareholders already acknowledge that the company is failing.

No need. Piss poor pivot tho.

M

 

[Esp5]

How do you know they couldn't sell them? You're still trying to create drama. You just found out there's a Mercedes even crazier than Skytop.

They always, always announce when these limited series sell out, and this one hasn't; they haven't reported anything about it since.

 

[leylandi]

Do you all just like switch off all critical thinking when making these type of posts? I mean seriously. Pay real good attention here. The discussion was about who is more successful, i.e. able to command a higher price at the top end, not who sold the most luxury vehicles. BMW sells more luxury vehicles overall we know this by their blazing sales numbers profitability. That Mercedes moves more cars or gets higher prices at the top end doesn't mean they're automatically going to be more profitable. Profitability comes from a myriad of things not just who sells the most expensive cars. Clearly BMW is a more efficiently run business than Mercedes is right now, but again that was not the point being made or argued here. Prestige in the market, and how to measure it, is how this discussion got started. Two things can be true at once.

M

Mercedes was making more money last year despite having fewer sales. This was because they were selling more cars with higher profit margins. I think they will be close in terms of profitability in 2025, despite the large unit sales difference of 370,000 units.

 

[Merc1]

I disagree with that point, since it has no direct competitor to either the G-Class or the Maybach. We'll see when the already announced competitors are launched, and I'll be the first to admit I was wrong if that were the case.

I agree that XM didn't work, and that may be the constant and the added risk.

That is not Mercedes' fault nor do they need to have a direct competitor to reach those prices. Point is when BMW does reach higher with that they have, it doesn't work like the XM. That point has already been made, you don't have to agree. It's been decided by the market. Not sure what you're still talking about.

M

 

[McLaren64TR]

Do you all just like switch off all critical thinking when making these type of posts? I mean seriously. Pay real good attention here. The discussion was about who is more successful, i.e. able to command a higher price at the top end, not who sold the most luxury vehicles. BMW sells more luxury vehicles overall we know this by their blazing sales numbers profitability. That Mercedes moves more cars or gets higher prices at the top end doesn't mean they're automatically going to be more profitable. Profitability comes from a myriad of things not just who sells the most expensive cars. Clearly BMW is a more efficiently run business than Mercedes is right now, but again that was not the point being made or argued here. Prestige in the market, and how to measure it, is how this discussion got started. Two things can be true at once.

M

While profitability is always higher in the luxury segment due to extensive customization options that drive up margins, selling more high-end vehicles hasn't had a positive impact on Mercedes' bottom line. Mercedes has been poorly managed for years and is steadily losing sales; their profitability has plummeted compared to just two or three years ago. It is no longer the status symbol it once was. Even in the eyes of its own potential customers, Mercedes is no longer seen as that great of a manufacturer.

 

[Esp5]

Mercedes was making more money last year despite having fewer sales. This was because they were selling more cars with higher profit margins. I think they will be close in terms of profitability in 2025, despite the large unit sales difference of 370,000 units.

When they announced that profitability through Q3 2025 had fallen by a massive 50.3% compared to 2024, you can look it up