CLS-Class (C218) Slow wagon sales to keep Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake from U.S. market

[Human]

Friday, Jul 13th, 2012



Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that its 2013 CLS Shooting Brake will not be sold in United States due to American buyers’ aversion to station wagon models.

With crossovers and SUVs as popular as ever in the U.S., Mercedes-Benz has decided to reserve the CLS Shooting Brake for the European market. A company spokesman revealed to Automotive News Europe that the decision was made due to “the continued aversion to wagons by U.S. car buyers.”

Essentially a wagon versions of the CLS four-door coupe, the CLS Shooting Brake brings a rare sense of style to the wagon segment. Although we think the CLS Shooting Brake would look great on American roads, Mercedes is probably correct in its assumption that few U.S. buyers would actually sign the dotted line for a high-dollar station wagon.

When the CLS Shooting Brake hits the European market in October, buyers will have a wide variety of configurations to choose from. The base model CLS Shooting Brake will come with a fuel-sipping diesel engine while the range-topping CLS AMG Shooting Brake will be equipped with a fire-breathing V8 engine.
Although the CLS Shooting Brake won’t be coming to these shores, Mercedes will continue to offer U.S. buyers a wagon version of its similarly-sized E-Class.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/slow-wa...cedes-cls-shooting-brake-from-u-s-market.html

 

[Wolfgang]

Checked inventory at one of the larger dealers in California.

MB New Vehicles by body style
26 Convertibles
56 Coupes
135 SUVs
207 Sedans
5 Station Wagons

 

[Giannis]

Ι don't think that the US market in general has an interest in wagons. It's almost totally different to the european market, where there's a huge interest for small hatchbacks (practically non-existing in the US) and also a steady interest in wagons.

 

[ZicZachZo]

I had hoped that things had started to change. But MBUSA seems more risk averse than the other German brands. BMW and Audi have committed to selling their wagons here. They are probably worried that the Shooting Break would cannibalize the E-Class Wagon sales.

 

[Human]

I had hoped that things had started to change. But MBUSA seems more risk averse than the other German brands. BMW and Audi have committed to selling their wagons here. They are probably worried that the Shooting Break would cannibalize the E-Class Wagon sales.

I suppose it's just that, BMW's 5GT had a lukewarm reception in the US and made Daimler decide rather not to bring their competitive offering State side.

 

[Sunny]

I had hoped that things had started to change. But MBUSA seems more risk averse than the other German brands. BMW and Audi have committed to selling their wagons here. They are probably worried that the Shooting Break would cannibalize the E-Class Wagon sales.

Well, Mercedes is the only one with a performance wagon in States - E63 wagon, neither BMW nor Audi ever sold one here.

 

[K-A]

That's a smart move. It just wouldn't work here, and the more lacking functionality of it would make it even more pointless for anyone to buy here.... as there would be slim to no American's who would buy a Wagon for "style", not to mention, the E Wagon looks superb I think and with an AMG variant, is probably enough of a jack-of-all-trades to fulfill whatever meager Wagon demand there is out here. I'd assume the funky looks of the CLS Wagon would even have some finding it too awkward, considering we have a Wagon prejudice here. Not as bad as 5 GT proportions of public-ridiculed awkwardness, but maybe a bit. Also, I think in the U.S, it's smart to keep the CLS as a premium-only style offering, i.e no utilitarian versions, no 6 cylinders, etc.

 

[ZicZachZo]

Hmm, I dunno. I think both BMW and Mercedes learned the hard way that buyers (at least in America) aren't into trading in their estates for an suv/wagon cross (i.e. R-Class and 5erGT). The shooting break though, in my eye, is a response to the A7 in that it provides high style with a good dose of practicality. The fact that you can have both is what makes this car and the A7, unique. Maybe there isn't enough ad space in the world to convince Americans that the two can be combined...

In general, from what I can tell at least here in San Francisco, wagons and hatchbacks are very popular.

 

[Wolfgang]

5 Station Wagons

The above were model year 2012. Here come the 13s.


First 2013 Mercedes-Benz Models Released For Sale!
Several 2013 Mercedes-Benz models were released for sale this week!

• C250 coupe
• C350 coupe
• C350 4matic coupe
• C63 AMG coupe
• E350 4matic wagon
• E63 wagon
• E350 coupe
• E350 4matic coupe
• E550 coupe
• E350 cabriolet
• E550 cabriolet
• S550
• S550 4matic
• SL63 AMG
• SLK250 auto only
• SLK350

http://www.benzblogger.com/2012/07/first-2013-mercedes-benz-models-released-for-sale.html