AutoBeta(AutoBeta.net)02/04 Report--

Mercedes-Benz is carrying out a drastic model reform in order to reduce costs and focus on the profitability of high-end models and core models, US auto media "Car & Driver" reported. Reported that Mercedes-Benz in the United States and Europe sold 33 models, only 14 models may be retained, the rest of the models may be eliminated, including the Coupe series, station wagons.

Mercedes-Benz executives revealed in an interview with the media that the future of station wagons, sedans and convertibles in its product line is uncertain, and Mercedes-Benz does not need station wagons or two-door cars to increase sales. Space is an important element of contemporary luxury cars, personalized body style and European-only models do not make any sense. As a result, Mercedes-Benz is expected to release the Maybach V-Class and a new SUV, possibly called the GLG, in 2026.

Readjusting the product line is also a profit trend. In May 2022, Mercedes-Benz released its latest long-term strategic plan, which included significantly restructuring and reshaping its product portfolio to further the high end of the market and achieve higher profits, but at the time, it did not explain how to do it, or how to achieve the goal.

It is reported that only 14 of the 33 Mercedes-Benz models sold in the United States and Europe will be retained. Among them, Mercedes-Benz will launch a new CLE model to replace the C-class and E-class two-door Coupe and Cabrioet convertibles to make up for consumer demand for the two models. At the same time, the GLC and GLE coupe will also launch a new generation of models, but this seems to be the last generation, and then these two models will also be cancelled. In addition, the E-class station wagon will stop production in 2023; the C-class station wagon will stop production in 2028; CLS will stop production in 2024; the new CLA will be launched in 2025 with the Shooting Brake version, but this will also be the last generation; AMG GT will not launch the next generation.

Over the past few years, carmakers have been slowly killing models with a unique body design style. In 2022, Ford officially announced that its Fiesta model will be officially discontinued in overseas markets in June 2023, and the product line will be replaced by PUMA EV. In addition, Ford's two S-MAX/Galaxy MPV models will be discontinued in the spring of 2023 and will no longer have a successor. Earlier, Ford stopped production of focus and Fusion (domestic Mondeo) in several markets to transform production of SUV, crossover cars and trucks.

For carmakers, unique model designs are always too niche to drive overall sales growth, and there is no point in investing time and resources, even if they are recognized or sought after by the market. At present, Mercedes-Benz has not yet responded to the relevant reports, and whether the Mercedes-Benz product portfolio will spread to the Chinese market remains to be seen.

In 2022, Mercedes-Benz passenger cars (Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars) delivered 2.0439 million vehicles to customers worldwide, down 1 per cent from a year earlier. In Europe, retail sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars rose 1 per cent year-on-year to 635100, with delivery in Germany up 8 per cent to 229500. In the North American market, full-year delivery of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars rose 3 per cent year-on-year to 327000. In Asia, Mercedes-Benz passenger car sales were almost flat, up 1 per cent from a year earlier to 987800, with China still the world's largest single market, but affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and a shortage of spare parts. full-year sales fell 1 per cent year-on-year to 751700.

Welcome to subscribe to the WeChat public account "Automotive Industry Focus" to get the first-hand insider information on the automotive industry and talk about things in the automotive circle. Welcome to break the news! WeChat ID autoWechat