Forbes Magazine Lists The 10 Top Reasons Why German Cars Rule The Roadways

Agent009 submitted on 6/27/2012 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 3:24:55 PM

35 user comments | Views : 7,974 | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: money.cnn.com

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Anyone seeking to understand why Germany remains the economic powerhouse of Europe need only to look at the performance of its auto industry.

Its flagship brands -- Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Porsche -- are all enjoying record years and forecasting even better results for 2013.Logically, they shouldn't be doing well at all. At a time when most of the world's consumers have a case of the shorts, Germany is selling premium cars at premium prices.

Forbes Top 10 Reasons Why The German Rule the Road

1. Historical roots that go deep
2. Winning by racing
3. No speed limits
4. Steroid-level brand strength
5. The triumph of technology
6. The right markets
7. Arrogance with a purpose
8. The price is very nearly the object
9. Exclusive and super-exclusive
10. Everybody else is in second place




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Forbes Magazine Lists The 10 Top Reasons Why German Cars Rule The Roadways

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Agent009

Honor thy error as a hidden intention.

— Agent009 (View Profile)


User Comments

Willis

"Mercedes will resort to selling sub-$30k cars"

Lexus CT200h

— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 8:50:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

MeanVulcan

I would claim Audi has stolen most of the 15% market share loss of the big three japanese brands (Lexus, Acura and Infiniti) over the past 6 years. Audi's growth rate is extremely better than the japanese, who seem to keep tripping over themselves.

Audi is neck and neck with MB for second most in luxury sales globally, with BMW a very close first. Hardly something to put down.... unless of course, you are IGNORANT.

— MeanVulcan (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 9:20:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Willis

@ BlackDynamiteMB

You know damn well what my point was. Small luxury cars are in demand, especially outside of North America where space is at a premium and parking spaces are hard to find and small. Small cars that are spacious inside and practical are the in-thing.

— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 6:53:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

enthusiastx11

blah blah blah. all the germans sell for much higher NET PRICES. show me one japanese car with an AN AVERAGE NET SALES PRICE above its direct german competitor.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/30/2012 10:11:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Mercedes

Yet Porsche makes more profit per car than anyone.

Mercedes and BMW aren't throwing cash on the hood of everything all around the world.

Audi is only suffering from "mediocity" in the U.S. Elsewhere they are the real deal.

Lexus is a joke outside of the U.S. Acura is nothing anywhere and an even bigger joke. Infiniti is cool, but again nothing outside the U.S.

Fact is on a global scale the Germans own the luxury car market. Period. Cadillac is crippled and the Japanese are made up nameplates that either don't sell or don't even exists elsewhere. After the Germans is the British, Rolls and Bentley. Then own the upper, upper segment as Mercedes(Maybach) found out.

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 6:05:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Mercedes

Where is that on the moon?

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 6:48:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

USNA1999

BlackDynamiteMB, FORBES does not cater to your type. It's a GLOBAL market, something you don't seem to understand. Actually, you will never understand. Continue trolling car sites with your ignorance. Get your facts straight.

— USNA1999 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 7:23:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS

USNA1999
Please don't confuse him with logic, it tends to cause the moron severe migraines.

— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 8:33:40 PM | | Votes: -4   

thetruth01

Forbes is not who I turn to for any understanding of the automotive market.

— thetruth01 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 8:01:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

MeanVulcan

Clearly Forbes is referred to here as a source for a study of BRANDING not AUTOMOTIVE issues. Learn to comprehend.

— MeanVulcan (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 9:16:49 PM | | Votes: -2   

thetruth01

O, I didn't know this site was called AutoBRANDINGSpies.com.
Apparently you're an expert on Forbes magazine. But apparently you didn't read the story, for two reasons.
1. The topics are on many aspects of the cars, very little on branding.
2. It's not written by Forbes, but by Fortune. Are you an expert on them too?

— thetruth01 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 12:15:50 PM | | Votes: 2   

Willis

I think all these points make a lot of sense except for number ten. Although the "second place" terminology might be insulting to other brands, the reality is that the German brands are always at the forefront of innovation and creating new niches. They constantly release new models from sedans, to convertibles, to SUVs etc. with a variety of engine, trim etc. choices and that creates buzz and interest. The Japanese premium brands are always slow to react in that sense. Just look at Infiniti for example and their IPL lineup. For god's sake it's one car that's incredible overpriced, looks like a fish and has like what, 15-hp more than a standard G37S? Lexus to falls into this category with a lack of a Z4/SLK fighter or a 4-door coupe or a proper SL/6er or CL rival. Acura is hopeless.

The German brands are very powerful from a brand point of view. A brand is strengthened by reputation created out of history and heritage. Anyone whose ever been to Germany and checked out the BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, VW etc. museums will know why these brands have such a strong global appeal.

— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 8:57:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Mercedes

Bingo!

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 4:17:49 PM | | Votes: 0   

Mason3Robert

What a pompous post....

Which BRAND/Company has the most money?
Which is more liquid?
Which company has made the most profit?

Thats really all that matters seeing as how we are all, for the most part, living in failing economies....

The real question is why these BRANDS arent even more popular.....when the Japanese endured a MAJOR EARTHQUAKE.....

— Mason3Robert (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 11:45:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Mercedes

Because their designs suck and they don't compete at every level the Germans do. Easy answer.

Buyers don't care about what company has more liquidity nor which one has the most money.

Long as the companies are not in trouble, no one cares about those things.

Suzuki, Saab, Mitsubishi yeah those things matter if you're dying or dead, but the Germans are all raking the dough. Not at the Toyota level because they don't sell as many POS cars like the Corolla which is mindlessly bought by the simpletons of the world. The car is completely outclassed by nearly every other car in the segment, yet it is still the best seller. That will change in time for sure, but for now that is your Toyota's image power at work because the product is surely crapola.

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 4:21:31 PM | | Votes: -1   

Mason3Robert

Like I said....

The only competition that matters is sales and profit races and by the looks of an article you, Mercedes, just posted on, Toyota is clearly on the road to just THAT.....

Im sorry, but $200,000,000,000+ says a lot....(BILLION)

EAT IT!!!!!

— Mason3Robert (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 9:55:04 PM | | Votes: 1   

lexworld

thetruth01, You hit the nail right on it's head. The nail in this case is Agent009. Something is very strange about this article. Reminds me of a big FAT COVER-UP! If Forbes is that ignorant, then the rich is no smarter than the stupid. The Lexus LFA Exotic (Toyota Motor Corp) was actually hand built and assembled by Lexuses top Engineers in house using parts made exclusively for the LFA and not one part is shared with any other Toyota or Lexus vehicle. The entire chassis was exclusively done on the worlds only patent advanced technology automotive carbon fiber weave machine. Now that's just for starters! And I think if Forbes had any idea these Japanese were this advanced, they would not insult themselves and openly look and sound stupid. Then again what the hell do they know about Exclusive Automotive Advanced Technology anyways.

— lexworld (View Profile)

Posted on 6/27/2012 11:51:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Willis

We are talking about brands here. The LF-A is only one car from a new brand that has ZERO history or heritage or motorsport record. Look at the history and heritage of Lexus' rivals or their motorsport record and then come back to me. Nobody gives a crap about the LF-A when the entire brand is so dull and pretentious.

— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 6:52:00 AM | | Votes: -3   

Mercedes

And yet one car doesn't change anything that was stated in the article. Lexus will never undo the heritage behind Mercedes or anyone else, all they can do is create their own.

LFA is a great car, would love to have one, but at 376K it is dramatically overpriced and does nothing for the bottom line at Toyota. Now if Lexus is smart they will bring out something similar for for less money and take advantage of the halo the LFA has provided the Lexus brand.

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 4:24:14 PM | | Votes: -1   

PQ40

"9. Exclusive and super-exclusive."

Wait the A1 is exclusive? Its starting price is 2K over a Polo, and cheaper than a cooper. lol

— PQ40 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 8:17:27 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Mercedes

There is nothing exclusive about 95 percent of German cars, but there are some exclusive ones in the mix for sure. Forbes mispoke on that.

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 4:25:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

lexworld

...I'll be watchin u Willis, and u can best believe there's is a whole lot of people who give's a crap about Lexus and their MotorSport Record. You Just wait and see! I remember when Agent009 use get real uptight like that. Have u noticed how he's been trackin down all this stuff that keeps coming from every angle concerning the relentlessness of Mr Akio Toyoda and his Company. Yeah, you'll be eatin your own words one day soon as well. If I'm liying I'm flying!!

— lexworld (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2012 7:27:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Willis

You don't need motorsport heritage to impress American buyers. Cadillac has very little motorsport heritage, Lincoln and Imperial have/had none. Motorsport doesn't matter to the average clueless and passionless American car buyer.

But you need motorsport heritage it to impress European buyers. History and heritage sells cars in Europe. They're far more passionate about cars over there than we are.

And I feel slightly uncomfortable with you watching me...stalker...

— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2012 6:53:33 AM | | Votes: -1   

vikast

The article is from Fortune, not Forbes. Although both magazines begin with "For", there is a difference between them.

With respect to the article, only reasons 4 and 6 are truly relevant.

— vikast (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2012 6:41:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

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