With Mercedes Killing Off Most Of It's Status Symbols Will You Still Shop The Brand?

Mercedes also needs to reposition the prices of its sedans 20% lower (same content) if it wants to keep them from dying.

They need to go to three levels equipped as is (no options) base, mid, loaded.

The AMG trim level could be one step up or it could be the loaded model.

Of course we know this won't happen.

And it shouldn’t, Mercedes-Benz is iconic, they are the most desirable luxury brand amongst direct rivals and demand is outpacing everything in Germany, UK, US, and Asia that is associated with luxury.

They can “kill off status symbols” because they have the unique ability to effortlessly create new status symbols from a team of designers who aren’t afraid to take risk which is partly why Benz sales continue to outpace the competition’s globally.

Just sit back and watch the master work...

Why do you always want auto makers to sell things cheaper? Same thing with Cadillacs, make them cheaper, make them cheaper...

Are you mad because you can't afford them? Are you having money problems? Do you need to borrow a couple of bucks?

For me it's simple.

Manufacturers have an OBLIGATION do deliver to customers an excellent vehicle regardless of price point. A $17K Venue has to be as worth $17K as a $50K G80.

Routinely, I find that manufacturers charge too much for what little they deliver.

Then, when you factor in the sometimes massive amount of slush money that manufacturers put forth to lower the price of a vehicle to sell it, the result is the real price of the vehicle.

Thus, when Chevy offers $10K off the price of a $45K Silverado, the real price is $35K and yes they are still making money.

The German premiums are full of slush money.

Moreover, if you are trying to break into a segment or you're in a segment and your product isn't doing well, the most expedient response is offering a substantially lower price.

Mercedes WILL have to adjust prices downward if it plans to sell ICE vehicles in a Tesla trendy world.

IF they're looking to slash 7 models, then the models mentioned in the article make sense: C Coupe and Convertible, E Coupe and convertible, S Coupe and Convertible, and CLS. Makes me sad because while these are low-volume cars, they help to give the brand its identity. As I mentioned on another post, I see plenty of all 6 of these cars where I reside.

To me, at least two of the cars that need to go are the GLC Coupe and GLE Coupe.

And they are what the geriatrics drive to happy hour at 3:00pm and dinner at 4:00.

To answer the question, absolutely would still shop the brand.

Love the GT-C, but have moved beyond Mercedes mostly, their recent designs doesn't do it for me, too generic looking maybe.

THere was a time not that long ago that the entire Mercedes Car Lineup consisted of The "S" lineup and what we now call the "E" class - along with the SL sports cars. THe S class had essentailly Two Bodies - a Four door Sedan - AND a LONG Four Door Sedan. THe other class had a Two door sedan, a four door sedan, and a Station wagon.THe big seller among these were the four door Diesel. OF course - the SL was a 2 Door Sports car. At that time - they did not bring Trucks or 4x4s to the US - and the S class was still Prestigious even though they were 6 cylinder cars.
Eventually - they added a performance version of the S class (6.3 and 6.9) with V-8 engines which had their own suspension as well as engine - but still used the S class Body and Interior.

Today - they have so many variations among the classes as to be ridiculous. ANd then add in the SUV's. The first to go should be the Renault based sub-compacts. THey cheapen the line. People stopped buying two door largish cars decades ago - why are they still around? And Convertibles are seasonal cars - why have so many?

I believe Mercedes could easily survive with HALF the cars they sell now - and remember they have MORE variants in Europe.