Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Mercedes Work Vans


Mercedes-Benz really going down-market in USA.  Generally bearish EUR imo.





13 comments:

Peter Pan said...

That is a lot of weight to be hauling for that size of van.

Ryan Harris said...

good point. Ballsy to advertise an over-loaded vehicle beyond mfr capacity and dept of transportation weight certification.

MRW said...

Mercedes-Benz really going down-market in USA. Generally bearish EUR imo.

Nah. All they’re doing is introducing their utility vehicles here.

Ever been to Europe? They’re all over the place. No biggy.

MRW said...

Ditto Asia.

Matt Franko said...

Yeah and iirc they used EUR over there. ....

Tom Hickey said...

Nah. All they’re doing is introducing their utility vehicles here.

Ever been to Europe? They’re all over the place. No big.

Ditto Asia.


Exactly. I remember being quite shocked when I first traveled. Also at the proliferation of Japanese Vehicles. There were literally now US vehicles, although US companies may have participated by part ownership in the foreign companies.

They refrained in the US to preserve their luxury image that could command a nice premium.

Matt Franko said...

this will become like driving a Ford or Chevy... good-bye rent and good-bye current higher terms of trade...

Tom Hickey said...

I suspect that the folks at Daimler figured out that the rent from the premium on luxury had been eroded by Japanese luxury vehicles and competition from BMW and Audi brands.

They had a whole line of trucks already ready to go. I think Mercedes will do well in the US truck market.

Matt Franko said...

Well right I'd assume they think they will probably make more munnie Tom ... but idk if they realize (or care?) it will be at reduced USD terms...

Matt Franko said...

The other thing is they could have just created a new US brand like Japanese did with Lexus/Acura... preserved the cache (rent) of their hood ornament over here...

Tom Hickey said...

I assume that they are sharp enough to know the options and do the math. They probably figured that their best option was competing in the truck market at the expense of their luxury premium. But not necessarily. It's yet unclear how that will go. Big Mercedes are highly preferred luxury vehicle around the world. And Mercedes has produced less pricey model even in the US for years. I can recall many decades ago my aunt got a small one and my father was considering one. They weren't considered so much for the cachet then but rather the reputation of German manufacturing.

Simsalablunder said...

Used to tour in a Mercedes van in the eighties. We were always late to the gigs. Rust liked it too.

Peter Pan said...

German engineering was no match for a Canadian winter and road salt. This was back in the 70s.