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Mercedes Benz dropping the A-class?
Mercedes' pint-sized A-class hatch, the premium brand's first front-wheel-drive model, could be a thing of the past if news from Germany's WirtschaftsWoche proves to be true. The business weekly reports that DaimlerChrysler is planning to drop the A-class after the current model reaches the end of its lifecycle in 2011. The only word from Mercedes is that it's purely speculation and that the A-class hasn't been a failure, managing to find the homes of more than 1.5 million buyers since its introduction in 1997.
Focus now seems to be on the new B-class, which is also due for replacement in 2011. Back in May, Mercedes' US Chief Ernst Lieb told reporters that the next-gen B-class was under consideration for US importation. The new model's underpinnings will likely be shared with the recently revealed C-class to improve quality levels and exploit economies of scale. It would also mean the next B-class would feature a RWD chassis and more powerful engine options. The only problem for Mercedes now is whether or not it could market a car in the US positioned below the C-class and still remain profitable.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The Other Bob 12:06PM (7/02/2007)
Not sure if the A-calss could be sold in the US due to safety regs, but seems to me that Chrysler coulds use a better fwd platform for its small cars. They should consider using the 20% stake DCX still has in Chrysler as a partnership for better small cars.
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Carlos 11:21AM (7/02/2007)
It's a good looking car, imo, but it just isn't right for the brand. But now that they've shed Chrysler & Dodge, Mercedes Benz only has smart and I'm not sure this fits them, either.
These are times of multiple-brand companies, M-B should try some Scion-like spinoff.
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SSBR 11:36AM (7/02/2007)
Thats SMART of them to do so. Those things are hurting my eyes.
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1337 11:49AM (7/02/2007)
Well then don't position the B-class below the C-class in the US market. Make it base at around $34k, and market it as an alternative to the likes of the X3 and the RDX.
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Rolf B 12:33PM (7/02/2007)
I say pass the A-Class and B-Class over to SMART and solve a lot of problems. Make SMART carline a more complete product and not dilute MBZ.
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bmoredlj 2:12PM (7/02/2007)
I never thought the A-Class diluted anything. Benz doesn't just make luxury cars. They make trucks, vans, buses, UNIMOGs, even bicycles. It's just in the U.S. that has this status halo over Benz as nothing but purveyors of luxury/sports cars.
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frank d 2:33PM (7/02/2007)
Considering MBUSA does not import base C-class models, there is plenty of room for the A & B series. Provided they're not priced out of the market. They are totally different vehicles than the sedan. Some people wouldn't drive their hatch or their mini-van, but I would.
It's time MBUSA imports more models and reflects MB more. Grow some market share in the US. Most MB sold in Europe do not have the big engines and all the amenities they bring to the US. There is no reason why MBUSA can't & shouldn't bring some of the smaller engines over, which traverse the autobahn & Europe just fine. Let's cut back a little on fuel consumption & fuel cost with more economic engines.
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Icon149 2:43PM (7/02/2007)
Ok, i have nothing against MB, but i had a A-klasse 160 for 2.5 years in Europe (comapny car i wouldn't have spent that kind of money on one personally), trust me, we don't want them in the USA. at least not as a mercedes, i could have tolerated it if it was a cheaper brand, with cheaper maintance, but having to take that cheap plastic POS to a mercedes dealer and pay the premium for mercedes service was outrageous. and everytime i took it in for service, something serious needed to be replaced. it always cost me 600-800 Euro's (and before you say something stupid about that not being so much in dollars, it is 800-1000$). Those cars were built to a price point and quality seriously suffered.
not to mention the fact that they are a complete eyesore.
Mercedes, it is about time!
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Val 2:45PM (7/02/2007)
As has been noted before on this site and others, the A class is a bit of a problem for mercedes, because its engines are specially made to fit under the small bonnet, its platform is unique, and the introduction of the B class was to a large extent a move to reduce the production costs by sharing many parts with the A class. Even an executive from MB said that they need to produce small numbers of engines and this is costly, and he cited VW as an example of a company making 2 million identical engines and placing them in their various brands. So moving onto the C-class platform, which is RWD, will basicaly be identical to what bmw did to introduce the 1series, which uses a shortened 3-series platform. Oh, and the comments about problems with safety in the A class are unfounded, it is a very safe car, although 10 years ago it failed a moose test, but they fixed the problem a long time ago.
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TigerMil 5:10PM (7/02/2007)
Apparently Germany's WirtschaftsWoche hasn't heard that it's back to Daimler-Benz or whatever. NOT Daimler-Chrysler anymore.
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