Mercedez-Benz is planning a wider range of models with the new S-Class to make up for the end of production of the Maybach 57 and 62.
“We have given up on Maybach,” said sales and marketing supremo Joachim Schmidt.
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“We had two alternatives: to continue with just one model or to invest below the 57 and 62. But with our current Mercedes portfolio we are extremely strong there. A small Maybach coupe would be in direct competition to the S-Class coupe.”
Schmidt refuted claims that the resurrection of Maybach was a failure.
“If you look at what we sold with a car costing around EUR300,000 it came to about 200 last year compared to around 300 Rolls-Royce Phantoms and a similar number from Bentley,” he said. “So we were OK with comparable products. What we didn’t have was a car below that.
“We will instead invest in the luxury segment, which is our home turf, but we will do it with Mercedes-Benz.”
Schmidt said there “will be two versions of the S-Class” – believed to be replacements for today’s saloon and SLC coupe – with some “additional variants”.
These are expected to take the S-Class even further upmarket which would have particular appeal in some far eastern markets.
