Jump to content
Create New...
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Mercedes-Benz Is Building A Midsize Truck, and the U.S. Branch Wants It

      A Mercedes-Benz Pickup? No it isn't an April Fools Gag


    One of the stories we didn't get the chance to cover on Cheers & Gears last week was Mercedes-Benz building a midsize pickup. Now at the time, we considered this an early April Fools joke. But when the official announcement came out, our jaws were agape: Mercedes-Benz is working on a midsize truck that will go on sale towards the end of the decade for certain marketplaces - the U.S. is not one of those places. Now this wouldn't be a luxury truck, it would be built for work. This further substantiated by Mercedes-Benz's commercial van division handling the development.

    But Mercedes-Benz USA wants to make the final decision if the truck is sold or not.

    "We said to Stuttgart, 'We are open, and let us assess the market.' If that leads to us saying 'green light,' then we will bring it," said Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.

    If Mercedes-Benz USA does get the truck, it will be positioned as a luxury vehicle, not a work truck.

    "Not every pickup in the U.S. is going to job sites. Just drive around Greenwich, Conn., and see how many pickups there are. You realize this is not a demographic that is showing up with their work boots on job sites. Those sales are taken care of by the domestics," said Cannon.

    Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Mercedes-Benz (Original Press Release)

    Press Release is on Page 2


    Get ready for the Mercedes-Benz among pickups: Mercedes-Benz Vans to launch midsize pickup

    Stuttgart, Mar 27, 2015

    • Expansion of product range for sustained global growth
    • Market for midsize pickups primed for first model from a premium manufacturer
    • Mercedes-Benz to enter the high-volume midsize segment before end of decade
    • Main markets: Latin America, South Africa, Australia, and Europe

    Stuttgart – Before the end of the decade, Mercedes-Benz will expand its product range into a promising segment by launching the first pickup from a premium manufacturer. Thanks to their versatility, all-round utility, and payload of about one metric ton, pickups are popular across the world and thus have good sales potential.

    "The Mercedes-Benz pickup will contribute nicely to our global growth targets," says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Division. "We will enter this segment with our distinctive brand identity and all of the vehicle attributes that are typical of the brand with regard to safety, comfort, powertrains, and value."

    Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, adds: "As part of our 'Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global' strategy, the pickup is the ideal vehicle for the international expansion of our product range with a newly developed model."

    A promising segment with global scope

    The midsize pickup segment is currently undergoing a transformation worldwide. More and more pickups are being used for private purposes, and commercial as well as private users are increasingly asking for vehicles that have car-like specificiations. Mercedes-Benz is the first premium manufacturer to respond to this market shift by developing its own pickup. A similar example was the successful introduction of the M-Class around 20 years ago. As the first sport utility vehicle (SUV) from a premium manufacturer, the M-Class completely redefined the segment.

    The new Mercedes-Benz pickup will initially be targeted at markets in Latin America, South Africa, Australia, and Europe, all of which are posting sustained growth in this segment.

    Mercedes-Benz Vans: Center of competence for commercially and privately used vehicles

    The Mercedes-Benz Vans division is responsible for the new vehicle. With its many years of experience in developing, manufacturing, and marketing vehicles that are used commercially as well as privately, Mercedes-Benz Vans is ideally suited to enter the midsize pickup segment and launch a Mercedes-Benz pickup on the market for the first time in the company's history. Current models such as the V-Class and the Vito demonstrate that Mercedes-Benz Vans has the high level of expertise to successfully serve customers from a wide variety of private and commercial sectors.

    "We can perfectly serve customers looking for a vehicle that offers a high level of utility and at the same time has the comfort, safety, and design of a Mercedes-Benz passenger car," says Mornhinweg. "We will design our brand's first pickup according to this recipe for success."

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    If they build a truck based on that van pick I can only see it as a Failure. Plus MB continues to show it is not a Luxury brand but now a true Toyota / Chevy Brand. WRONG MOVE MB to even do a luxury truck. Look at the failed Lincoln Blackwood. If you build a truck like the Escalade EXT then yes I can see it being successful.

     

    Still feel GM F'd Up in killing the Avalanche \ EXT truck.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Where is the info revealing this is likely a rebadged nissan truck?

     

    "The Best, or Nothing! …or the commercial van division…. or nissan!"

     

    Would you believe I'm working on a story about that? Stay tuned.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    For this to remotely work, the buyer would have to want nothing but a Mercedes. 

     

    Joe Average looking for a luxury pickup may be interested, but then he'll head to a domestic or Toyota dealership where he'll learn that he can get 'more truck' with all the luxury, for the same price. In the truck world, 'more' is better. 

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • The RoadandTrack link there is all full of hooie and fooie From the 1st paragragh:   And this article was published on Oct 30.  This was news in September with speculation, so there was no need to misinform that VAG is a cash cow. VAG was a cash cow...  VAG might return in being a cash cow, but VAG when SCOUT released its vaporware products is NOT a cash cow. Besides SCOUT being vaporware, Im not so sure that SCOUT will EVER become a thing just BECAUSE VAG is lacking cash...     https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/volkswagen-plans-major-layoffs-shut-least-three-german-plants-works-council-head-2024-10-28/#:~:text=WOLFSBURG%2C Germany%2C Oct 28 (,council head said on Monday.     https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/10/28/volkswagen-set-to-close-three-german-plants-and-cut-thousands-of-jobs    https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/02/investing/volkswagen-factory-closure-germany/index.html    
    • I updated my post as I forgot as a 2026 model, we will see the NEW Ultium based Chevrolet BOLT based on the EUV. GM has said there will be two models that will allow them to have a low priced mid $25K EV and a Higher priced Bolt EV $30K below the Equinox. That would give them two models to compete against the Kia EV3 that is launching in Spring 2025 at a mid $25,000 price point or below $20K with IRA rebate.
    • I forgot about the Sierra EV.  At GMC for me, its only the Hummers that register in my head.  And I forgot about Buick all together. Can you blame me?   Buick is pretty darn forgettable lately.  But regardless, Buicks are another EV add-ons to GM's EV line-up.  Like FoMoCo though, GM also push backed their EVs, but not entirely like Ford and not as abrupt and not as drastic. GM did make a hiccup like eliminating all their hybrids and gasoline generator style EVs, but like I have ranted a week or two in another thread, or was it this one?  Hybrids in North America ONLY because North Americans have been made to be afraid of an EV future.  Needlessly I MUST add.  But that is for another discussion on another day in a different thread.  But I must say that FoMoCo might not have a choice to scale back like they are doing.  BECAUSE of this North American fear of EVs, and EVs STILL being too expensive to produce and not selling at the rate that would make OEMs some money...FoMoCo WISELY retracted.  In my humble BUT hinest opinion. Look at Volkwagen. VAG.  Their EVs are not selling a ton. Here or in Europe for that matter anyore. BUT...their gasoline cars have ALSO stalled in sales. In North America but surprise surprise, in Europe too.  And BECAUSE they have gone ALL OUT on EVs, not ONLY are they down 2 million units in sales from last year, BUT their all out EV venture is COSTING them BIIIIIIG time in profits. And they are GOING to not ONLY shut down factories in Germany, but they are going to lay off workers.  And on both accounts, that is a BIIIIIIG nein nein nein in Germany and their unions. But I think Volkswagen told the German government and the unions tough cookies...  So...I think FoMoCo WISELY took this decision to cool it (with EVs).  Gasoline powered F150s keep the lights on. And so gasoline powered F150s and gasoline powered Mustangs should rightfully take precedence over anything else.   Survival is the key here.  VAG is in survival mode. But compare that to what Ford done and what VAG will do, Id rather see what FoMoCo done... 
    • Yes, Lincoln killed all EVs and has decided that they will go full Hybrid for the portfolio, so Ford has just 3 if you combine Fleet and retail. GM as a full family for 2024 has 9 when you combine fleet and retail Chevrolet Equinox EV Chevrolet Blazer EV Chevrolet Silverado EV GMC Hummer Pickup GMC Hummer SUV GMC Sierra EV Cadillac LYRIQ Chevrolet Brightdrop 400 Chevrolet Brightdrop 600 Chevrolet Brightdrop chassis cab In 2025 will add: Cadillac Optiq Cadillac Escalade IQ Cadillac Celestiq Chevrolet BOLT - Possible two models to come in 2025. UPDATE GMC Terrain - Unconfirmed at this time since earlier 2024 EV roadmap Buick Electra - Unconfirmed at this time since earlier 2024 announcement If GM delivers on just adding Cadillac that is 12 or 14 EVs in the portfolio, or 14 if the GMC and Buick show up, but I expect they will be push back. Kia / Hyundai / Genesis has 9 EVs total, 3 retail versions in each brand, but Hyundai is adding the Ioniq 9 for 2025, Genesis is adding the GV90 SUV to compete with Escalade IQ in 2025 and Kia has had their EV9 Pickup truck running around LA in testing which implies we will see something maybe at the LA autoshow. So they could end up with 12 EVs by the end of 2025. GM / Hyundai / Kia / Genesis EVs compared to Ford shows Ford having fallen far behind in this transition and will be even harder to catch up too imho. Updated as I forgot to include the Chevrolet BOLT that GM has stated will come out in 2025 and they have talked about two models of the Bolt. 
    • Problem is though, that althougn Chevrolet only has 3 EVs to sell, like Ford, Chevrolet falls under the GM umbrella, just like Ford falls under the FoMoCo umbrella and well Lincoln, does Lincoln have any EVs to sell as of now?  I am presuming and assuming the answer is zeeee-row.  As in like a big circle...like the letter o but written like this: 0.  More elongated and egg shaped rather than a perfect circle.  Because GMC has 2, the Hummer pick-up and SUV, they are toys, but still and Cadillac has 1 right now, the Lyriq. But in 2025 will have an additional 3. The Optiq, the Escalade IQ and the halo car Celestiq. Making GM have 9 for 2025. Hyundai/Kia together because under SAME umbrella have 6 or 7 or 8.  I dont feel like counting.  FoMoCo has only 3.  Just sayin' is what Im sayin'. 
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search