Mercedes-Benz Close To A Decision With Maybach

[William Maley]

Mercedes-Benz Close To A Decision With Maybach

William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

June 14, 2011

It's no secret that Maybach, Daimler AG's upper luxury brand has been a loser for the company. Originally, Maybach was projected to sell 1,500 units per year. Last year , the brand only sold 157 vehicles worldwide.

Now, Daimler has set a date of July 1st on which a decision will be made on Maybach's future. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said at recent press event that "there is a higher likelihood to come to a positive decision" if a partner was to come along and help out.

Who could partner up with Maybach? The only automaker that has been in talks with Daimler is Aston Martin. If the two companies partnered up, they could share development costs, Daimler could use Aston Martin’s production facilities in Gaydon, England, and Aston Martin in turn could get engines and transmissions from Daimler.

Source: Autoweek

[Robert Hall]

Maybe they can share platforms, and Aston Martin could build a 6000lb DB10XXL coupe...

[William Maley]

Maybe they can share platforms, and Aston Martin could build a 6000lb DB10XXL coupe...

[Paolino]

Now, Daimler has set a date of June 1st on which a decision will be made on Maybach's future. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said at recent press event that "there is a higher likelihood to come to a positive decision" if a partner was to come along and help out.

I think you mean July.

[William Maley]

Now, Daimler has set a date of June 1st on which a decision will be made on Maybach's future. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said at recent press event that "there is a higher likelihood to come to a positive decision" if a partner was to come along and help out.

I think you mean July.

Thank you, it has been fixed.

[smk4565]

A Maybach-Aston Martin combo car could be really sweet. But Maybach isn't needed, they don't sell, and it doesn't create brand image like a Bugatti Veyron. Mercedes has the S-class, which has spent most of the past 30-40 years being considered the best car in the world. They should drop Maybach and just offer an S-class Pulman limo with an extra fancy interior.

[balthazar]

Only an idiot would pair his company with an utter flop like the mercedeesbach.

We haven't seen bad 2-toning like that since circa 1980- that may have had a huge influence in no one buying them.

Edited June 14, 2011 by balthazar

[Camino LS6]

This is a no-brainer, pull the damn plug already!

[SingleStylish]

The reason Maybach fails is that the line-up is made up of upfitted M-B S classes. No one shoping in the multi six figure saloons would consider them. If they do they would be dumb not to purchase a S600L with a driver.

[Drew Dowdell]

There was never enough product differentiation between Benz and Maybach.

Just like this isn't an Imperial

[SAmadei]

And this was?

Personally, I think Maybach should stay...Mercedes still has an opportunity to make something special... but if they kill it now, it will remain remembered as an Edsel, this time around.

The antagonizingly long time in determining its fate indicates to me that Mercedes has spent some money on a possible successor.

When the Maybach first came out, it was pretty unique... problem is that it simply turned out to be the future direction of the S-class, which quickly over took it in styling... and then stealing a page from the GM playbook, the Maybach was never updated.

With Maybach at the top of the food chain, Mercedes can get back to its race to the bottom, competing with Chevy and Ford making tiny sedans, taxicabs and garbage trucks.

Edited June 15, 2011 by SAmadei