STUTTGART, Germany — Mercedes-Benz may launch its next-generation A- and B-Class compacts in the U.S. in 2012 as part of a broader strategy to bolster its small-car portfolio in North America.
The plan has been under consideration for more than a year, and this week, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the company plans to sell one or more of its new compacts in the U.S. The new A- and B-Class lineup will be introduced in Europe in late 2011.
The smaller Mercedes models would compete against such European rivals as the Audi A3 and the BMW 1 Series.
The automaker also will decide in the next two months whether to shift some production of the C-Class sedan to its U.S. plant in Vance, Alabama, according to Automotive News. The industry journal is also reporting that a redesigned C-Class is due in 2013.
Mercedes is reshaping its small-car plans for North America even as U.S. sales of the Smart Fortwo subcompact have fallen well below expectations.
Smart sales totaled only 661 units in October, down more than 70 percent from October 2008 and the lowest for any month since the car made its U.S. debut. For the first time, Smart is offering cut-rate financing on the car in the hope of boosting demand.
Inside Line says: We don't care much for the Smart, but if Mercedes can figure out a way to make money off them, the space-efficient A- and B-Class would be welcome here. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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sebastien2 says:
05:05 AM, 11/16/2009
Hi everybody!
Very interesting to see your reactions about these Mercedes-Benz. I am a council advisor for BMW in France and MB is a real competitor here like in the US I think (less than AUDI for the moment) and I used to say to my customers that MB A and B Class were not really Mercedes because they are not imported to America! lol
I would prefer from far BMW 116d, 118d or 120 d hatchbacks compared to these MB a bit expensive here when you analyse their real qualities...
I am afraid for one thing.: all the specifities of your market (gasoline, engines, brands, wheels, light systems...) which is reponsible of the exotisme of your roads...seem to look like more and more our "poor market" composed of 80% of diesel cars...
Sébastien
PS:excuse my english...
thaitanium15 says:
03:21 PM, 11/14/2009
My friend has a B-class and I'd have to say I'd rather spend my money on a Forester or Outback Wagon. The Soobie will most likely cost less or the same but it will be standard with AWD. I'd suspect that the B-class that MB sells here would have a 4matic option but that always adds a couple grand.
fhwulala says:
03:18 PM, 11/14/2009
The best small car now, in my opinion, is Mitsubishi Colt Plus, though they are not available in the U.S.
It delivers more power, storage space, brake performance and better mileage due to lighter weight than the Honda fit. It is also very well packaged - 7 air bags and HID head lights.
It just might be the car that would save mitsubishi in the U.S.
But too bad, instead mitsubishi brought the lancer sportback...oh well... they really should fire their entire U.S. marketing department.
fhwulala says:
01:39 PM, 11/14/2009
Talking about importing sub-compacts.
I can't believe the heads in Mitsubishi haven't already import the Colt Plus to U.S.
It offers more power, space, lighter, better fuel mileage and styling than the Honda Fit.
And it also contains more safety equipment.
It might as well be the vehicle that will save mitsubishi in the U.S.
But Instead they brought the lancer Sportback...oh well....that says something about their marketing department.
perrito says:
10:49 AM, 11/14/2009
Bring 'em on - and the reason why the Smart has sold poorly is because of that automatic transmission. Put a stick in it, or a real automatic, and it will sell quite well. Done.
atenza94546 says:
09:58 AM, 11/14/2009
No need to ship it from Europe. Go to Vancouver and buy a new B200 and drive it back to US. Why US Auto Marketing always making a decision of not bring a product that sells. This time of year people can't afford too many cars that are above $45,000-, even if they do they may not spend the money for it.
hondacura4 says:
08:07 AM, 11/14/2009
I'm not surprised at all to see this given that "luxury cars" will soon have a new definition and that the automotive landscape as a whole will be quite different in 10-20 years. I welcome it.
Acura calls this "sensible luxury" if there is such a thing.
I've always wanted an entry level Acura compact (not an RSX or a CSX), something about the size of the current Civic (inside and out) yet have a much more Acura-esque driving experience. Of course it would have the expected material quality, optional high end features and build quality to match. It simply wouldn't be a rebadged Civic (Acura CSX) or a rebodied Civic with better materials with a similar driving experience (RSX). It would of course have to exude a premium look and feel yet still be youthful and posses a fun to drive character. Think VW GTI/Audi A3 in terms of overall finish.
It would have to be altogether different from compact Honda's yet still use Honda's legendary small car strengths as a base. It wouldn't skimp on utility or interior space and could possibly offer multiple seat configurations like the Fit if there was a 5 door model. The base car could get away with a 200hp K24 from the TSX while the higher performance model would have a (revamped) K23T from the RDX and SH-awd. Offer a 6AT/6MT on all models and price it between $24 and 33K. Oh...and offer a hybrid and/or diesel version as well.
szos says:
06:06 AM, 11/14/2009
I am sooo sick and tired of hearing that "Americans don't like small cars".
Yeah really? Why not take a look at the top 10 selling cars over the past few decades and see that GOOD small cars (or ones that have historically been smaller than their Detroit counterparts) have sold here just fine.
Cars like the Corolla and Civic are nearly a permanent fixture on the best seller list, and cars like the Accord and Camry have - until recently - been quite a big smaller than the US family sedan competition and they have sold like gangbusters.
It's not that Americans don't like small cars - it's that we don't like CRAPPY small cars. The Aveo? The Escort? The US Focus? They have all been under-performing and usually have the low sales to prove it.
If M-B comes here with smaller cars - but good quality ones with interesting styling and the fabled cachet that comes with the name - hopefully they will be a big hit and we can finally put an end to the myth that the US doesn't buy small cars.
fireflyer239 says:
07:54 PM, 11/13/2009
As a driver of a BMW 1 series, I say Good Luck. We corn-fed Americans just don't "get" premium small cars, we don't know quality when we see it, and only know how to complain about what's wrong while failing to recognize what's right. I want a small car but I want all the quality, fit and finish, performance etc. I do not want a cheap car. I love my 128i, but your typical idiot critisizes it for the cost while having no idea what lies under the skin that makes it superior. Hopefully y'all will see the light.
PikachuRacer says:
05:34 PM, 11/13/2009
I have seen and driven the A-Class before in the US. They were imported from Germany and they still had their Euro-spec engine and gearbox, yet Tuned to meet the strictest US standards (of course) and was converted to Left-Hand Drive. I was young then (was 16, had no license, but had a learner's permit).
My older friend owned one of the imported 1998 A160 Avantgarde models and he let me drive it (as long as he came with me as my passenger, Knowing that driving with only a permit meant I had to have a licensed driver with me).
Those cars are very roomy for a car that just a bit larger than a Smart Fortwo. Even though it was a tall body and short wheelbase, It cornered well and was smooth even in the rough spots. It had brisk acceleration for a car with less than 100hp. And it was powerful enough to climb over hills.
There may be no more importing Euro-spec A-classes to the US, but I would love to see Mercedes-Benz bring the new A-class and B-class over to America. If they perform as well as the last A-class I drove, I will definitely buy the new model.