Mercedes close to absorbing Maybach?

Posted Mon Sep 3 2007 12:04 PM by Alex Kaufmann

At a time when Rolls-Royce and Bentley are both making record sales, Stuttgart's luxury-limo brand Maybach seems to be sharing in none of the glory. According to executives at Mercedes-Benz it doesn't cost much to keep Maybach on the market, but its a very different story when you head down the corporate ladder to over seventy American dealers who spent more than $500,000 in creating unique studios to showcase the car.

Initially expecting to sell over 500 cars a year in the U.S. alone, Maybach has come nowhere close to that figure with less than 800 cars being sold altogether so far. This despite the recent addition of two new models, the 57 S and 62 S (the 'S' standing for 'special').

Rumours suggest that parent brand Mercedes-Benz may absorb the Maybach brand and implement it into its own lineup as a range topper. However management currently seems to be keeping quiet about the whole situation, according to a report by Automotive News. Only time will tell whether the revived brand name will continue to live on, or is put to rest once again.

Reader Comments

Mon Sep 3 2007 2:15 PM
Gus says

I'm not sure, but if you ask me these cars just aren't that good looking. That "melted rear end" look poplularized by Bangle in the BMW 7 series is just such a weak look for a car (in my opinion).
I'm sure it is a spectacular car on all fronts, and it is priced accordingly, but unless it looks fantastic, people won't buy it, just as is the case with something like a simple, basic, normal car.
Mon Sep 3 2007 2:31 PM
Bender says

I agree to Gus. It's simply almost ugly, Rolls-Royce or Bentley recent models are plainly so much better looking!
Mon Sep 3 2007 6:12 PM
Ryanza says

LOL
Mon Sep 3 2007 10:04 PM
HECTOR says

You don't say! The Maybach not selling well?! That's preposterous! Who wouldn't like a late 80s Korean design, taudry and tasteless interior and cliff face depreciation?! Why they should be flying off the shelves!

The right word eludes me but this is MB bosses thinking *we'll build this crap and they'll line up to pay much more than it's worth because we're MB*.

Bravo...

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