Tag Archives: Steve Cannon

Automobiles

Report: Next Mercedes-Benz C-Class to get diesel, hybrid versions

Leave a comment

By Steven J. Ewing

Mercedes-Benz C-Class spy shots

Filed under:

Mercedes-Benz is planning a more aggressive product strategy for its next-generation C-Class range. “We were fighting the 3 Series with two arms tied behind our back, and now we will change that,” Steve Cannon, the automaker’s US CEO, told Automotive News in a recent interview.

In addition to offering more body styles of the new C-Class, AN reports that the revamped Mercedes will also be offered here with hybrid and diesel powertrains. Currently, the C-Class comes in coupe and sedan variants, with only gasoline engines. The BMW 3 Series, however, is available as a sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon, and offers buyers the choice of gasoline, diesel (the upcoming 328d) or hybrid power.

Mercedes-Benz will show the next-generation C-Class at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, with sales of the US-built sedan following in August. Coupe, convertible and hybrid models will follow in early 2015, and while diesel and all-wheel-drive versions are planned, no specific timetable has been released regarding availability.

Automotive News reports that Mercedes will not be bringing over the wagon version of the C-Class, and we won’t be getting any sort of funky crossover-ish things to rival the BMW 3 Series GT. Furthermore, AN states that we will also not be getting any sort of low-cost entry-level C-Class to rival the new BMW 320i, as Mercedes-Benz will offer the swoopy CLA-Class to those looking for a cheaper entry into the brand.

Next Mercedes-Benz C-Class to get diesel, hybrid versions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

From: http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/EjBlhWkXL3M/

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Luxury Cars Are a Booming Business

Leave a comment

By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

The U.S. economy may still be struggling in some ways, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at luxury-car sales.

Global luxury-car heavyweights Mercedes-Benz and BMW , the reigning champ, are locked in a fierce battle to lead the U.S. luxury-car market in 2013. Both reported strong sales here in the first quarter — and several of their rivals posted big gains of their own.

A small market that generates big bucks
The sales volumes are relatively small. In some months, Ford‘s sales of F-Series pickups alone are greater than the total U.S. sales of these two put together. But thanks to impressive margins, luxury cars are big business here and around the world, and BMW and Mercedes, along with Volkswagen‘s Audi brand, are the Big Three that seem to dominate it just about everywhere.

BMW posted a 13% gain in U.S. sales in March to 27,078 vehicles, marking BMW‘s best March in the U.S. ever. That increase was powered in large part by gains for its SUVs — the X3, X5, and X6 in particular, which were together up 40% over year-ago totals.

That’s a strong showing, and the company is optimistic about its chances for further gains in the coming months. BMW‘s North American chief, Ludwig Willisch, said in a statement that he expects the new entry-level 320i model to “accelerate our momentum in the months ahead.”

Meanwhile, arch-rival Mercedes-Benz posted a 6.5% year-over-year sales increase for March, with 24,646 sold — enough for its own record March and first-quarter totals. Strong points were the 34% gains for the company’s C-Class sedans, which compete directly with BMW‘s 3-Series, and a nice result for the company’s M-Class SUV.

Mercedes, which is owned by Germany’s Daimler , made much of the fact that it posted record sales without launching any new models in the first quarter. The company’s U.S. sales chief, Steve Cannon, noted in a statement that coming launches of redesigned E-Class and S-Class models could lead to Mercedes’ “strongest year on record” as 2013 continues to unfold.

Other luxury makers are looking strong
Meanwhile, German rival Audi merely posted its 27th straight month of record sales in the U.S., with a 14% gain over good year-ago totals. Continuing the theme, small sedans and SUVs were strong for Audi as well, with a 20% gain for its A4 and a 39% increase for the Q5 SUV. Those gains were achieved with minimal discounting, Audi officials noted, as VW continues to try to maximize its profits outside its troubled European home base.

Toyota‘s Lexus brand posted a 16% gain for the month and a 15% gain for the quarter behind strong sales of its ES midsized sedan. And General Motors‘ Cadillac brand continued its slow resurgence, as its ATS sedan — a surprisingly strong competitor to BMW‘s 3-Series — led the way to a 49% year-over-year gain.

Keep watching the auto market in 2013 to see whether luxury vehicles …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

Exclusive: Mercedes says it's tops in luxury sales for 2012, not BMW

Leave a comment

By David Kiley

Filed under: , ,

It turns out that Mercedes-Benz North America has legitimate claim to being the top selling luxury nameplate in the US in 2012.

While sources such as Autodata had put BMW in the top spot, registration data from R.L. Polk shows that Mercedes customers registering new vehicles topped the Bavarian automaker in the most recent calendar year. Polk says Benz posted 274,123 registrations, compared with BMW‘s 268,498.

In terms of sales posted, BMW had bested Benz 281,460 to 274,134. But sales are recorded somewhat inconsistently from automaker to automaker. Some book the sales as soon as they are shipped from factory to dealer. There is perennial gamesmanship between the two German rivals, and the sales numbers suggest that BMW pushed out some extra sheetmetal to dealers in the last four weeks of the year.

Polk officials have not released their numbers to the public, but Autoblog obtained them from Mercedes-Benz.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the International Motor Press Association in New York City, Mercedes-Benz North America chief Steve Cannon said, “Cars sold to people in the calendar year who then register their vehicles seems to be a more accurate measure of real sales than just the raw sales numbers.”

Cannon claims that BMW used “various methods” to beef up its sales in December, as Mercedes had been watching month-to-month registrations all year, and had been leading BMW for 11 months. Cannon said, “When you look at the difference between our sales and registrations, there is a discrepancy of 11. When you look at BMW‘s, there is a discrepancy of 13,000.”

A BMW spokesman said the company stands by its sales figures.

Mercedes says it’s tops in luxury sales for 2012, not BMW originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog