It’s not a secret that the Mercedes-Benz CLA has been the brand’s most successful US launch in 20 years, but the company believes the GLA will do even better.
The compact SUV went on sale this week in the US and company officials claim it will enjoy broader appeal because of its added functionality and roominess, especially at the rear.
“The design is still there – it is fun and youth oriented. But the GLA adds a level of usability that the CLA doesn’t have. The greenhouse is a bit higher, the rear seats have a bit more space. The cargo area is flexible with 60/40 folding seats ,” Bart Herring, general manager of product planning for Mercedes-Benz USA, told Automotive News.
Sharing the same platform with the CLA, the GLA SUV will compete against the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3 as well as against mass-market brands, in one of the fastest growing market segments in the United States.
“Half of our customers will come from nonluxury – the customer who does the luxury step up from Toyota, Nissan, Honda – mainly sedans,” Herring predicted. The compact SUV segment is the fourth-largest in the US behind midsize cars, compact cars and large trucks, growing from 5.8 percent of the US auto market in 2004 to 10.8 percent this year.
As with the CLA, supplies for the GLA will be in tight in the US, because the SUV sees strong demand in markets around the world where it is already on sale, Mercedes officials say. The GLA is expected to attract buyers in their 20s and 30s because of its price and modern styling. Company officials project that AWD models will make up 40 percent of the product mix in the US, with AMG variants to account for 5 to 7 percent.
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