Confident that SUV demand will grow and grow, Daimler’s chief Dieter Zetsche says its U.S. plant will build at least 300,000 vehicles next year, thanks to demand for their new SUV Coupe-thing.
Speaking with reporters Friday at the Vance, Ala. factory as it started producing the redesigned 2015 C-Class sedan, Zetsche said the new M-Class variant due next year would add 65,000 units per year for the plant, and expects it to make at least 300,000 Mercedes vehicles in 2015. That’s a big jump from the 185,000 it assembled in 2013.
Mercedes posted a 9.4% bump in August sales this year, and M-Class sales are up roughly the same amount in the first 8 months of 2014, although sales of the GL – the other SUV built at the plant – is off about 20%.
The production version of the Concept SUV Coupe, rumored to be called the MLC but could wear a different moniker as Mercedes is said to be changing its SUV naming structure, is expected to pose a challenge to the BMW X6, with its similar shape. But Mercedes hopes it’ll be popular, too, or that you’ll buy a lot more of their SUVs in 2015.
Will it work? Given that SUVs have been driving the strong U.S. auto sales this year, it seems like a good bet if you want to be the best-selling luxury nameplate again.
By Zac Estrada
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