MB and The Recession

[rhud]

With all the mayhem in the car industry - Nissan the latest today - I don't seem to have seen anything about MB reacting to the situation. Or have I missed something?

 

[jberks]

Nothing yet but it's only time I suspect. They'll be getting hit harder than most I'd imagine. One of the reasons I bought a merc was the idea that if there was a sticky patch I could keep it for 10 years instead of 3-4 and it would still be a respectable, comfortable, reliable motor. Not something you could say about a vectra or mondeo. Case in point, a friend has had his mondeo 2 years, still owes more on it than its worth and is bored with it and desparately want to move it on - I've had my E270 for over 3 years, its paid off so could change it in theory, but I still grin when I see it out of the window, let alone drive it so there's no inclination to change.

It's a theory that I and a fair few other owners no doubt will be putting into practice over the next few years. So I suspect the 3 year changers will be holding off until at east 5 years etc.
That said, some of the new deals are amazing.

 

[launcelot105]

I've visited a lot of dealers recently in our search for a used SL - without exception they were all busy. MB have the advantage of selling models across the entire range of car types, so whilst they may not be selling say 4x4s they have the A class etc to compensate.

Plus, those who have shed loads of cash are largely untouched by what's going on. It'll be the retirees who can no longer rely on the interst from their savings who may rein in on changing as often as before.

 

[Rory]

MB closed most of their factories for a month in Dec/Jan.

Not sure how their total sales are going but they're well down in the UK compared to Audi and BMW and they're having a nightmare in the US.

Interesting to hear the comment about busy dealers - reports seem to vary so much across all makes, with comments at both extremes. January was another poor month for UK car registrations and MB were down 39% compared to Jan 08.

 

[rf065]

I've heard a few people claim the dealers are busy, but have seen the opposite myself. Sales down by 35% as quoted in the press, does not relate to dealers being busy by any stretch of the imagination.

Russ

 

[television]

Sure down here in the West country MB are shifting car, they are not holding the stock that the did have in last year,I can find a parking place now, they have just sold a SL63

 

[Rory]

There's a comment on PistonHeads that at a recent Prestige auction, MB dealers hoovered up all the Mercs offered.

I guess with new sales down 40% then they're not getting enough p/x's in to keep business moving. And used sales are more profitable than new.

 

[television]

There's a comment on PistonHeads that at a recent Prestige auction, MB dealers hoovered up all the Mercs offered.

I guess with new sales down 40% then they're not getting enough p/x's in to keep business moving. And used sales are more profitable than new.

That would account for half the number of secondhand cars in stock

 

[HiHoSilver SLK]

I've heard a few people claim the dealers are busy, but have seen the opposite myself. Sales down by 35% as quoted in the press, does not relate to dealers being busy by any stretch of the imagination.

Russ

There's a whacking great container ship sitting out between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, right now. It's been there on station for a week according to the old guy who cares for the Selsey Lifeboat station. He says it's packed full of cars, but there's nowhere left to park them and it's too expensive for the vessel to sit at a berth in Southampton docks, so there it is at anchor.

Probably motor cars from the far east, but it does make you realise how dead the new car market really is.

 

[Beaucoupnice]

Just bought my MB in the North East and the MB dealer told me their trade is excellent at the moment.

 

[keith100]

With all the mayhem in the car industry - Nissan the latest today - I don't seem to have seen anything about MB reacting to the situation. Or have I missed something?

Here you go. MB investor press release.

"Stuttgart, Germany, February 06 , 2009


Due to the ongoing downturn on almost all markets and the upcoming model changeover for the E-Class, Mercedes-Benz Cars sold a total of 62,200 Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart and Maybach brand vehicles in January (January 2008: 90,400, minus 31 percent). A total of 53,900 customers opted to purchase a vehicle of the Mercedes-Benz brand in January (January 2008: 82,300, minus 35 percent)."

Pretty much the same as all other makers.