Think Mercedes-Benz has more than enough SUVs in its range? Well, think again. According to a new report out of Europe, the Stuttgart-based automaker plans to expand its SUV line-up even further to meet growing demand … and fill yet more niches.
Speaking to Automotive News Europe, Britta Seeger, a member of the board of management of Daimler and the executive responsible for marketing and sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars, hinted that the expansion would most likely come in the compact segment.
“We see strong demand across our SUV range,” said Seeger, according to the report.
“We have more ideas to add new products to our portfolio, though maybe not so much at the upper end of the SUV range for now,” she added.
In South Africa, Mercedes currently offers seven different SUV body styles, from the entry-level GLA through to the super-posh GLS (with a fresh version of the off-roading G-Class on the way).
Tellingly, out of the record 2 289 344 passenger vehicles the Mercedes-Benz brand sold globally in 2017, more than 805 000 (i.e. more than one third) were SUVs. The strongest-selling SUVs last year were the GLC and the GLA, with GLC Coupé also making inroads.