The Mercedes-Maybach is reportedly fairing much better than it did under its previous standalone moniker (Maybach), with the new model already selling more per month than it would normally sell in a year.
The reason? China…
Mercedes-Benz sell more cars in China than in any other country – hardly surprising given that populous nation’s appetite for ultra-luxury autobrands. Indeed Mercedes-Benz has shifted around 500 of the new S-Class-based Mercedes-Maybach S600 models per month since the big Benz was launched there in February. The previous model reached a monthly peak of 600 units before dropping off to between 200 and 300 in its runout.
It’s well known that wealthy Chinese like to be driven rather than get behind the wheel themselves, but that only partly explains the sales spike. No doubt a very large contributing factor is the model’s significant decrease in price. Back in 2003 the Maybach 52 would have set you back around R4.24 million and now, 12 years on, the new incarnation costs around R2.79 million. That’s is a big difference in anyone’s books.
In its pursuit of overhauling BMW and Audi in terms of global sales by the end of the decade, there is no sign of Mercedes-Benz taking its foot off the accelerator, and it’s clear that the Mercedes-Maybach is helping it take a big step in that direction.
