Mercedes sees SUV sales growing up to 5% - 80,000 GLKs on the way

Despite debate on CO2 emissions and high-gas prices, Mercedes-Benz sees a steady grown in the SUV segment.

“I see growth rates here of 4 to 5 percent a year,” Mercedes Chief Operating Officer Rainer Schmueckle told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport in an interview. Mercedes-Benz said that it sold 86,500 SUVs in the first half of this year leading it increase output to 200,000 for 2007.

Schmueckle also shed some light on the production plans for the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLK, a baby SUV to compete with the likes of the BMW X3. He said production of the Mercedes-Benz GLK will take place at the company’s Bremen, Germany plant with an estimated output of 80,000 units annually.

The Mercedes-GLK...
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Will_ - 7/13/2007 12:51:01 PM

0 Boost

Speaking of the GLK, when can we expect an X3 redesign?

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/13/2007 12:55:35 PM

+1 Boost

2009-2010 perhaps. For 2006 the X3 was restyled so it's still fresh enough.

lewissalem - 7/13/2007 1:06:15 PM

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I don't see this as an unreasonable estimate. This is a growing segment. There will be perhaps a slight overlap in product with the ML.

My question is this, will BMW and Toyota build sub X3 and RX products? I understand that BMW will be producing a F3 small crossover. I see this going head-to-head with the GLK.

Will_ - 7/13/2007 4:54:53 PM

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There is possibly a crossover SUV in the works from Lexus that is smaller than the RX. As you said, this is a growing segment that does not appear to be rubber-banding at all yet. Literally every automaker will have one soon enough...

M53R - 7/13/2007 2:42:09 PM

+1 Boost

I hope it does not look as ugly as in some of those horrid looking photoshops Ive seen so far.

markusck - 7/13/2007 6:15:28 PM

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Agreed, actually most of the MB SUV's are not that attractive (surprisingly)..I think they missed the mark with both the ML and GL, not proportioned well or streamlined..(not like the X5, XC90, RangeRover which are my top 3), and from what I have seen of the GLK, I'm not hopeful...The only MB SUV I actually like is the G Wagen, (yes the big box with wheels) thats been around since the 70's..

EnnNorak - 7/14/2007 2:10:12 PM

+1 Boost

Never mind the looks, I'm more worried about whether Mercedes will give us a full technical description of the AWD system on that vehicle instead of a bunch of useless marketing hype.