Good Or Bad Move? Mercedes Confirms That New Pickup Will NOT Be Coming To The US

While it was just a rumor not long ago, the partners – Renault Nissan – have made it officially official: the new Mercedes-Benz pickup truck will not make the jump across the Atlantic.

Talk about sharing secrets – we were looking at the sketches of the Mercedes pickup (which is known to come with posh varieties alongside the working class versions) – and thinking how well the model could stack against the new crop of midsize pickup trucks. And here comes official information from… Renault, which says the Nissan Navara brethren will not make it into North America. The French manufacturer recently outed a press release talking about the cooperation between Daimler and Renault-Nissan Alliance, claiming it was “maturing as it enters its seventh year in 2016.”
 

mre30 - 10/4/2016 11:18:42 AM

+1 Boost

Smart move. I never understood Mercedes interest in pickups for the US. Maybe in Europe or South America, where it can be sold cheaply and at low trim levels, but in the US there would be a big disconnect and lots of puzzled S-Class shoppers.

There is nothing premium about a pickup truck.

MAYBE a "Sprinter-truck" sold at separate dealers with the Sprinter vans, but pickups are bad idea in my opinion

222max - 10/4/2016 11:21:55 AM

+4 Boost

The disconnect wouldn't be just with S-class owners but moreso with anyone shopping for a truck.

jameswisrik - 10/4/2016 5:38:42 PM

-2 Boost

the prince only drives sedan....only Russian mafia will buy the truck..and that's not enough to make a profit.

TheSteve - 10/4/2016 11:52:41 AM

+3 Boost

Smart move. The perception in North America is that Mercedes is a premium/luxury brand. An MB-branded pickup truck would work against that perception.

nguyenvuminh - 10/4/2016 1:35:18 PM

+3 Boost

MB has an equally "premium" image abroad so I don't think that's why they are introducing their 1st pick up there first. My guess, completely out of the air, is that MB understands the US market is an extremely competitive pick up market, the customers have a long and good understanding of what a great pick up should be, and maybe their first generation pick-up (a Renault one at that) won't be able to compete, yet.

cidflekken - 10/4/2016 3:40:28 PM

+4 Boost

It really depends on what the final product is. If it truly can rival the Ford F-150 Limited in ruggedness, durability, and luxury, then Mercedes might be missing out on an opportunity as many wealthy buyers own these types of trucks as supplemental vehicles. And the Mercedes G somewhat puts Mercedes in that luxury-ruggedness category (image-wise, not actual use). However, if it's a truck that lands square in the middle of the class or lands in the class below, then, no, it potentially would do more damage to its reputation.

MDarringer - 10/4/2016 8:12:12 PM

+1 Boost

Given that it's a Nissan Navara with a new grille, not bringing it to the USA is smart.

dumpsty - 10/5/2016 5:15:26 PM

+2 Boost

Me thinks they're scared. They'll release the GLT in other truck-needy markets to track success. If it comes out looking anything like the concept pics, it could really do well in the US. I bet a lot of consumers with both a luxury car & a pickup jump at the chance to get an all-in-one option...especially for buyers who want trucks but don't really use the capability.