Mercedes Says It May No Longer Be Able To Make The C Class In The US

I never even knew it was built there! I thought that Vance, AL only built SUV's.

Funny how BMW and MB take different PR approaches to their US plants.

BMW's plant in Greer, SC is lovingly promoted, you can take "M" delivery there, they give tours, BMW celebrates it.

MBUSA on the other hand does not give tours, they NEVER do anything to promote the plant or the idea that some MB's are built in 'Merica.

I have owned four MB SUV's produced there - ML320, ML350, ML63, and GL350. Only one, my 2010 ML350 gave anythign away to indicate it was built in Alabama.

It had so many things wrong with it (worst was that the early 'brake assist' would just break for no reason, mostly when I was making a left turn into oncoming traffic - terrifying!

It was definitely screwed together on a Friday afternoon that was opening day of deer hunting season in 'Bama. After trying to repair the problem, my dealer gave me a fantastic trade allowance after two years and I bought the GL350 Bluetec which I have enjoyed for 7 years.

I don't really believe that this had anything to do with being built in the USA.

For the longest time - Luxury cars in the USA were LARGE inside and out - comfortable cruisers - and the smaller cars in the stable (Like the 3 series) were avensold as Sports sedans - Premium but NOT Luxury sedans. But then- the top premiums started to enter every size segment - somehow believing that we would be willing to pay for the name - many of these smaller cars were nothing more than entry level sedans with a bigger engine and leather inside.

And while these small cars were within the price range of the average American - they sold some of them. But now that they sell in 40-50,000 range where the average American cannot go - you can get LOTs of cars in the higher prices that are simply not worth their weight and lack of rear seat room. So - as the generation moved on to Family cars - these little cars were simply outgrown - and the SUV/CUV was more logical. These replaced the Big Station wagon of my generation. In fact - that is what these CUVs are - raised Station Wagons.

The new generation is not as caught on cars as we were - and the days of the automatic high wage job on college graduation is long gone - and add in that these high content cars are ALL less reliable - and often you have no safe place to park it - and the sedan market gave way.

And the COST - I recently inherited a New ROlls Phantom - which I cannot drive because the carpets in the car are really really nice thick WOOL - to which I am allergic. THe cost of replacing the headliners and carpeting is twice the price of my first new house!

#TomM.Problems

#TomMBullshittery

Better move it back to US

Why? Why does this move upset you as they are keeping the plant a full capacity making something else. Is trumo going to tweet about it during his early morning hangover.

Isn't that the mentality that US should manufacture everything including crap that people buy daily, then, let alone a C-class?

Perhaps due to my mildly contrary nature I've renewed my interest in sedans. My MB SUV is fine but I rarely used its SUV-ness, am not a soccer mom, and prefer the handling, comfort and even sportiness of a good sedan. My enthusiasm for SUVs is actually fading and my next purchase will be a sedan - and it wouldn't surprise me to learn in 5-10 years that SUVs are no longer a thing.

Just shut down the whole company. You won't be missed.

Haha try telling that to their clients who purchased more Benz than any other luxury maker in the world and the C Class which has been outselling it’s rivals

What a nonsensical comment.

Meanwhile dumb GM will just rid their plant GM had the Cruise at just to destroy the economy instead of building light trucks there so people will keep a job

How does stopping Cruise production destroy the economy??

When you put that number of people out of work it most decidedly will have a detrimental effect on Lordstown and on the the state.

You cannot simply add light trucks to an existing plant. It will require capex for retooling and unless the forecast for light trucks can support it the investment would only lose more money for GM.

The headline of this post is just to stir things up. Production plants have limited capacity. MB is going to produce more SUV production here due to consumer demand, To make room they will move C-Class production elsewhere.
The tRump supporter of course are triggered to hate because MB does not produce everything in 'Merica. Yahoo, good buddy!