Company Preparing For Biggest Growth Phase in Its History According to CEO Cannon
MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Steve Cannon, President and CEO of Mercedes-BenzUSA (MBUSA) today told members of the International Motor Press Association (IMPA) that the company plans to introduce 30 new models in the next seven years. He said this will constitute the biggest growth phase in MBUSA’s history here in the U.S.
“We just had the highest sales year in our history and carried that over to our best January on record. And, according to just released registration data, more customers put a Mercedes-Benz in their driveway last year than any other luxury make,” Cannon said. “We’re going to take this forward with a continuing influx of innovative new products for our current owners and we’ll enter other segments to bring new buyers to the brand.” Cannon estimated that the product offensive would average out to a new vehicle every quarter for the next seven years.
For 2013, the high points for the company will be a new generation of its flagship S-Class model line as well as a resetting of the “gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand” with the introduction of the all new CLA, a 208-hp turbocharged four door coupe with aggressive styling and a base price to match ($29,900MSRP). Both these models will arrive in the fall. [pullquote]We just had the highest sales year in our history and carried that over to our best January on record.[/pullquote]
The CLA250, with its AMG and 4MATIC all-wheel drive counterparts, is particularly important to MBUSA which ranks number one in loyalty within the luxury market. “The CLA will have the highest conquest of any of our models. This combination of top conquest and top loyalty means that when we bring new buyers to the brand, they tend to stay with us. Broadening our product offering helps ensure that whatever their needs, we have something in our portfolio for them,” said Cannon.
MBUSA will also refresh in between its high-end and entry point in the spring when it brings in a “facelift” of its popular E-Class model line which will include 8,000 refinements to the current model line. The E-Class consists of sedan, coupe, cabriolet and wagon models as well as high-performance AMG models. BlueTEC clean diesels and hybrid models are also part of the lineup.
“From top to bottom, we’re going to reinvent and reinvigorate the Mercedes-Benz brand over the next few years and bring it to new places in this market both with product and with the customer experience,” said Cannon.
