They never made it to America, but surely, they dreamt about it. Why didn’t they cross the Atlantic for the Land of Opportunities? Why did they want America, while America never wanted them? Autoweek has revealed the secrets behind the market strategy.
The United States have been, for the past decade, one of the most important markets for Mercedes-Benz. And yet, there are models that were kept at large from the country that lies between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Let’s check out a list:
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class W202 station wagon.
The sedan crossed the ocean, but left its twin estate back in Europe, even though its spacious boot might have seemed appealing for the Americans. A reason for might have been the fact that BMW’s 3-Series wagon did not go to the US either.
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class W168
It started out like a miniature MPV and it came loaded with interesting high-tech mechanicals underneath its “sandwich” floor structure. It was a major hit in Europe, but would it have been the same in America? Guess that will stay a mystery forever.
- Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake
With chopped headroom sacrificed in the name of style, the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake never knocked at America’s door. The Americans might have been delighted though by the 5.5-liter V8 with 518 HP of the CLS 63 AMG though. But they missed their chance, the car’s production was ceased.
- Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake
Another shooting brake that never sailed to the US is the Mercedes-Benz CLA, as the Germans still think that such hatches have the reputation of old college cars. Anyway, they might have loved it just as much as they loved the sedan.
- Mercedes-Benz V-Class
In the 1990s, the vans popped up everywhere and Mercedes joined the game. But the first model, that of 1996, never made it to America either. Back then, the Germans must have thought that the market is already crowded with such vehicles and they saw no point in throwing the new V in the battle.
Check out more cars that America kept at large and may be regretting the decision on the Autoweek website.
