Merc1

Maybach is going back to the drawing board to fix sluggish sales. The true sales figures for the Maybach brand have over the past 18 months become one of the best-kept corporate secrets at DaimlerChrysler. On the internet, there are currently 60 new and used cars being advertised across Europe - among them a barely run-in ’06 model with 5000 miles on the clock offered at a 55 percent discount.

According to trade estimates, last year’s production totalled a rather pathetic 280 units. Had the Maybach adventure not been quietly absorbed by the overall balance sheet of the Mercedes Car Group when the marque was launched, annual losses would by now be little short of frightening. But as things stand, chairman Dieter Zetsche can safely maintain that ‘every Maybach sold is earning money.’

At this disappointing level, however, it seems almost impossible to justify any further investments. ‘I disagree,’ says Dr Z. ‘On the contrary: I would like to confirm that there will be a new Maybach.’ So, as you read this, engineers are plotting a new raft of Maybach models.

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One senior Maybach official told CAR Online: ‘The Excelero show car did more for us than all the tweaks to the 57/62 series combined. It’s an open secret that the four-door Ocean Drive convertible started life as a Maybach, but then we got cold feet and turned it into a Merc. In the not too distant past, we presented to our management a couple of promising concepts, among them a pillarless four-seater luxury coupe with rear suicide doors. But at the moment, most of our work is unfortunately undercover - you just can’t fire thousands at Chrysler and at the same time spend millions on a new Maybach.’

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Another sleeper which may be resurrected by mid-year is a Maybach editon of the GL luxury SUV (above). Limited to no more than 1500 cars in total, this vehicle would only be sold in the US, Asia and the Middle East. The conversion boasts a Maybach grille, a revised rear end with new lights and tailgate, more brightwork, special bumpers, wider wheels and its own choice of colour and trim. Inside, there are singing-and-dancing first-class rear sleeper seats like in the 57/62, plus top-grade leather, more precious wood and all the ICE novelties you could think of. Put together in Vance, Tuscaloosa, alongside the M- and R-class, the Maybach GL is deemed to be the brand’s first real money-maker - cheap to build, expensive to buy.


A very interesting article IMO, nothing promising but interesting nevertheless. It shows just how lost the whole Maybach project is. Now that Mercedes will likely build a S-Class convertible and maybe even a CL Cabriolet there are 2 less possibilites for Maybach. This thing should have just been called a Mercedes from the get-go and no one would bat and eye at the slow sales pace. A GL derived Maybach is just an even bigger flop waiting to happen. A truly absurd idea. I really don't see what else they can do at this point except fold it back into Mercedes and take Mercedes upmarket to fight Rolls/Bentley with the production Ocean Drive and turning the next Maybach into a "600" style Mercedes (ala Rob). EDIT: There is mention of one promising version of the 57/62 before it expires.

The full article:

Maybach at the crossroads - Secret New Cars - Carmagazine.co.uk

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