The Artist

A-class have been with us some years now..and it sells like hell.. and i dont see it stealing so much away from the brand as it might seemed when they made it...
these things are necessary its all about how the brand markets itself..
BMW had to get in the game to with the 1er and audi have A3 and even A2..
Big manufacturers need these cars.. they are low budget.. low cost.. and they can slap a star,couple of rings.. or a propeller on them ..and ask obscene prices for them.. and they still sell.. cause from a counsumer point of view.. its like wow a cheap MB when in fact it isnt really cheap you dont get alot for your cash
So imo well done..

Curb Zone

 

Harry Plopper

I agree manufacturers need to expand the model lines. But they can do it BMW way: sticking to core brand values and selling a lot, or MB way: produce a car without core values that sells.

Now think: which brand will retain more of its value / respect in the long run? The one being consistent all the time, or the one that expanded beyond its core values and lost its identity.

It's doesn't matter the size of the car, or even the price. The core brand values matter.

Btw, what are MB or Maybach core brand values anyway?

BMW and Porsche are lucky in that respect. Both companies are owned majorly by one family. It's like having family business. You care a lot and believe in your products & brands. And stand for them. That brings dynamic and motivated corporate culture.
MB, Audi, Lexus don't have such a luck. There the corporate culture is more clinical.

The Artist

The BMW way?? what way is that?? they freakin produce motorcycles..haha
Belive me when you have such a strong brand name as BMW or MB.. you know that BMW stand for sport.. and MB for class luxury and comfort..
It doesent change by diffrent products.. you just need to make your smallest modell the most sporty in the segment.. like BMW did with the 1er..
And in MB´s case A class most comfortable classy car in its segment.. so the core values are there.. but you need to look at it with diffrent glasses.. compare apples to apples..

PS
if you dont know MB or MM core values you need to brush up on your car history

Harry Plopper

And the MB do vans and trucks!
I'm sure they are "the most confortable in their segment".


It was a rethorical question. Because I see the core MB brand values neglected & diluted lately.

Btw, A-class classy? It's more trendy and fun than classy. CLS is more trendy and sporty than classy. That's the problem: classy&confortable&stylish and trendy&sporty&fun are on different poles. Then you are classy-trendy-confortable-stylish-sporty-fun: everything for everyone. Without a core value - the one that steps out; the one that is special to the brand. And the identity is gone ...

The Artist

lol that motorcycle thing was a joke.. haha.. everything about BMW is dead serious isnt it.. haha this is fun

Hell yeah the A class is classy.. like i said step out of the general classy for all cars.. and look at cars in the A class segment.. its by far the classiest..
CLS is a very elegant and classy car you cant deny that..
So no the identity is not gone.. no matter how hard you try

Harry Plopper

That with vans and trucks was a joke as well. I forgot to mention the buses anyway.

I didn't deny those cars weren't classy. But they are less classy than trendy lately. Even within segments. The classiness blends - it is still there, but other qualities are becoming stronger and stronger. Repositioning of MB? Could be ...

Hypersonic

Good question Tine - do they still have any?

Well I don't entirely agree with that Artist. If "sport" is BMW's "core value" then they are not as successful as Porsche or Ferrari - and how does that explain the 7 series?

As for Mercedes "core values" being luxury and comfort - well that seems terribly superficial.

When did Mercedes become a "luxury car" as opposed to a "quality car"?

The core values of Mercedes-Benz were always innovation, technology, outstanding quality, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

Prestige was never Mercedes-Benz's raison d'etre in the past - prestige was incidental - it went without saying

The traditional Mercedes owner was someone who appreciated technical excellence.

Today, it seems the preoccupation with branding and status-symbolism has eclipsed their traditional "core values" - even their technological prowess now serves the prestige "image" of the brand, rather than being the main focus of attention itself - moreover, technology has become a kind of status-symbol in it's own right.

In my opionion, DCX need to re-focus their attention on quality and technological superiority - Mercedes-Benz's reputation was built, not by marketing executives and consultants, but by engineers, designers, and visionaries - it seems the brand is being directed by people who place no real value on Mercedes-Benz's history or traditional "core values", other than as very effective marketing tools.

Harry Plopper

Roberto, I agree with you. But still classiness and prestige are the core values of today's MB. But as you said: they had come from an excellent product with core values in engineering. The clasiness and prestige came as a reward. Could be they CEOs became focused more on that secundary core values instead on primary ones.

I hope MB will find itself again. ASAP.

Mirage77

Haha Roberto - everything seems superficial to you nowadays.

Hypersonic

LOL - you guys must think I'm some grumpy old bastard......I'm not really, I think I'm actually quite pleasant most of the time

Curb Zone