[Zeus]

Steve Cannon is the CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, and he is also an outspoken and cocky guy. He recently told Automotive News, "We're going to have a great year, and when we beat BMW, it will be based on natural sales [and] great execution."

When asked if Mercedes-Benz may try to pull some last minute sales in order to retake their luxury sales champion crown for BMW, Cannon said "We're not going to play that game. No shenanigans. We're a shenanigans environment."

Benz is currently leading BMW in USA sales with almost 3,000 cars through the month of September.

 

[booker]

Steve Cannon is the CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, and he is also an outspoken and cocky guy. He recently told Automotive News, "We're going to have a great year, and when we beat BMW, it will be based on natural sales [and] great execution."

When asked if Mercedes-Benz may try to pull some last minute sales in order to retake their luxury sales champion crown for BMW, Cannon said "We're not going to play that game. No shenanigans. We're a shenanigans environment."

Benz is currently leading BMW in USA sales with almost 3,000 cars through the month of September.

Of course they should beat BMW. They're peddling a $29K Mercedes like no tomorrow. Benz may be the top Luxury car right now, but with this mind set of volume over image they are heading down a path that continues to plague Detroit luxury.

CLA will help Mercedes tremendously - even to the point of being able to steal-away large swaths of mass market sales. Nothing meaningful here except the dismembering of a stout brand I used to know and love...

Whats the matter, exclusive doesn't pay any more?

 

[sleepyhead]

Well, it's nice that the brand is moving product, but in the US Mercedes has always had a special cache that Audi and BMW didn't have. I'm not sure trying to win the numbers game with BMW is going to help maintain that brand exclusivity. Whether or not that is a good thing is a different discussion.

I would have expected Mercedes to sell better than BMW regardless since they are selling those Sprinters now and the volume of Smart cars is probably equivalent one of BMW's smaller volume cars (say, 7-series?).

And what does the guy mean by "natural sales." What's unnatural?

 

[brianch]

they are going to have to keep pushing the CLA , the new S class, and the new C class. more advertisement dollars that work! less useless money spent in useless commercials that take a year to make!

How Casey Neistat Shot an Amazing Car Commercial With Zero Planning

 

[MaximilianJürgen]

Well its good to be optimistic right...?

they might have a good chance since the CLA is out and in demand while BMW is still holding back on the 2 series for this new segment.