Mercedes-Benz reconsidering A- and B-Class for U.S.

[Bill Wood]

Filed under: Economy, Hatchbacks, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 A class

The market for luxury cars is slipping, and stalwarts like Mercedes-Benz are not immune. The German automaker's current projections indicate that overall sales will drop by about 10% for 2008, and '09 isn't shaping up to be any better. On the other hand, one of the few bright spots in the U.S. auto market has been the sales of small cars, which have at least sustained level sales and in some cases increased tremendously. While Daimler has no basis for comparison since 2008 was the first year that the fortwo was sold here, sales of the smart brand have greatly outpaced the automaker's projections.

The success of small but premium cars has prompted MB USA to take another look at its A-Class and B-Class cars. This compact duo are sold in other countries, but have been deemed too diminutive to be widely accepted here in the States. That all may change in 2012. By then, Daimler will have had a chance to rework the two cars for the American market, bringing them more in line with the brand's U.S. aspirations, and that's a good thing since the big concern would be whether the two models would devalue the three-pointed star in the fickle eyes of us Americans.

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-Class



Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz B-Class



[Source: Auto Motor und Sport - translated]Mercedes-Benz reconsidering A- and B-Class for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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Autoblog
11-26-2008 10:58 AM

[iwrock]

Im waiting... Have been for many moons.

[TheDon]

Same here.. Give me a diesel A class please

[iwrock]

Originally Posted by TheDon

Same here.. Give me a diesel A class please

Ohhh man, excellent MPGs.



Although, I can see them shafting us and not bringing the diesels over.

[waybomb]

Last year when we went to Poland, we stopped at a Benz dealer outside of Rseszow. They had both the A and the B, and both in black. They looked very nice and I would not mind driving one. They also had a black diesel CLS. Oh, so sweet.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by iwrock

Ohhh man, excellent MPGs.



Although, I can see them shafting us and not bringing the diesels over.

what else is new

[Fulcrum525]

Would it really take 3 to 4 years to make them US acceptable? I would imagine that they could do it in less then one or two at the most.

[suginami]

The B class is a no brainer.

There is a woman who imported a B class from Canada into the U.S. I ran into her at a parking lot in front of a Barnes and Noble book store, and struck up a conversation with her.

It looked like a real nice car, and I'm sure there's a market here for it.

I persuaded her to post here on the Shopforum, and she did. Even posted pics.

If you're good with the search function, I'm sure her posts are still here.

[suginami]

Here's the link to the woman who imported the B200 from Canada to the U.S.:

Mb B200