What happens at the end of a model run?
 

Do manufacturers ever have extra cars laying around the factory? Do they ever sell them at a discount? Is there ever a surplus? Just wondering.

Kuan

Some manufacturers certainly have surplus stock at the end of a production run: Rover was selling Metro cars for years after it stopped making them; Ford was the same when its Escort was replaced by the Focus.

Mercedes was selling SLs long after it stopped making them (production ceased in July 2001). The E-Class is presently being run out: you might have noticed they are offering generous equipmen packagaes and so on. SL sales were maintained by offering the Silver Arrow and other special editions.

As for the tooling, that is often sold off or taken abroad. SSangYong uses the old W140 tooling to produce a car it calls the Chairman in Korea; MB itself manufactured the W124 in India for sales on the sub-continent long after 1995.

they become concept cars? <crossfire>

;)

As for the tooling, that is often sold off or taken abroad. SSangYong uses the old W140 tooling to produce a car it calls the Chairman in Korea; MB itself manufactured the W124 in India for sales on the sub-continent long after 1995.


jjrodger ,

Actually, Ssangyong used the old w124 platform to build their chairman models, though the floorpan was modified, i.e, stretched.

Sat in one of this before, the handling is similar to the W124, albeit a bit flabby, but the interior was typical korean, does not feel anywhere like a mercedes.....

Sorry chaps, I digress.............. :)

I think Ssang Yong is now using the w140 platform in the new Chairman, which replaces the one built on the w124. It seems they have an ongoing relationship with MB in this regard.

Just wondering...if they get rid of their tooling and other parts to manufacture the car....how do they make "Original Mercedes" replacement parts? ie body panels, engine parts, dashes or anything for that matter

With companies like behr, ate, bosch....etc.... I suppose they continue manufacturing the parts long after the model series is replaced....

I could be wrong though.... :D

Yeah, a lot of parts are made by them from the start, but I was wondering about body panels for instance. Also...wondering if anyone can answer this....how much of a car, an MB for example, is actually MADE by MB? It almost seems like it is a car made by a ton of other companies and just put together by MB! That would be true for any other manufacturer for that matter. I would be curious to know.

When I was a young lad, my dad would tell me that Mercedes-benz is the only car company that manufactures almost all its parts, right to the key.... I dunno how true that is, but I always believed my old man, that's why I am driving a benz now.... :)


I can't say about the situation now, now that its daimler-chrysler...... :rolleyes:

I believe its a finer concept of what we know and term as recycling.