Mercedes-Benz will stop trying to push consumers into showrooms to buy electric cars and become more flexible in its powertrain strategy, allowing the market to dictate what types of vehicles it should sell.
At a recent three-day event in Stuttgart for North American retailers, Mercedes-Benz executives said the brand will increase the number of internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles available this year and does not expect the percentage of electric vehicles to increase dramatically in 2024.
“Every dealership is concerned about this transition to electrification and whether it is keeping pace with the consumer”– said Benzel-Busch Motor Car Group President and Mercedes-Benz Dealer Council Chairman Joseph Agresta.
According to him, the company will introduce 25 new ones this year and plans to sell about 50,000 coupes, sedans, crossovers and SUVs this year in the US market alone. During the event, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kellenius said the brand is not interested in chasing sales numbers and will not lower prices. Instead, it will “give the consumer more value for their money as opposed to lowering the retail price.”