Models comprising fringe segments which aren’t the largest in a company’s revenue-generating core will typically be the first to be cut when belts need to be tightened, and in the case of Daimler, it is the X-Class to be dropped this time. The three-pointed star’s pick-up truck will be dropped from the marque’s product line-up in light of profit warnings according to sources at the brand, Automotive News Europe reported.
The X-Class was launched in 2017, adding to the firm’s light commercial vehicles segment with an offering that entered the globally popular mid-sized pick-up truck segement, populated by the likes of the Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara (on which the X-Class is based) and of course the Toyota Hilux.
A popular segment also means it is a competitive one, and just 16,700 units of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class were sold last year across Europe, Australia and South Africa, the report noted. Stuttgart had ruled out the United States as a market as that is the domain of the full-sized pick-up truck.
There had previously been talks of a possible V8 petrol-engined variant, while a an additional bodystyle had also been spotted undergoing road tests. The V8 is unlikely as the mid-sized pick-up market is typically focused on four-cylinder powerplants, and it remains to be seen if the latter will make it to production, possibly as an end-of-lifecycle model if it does.
Plans for manufacturing the X-Class at a Renault-Nissan plant in Argentina for the South American market were shelved, and Daimler had cut its profit forecast for the fourth time in 13 months as it was re-allocating funds for diesel emissions regulations and airbag recalls, Automotive News Europe reported.
The X-Class line-up is currently made up of the 163 hp X 220 d and the 190 hp X250 d, powered by a Renault-derived 2.3 litre diesel with a single turbocharger and twin sequential turbochargers, respectively. The 3.0 litre V6 turbodiesel x 350 d followed in 2018, producing 258 hp and 550 Nm of torque, with driveline comprising a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic permanent all-wheel-drive.
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz X-Class X 250 d 4Matic, Frankfurt Motor Show 2017
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz X-Class X 220 d 4Matic, Frankfurt Motor Show 2017
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Confirm drop la. First the whole range are clones of nissan Navara.
Second is the ridiculously pricing. If they willing to start basic for lower end models still acceptable
Third is the awful exterior. The price just doesn’t justify the exterior at all because it is no different than nissan
What worse is that I heard they even employ nissan staffs into their company just to fix
Low sales & having the possibility of their good name being sullied by Nissan’s ongoing management scandal, the risk is too high for sake of measly profits.
The main problem of this car is its a nissan
If u want premium off road model, go for Land Rover
Mercedes also know, how to lawan Hilux. Class leader and nobody can lawan their quality
Mercedes should consider Southeast Asia market at the beginning, then your X-Class sure sell more.
I can see the X-Class failing the moment Merc announced it will be using the platform of Navara. I was confident it will fail after the prices were out. You just can’t charge premium pricing when 90% of your product is the same with a cheaper, humbler one.