German luxury auto retailer Mercedes-Benz has recently made the unexpected decision to expand its reach to an entirely new market. With the help of alliance partner Renault of France, as well as Nissan of Japan, Mercedes will soon be building an all-new pickup truck.
However, if you’re currently pursuing an auto career in Canada and hoping to one day service or sell this particular truck, you might be out of luck. Mercedes has confirmed that its pickup will only be sold in a few selected areas including Europe, Australia, South Africa and Latin America. North Americans won’t be left empty-handed though, as the Nissan NP300, which will be built based on the same design as the Mercedes pickup, will be sold in the US.
Read on to learn more about more about this all-new luxury pickup.
Mercedes’ Ever-Expanding Market
Most industry professionals were surprised upon hearing the news regarding Mercedes’ latest project. However, individuals who have had auto sales training know that the luxury retailer has actually spent the past few decades expanding into the crossover market, so it only makes sense that chasing after a new market would be next on the German brand’s to-do list. The fact that Mercedes will be attempting to conquer the pickup market is actually a good idea, considering trucks have become mainstream in recent years. And of course, graduates of mechanic programs know that collaborating with Nissan—one of the world’s largest makers of 1-ton pickups—is a great way to ensure that vehicle’s success.
Says Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of Mercedes-Benz’s parent company Dailmer:
“Entering the rapidly growing segment of midsize pickups is an important step in continuing our global growth path. Thanks to our well-established partnership with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, we are able to drastically reduce the time and cost to enter this key segment.”
What We Know So Far
Although detailed information concerning the specs and design of the Mercedes-Benz pickup has yet to be released, Dailmer has released a statement stating that this pickup will look similar to the all-new Nissan NP300. However, Dailmer will be designing the vehicle to meet the specific requirements of its customers. Of course, we can expect the pickup truck to have all of the characteristics and features that are normally found in any Mercedes-Benz vehicle. Additionally, the company has confirmed that the pickup will be geared towards both, personal use, as well as commercial use and it should be market ready by 2020.
Will It Ever Reach North American Soil?
Since the Mercedes-Benz pickup will be much smaller and lighter than our standard North American trucks, the company has decided to launch in several areas that already perceive smaller pickups as a premium product. It is unclear, however, whether or not the manufacturer plans to bring the vehicle to North America at any point in the future.
There is some hope though. Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, told Automotive News that they are open to bringing the truck to the US, but they must first assess the market. While pickup trucks are no doubt popular in North America, it’s still uncertain how country-going truck lovers will react to a luxury version of their favourite vehicle. Instead, customers should expect that this car will be marketed towards the new generation of city truck drivers.
Would you ever consider buying a luxury pickup truck?
