Hows the brand doing? heard sales were slow, does any1 hav current sales figures if the maybach is improving or will DCS exit the Maybach...?

In 2006 146 units of Maybachs were sold in US market. Worldwide sales numbers will be know later this week, or early next week.

Expect total sales of up to 300 units, or even lower.

Ie. Rolls-Royce will sold approx. 800 units in 2006.

Both RR & Maybach had initial plans of selling 1,000 units a year each.

Are their plans optimistic or do they really want to sell 1000?

I'm really surprised that RR did not meet their targets because I think it is selling very well.

Both Maybach and BMW's RR hatched their business plans when the tech bubble was still yet to burst and the nuevo riche were numerous and multiplying. The goal to sell 1,000 units is optimistic, but must have sounded tenable in the late 90s.

Looking at where Mercedes is headed with exciting niche cars like the Ocean Drive it's not hard to believe that Maybach is quite possibly a dead brand walking.

It's obvious that the initial 1000 units sales figure is both optimistic and unattainable for a single product line. BMW and Rolls Royce have reacted accordingly by expanding the model range to include other variants. But Mercedes have only included S versions of its's 57 andf 62 models. Even worse, it's unclear if Maybacj even has a firm plan in place for the future. Will they launch a replacement to the 57 and 62? and should the Mercedes OceanDrive Concept be Maybach OceanDrive concept?

I'm not so sure that it is really obvious. I think there is enough demand in the world for 1000 Phantoms a year. But whether it is optimistic, yes it is.

Ultimate Car Guy, Osnabrueck you guys make good points here. I really believe that if Maybach was selling up to expectations this Ocean Drive concept would have been a Maybach not a Mercedes. If Mercedes decide to produce this I think we will see the Maybach brand folded back into Mercedes. Meaning the replacement for the 57/62 models will be called the "Maybach by Mercedes". Another big grand car but with a Mercedes star/grille, but of a different design both inside and out. Also another way to tell if Maybach is dead or not is the see if they launch anything in the next 12 to 18 months. We should be seeing a concept or something from them since their sedans aren't selling, that is if they want to save the brand. Maybe they should build the Exelero? It sure looks good in Jay Z's video and it would be just outrageous enough to draw some attention to Maybach.

This all goes back to what I, Rob and others have been saying all along. The Maybach 57 and 62 should have been Mercedes-Benzes in the first place. The Maybach 57 by Mercedes sounds good enough to me. Ditto for the 62. They could have featured bigger MB grilles and other visual tricks, but still be Mercedes'.

That said, what I'm hoping for is a new Maybach Sedan (think something like the current 57S in size/power with a cheap price to challenge the Arnage), Coupe (think Exelero) and Convertible (think Rolls Phantom Drophead) all based on a Maybach specific chassis or a heavily re-worked W221 chassis, that look nothing like a Mercedes. If MB can take the E and make it into a CLS surely they can take the W221 chassis and make something for Maybach that doesn't look like the S-Class. This is the best way to do it IMO because that way you don't have the Maybach sedans being upstaged by the S-Class and vice versa under the same brand. Maybachs are supposed to be "better". The next Maybach sedan design needs to be something outrageously beautiful or at stunning, but again not a Mercedes look-a-like.

M

More info on german market here:


Maybach . RR. Bently.
2006 Jan-Nov 31 . 182 . 484


damn the maybach is not selling well at all.....

for those who are intrested to buy a used Maybach from Germany should take a look here

Mobile.de, 60 objects for sale:
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Wow I can't believe the MM has dissatisfactory sales figures. The only MM i like is the 57S. I have seen it IRL, black with white designo interior and carbon fibre panels. It was absolutley stunning, a real beauty and I'm not kidding.
Other then that the MM is kind of a bastard, an unwanted child. Looking at it you can clearly see that MB didn't put in alot of effort designing and developing the car. We all know MB, if they really want to develop a striking car they do it, just look at the S, CL, CLS and SLR.
The MM on the other hand seem to be a quick 1-2 years project. The use of S-class w220 platform, compotents and interior part made is very economical for MB to develop the MM. There is no passion behind the car and the use of the MM brand has been nothing but a waste. I hope that Mercedes has succesor ont he way which deserves the MM brand. Untill then the sales figures will keep on tumbling. For 350k people expect nothing but a magestic and perfect car which looks like a million bucks. What has been going on the latest year is that people who own MMs have sold them bought themselves a Phantom.