🚨 Breaking News: Mercedes X-Class Pickup Discontinued 🚨
Speculations have been swirling since last July about the fate of the X-Class, and now it's official! Mercedes has announced the end of its Navara-based pickup. Production will cease in late May at Nissan’s factory in Barcelona, Spain.
📰 The news broke in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, confirming the X-Class's status as a niche product, mainly popular in markets like Australia and South Africa.
🌎 Originally planned for South America, economic concerns led to a change in production plans. Shared components with the Renault Alaskan made the X-Class too pricey for its mainstream counterparts.
💰 With a starting price of €48,790 in Germany, the X-Class was significantly more expensive than Nissan and Renault alternatives. Only the V6 diesel model remains available.
📉 Sales struggled since its 2017 launch, dropping to 15,300 pickups worldwide in 2019. No mid-cycle facelifts or new features were planned.
🔮 Mercedes hasn't ruled out a return to the ute segment but it's not part of the current strategy. Market conditions, including the rise of premium electric utes, could influence future decisions. A potential collaboration with Rivian for an electric van might extend to include a pickup.
🤔 Despite the setback, Mercedes remains open to future possibilities, recognizing the importance of ending unsuccessful projects.
