Practical station wagons have the same enemy as the MPV, but stylish convertibles or coupats are also at risk.
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During the ongoing IAA 2021 Munich Motor Show, Markus Schäfer, Mercedes-Benz’s Chief Operating Officer, told colleagues in the British magazine Autocar that the carmaker was solving the future of station wagons in the electric era, which obviously mixed with the popularity of individual segments.
According to Schäfer, the market is now under pressure from an ever-increasing percentage of customers switching to SUVs. This is slowly shrinking the market, where station wagons still make sense.
„We need to watch the numbers evolve. Of course, they are technically possible – this is not a problem – but it is more a question of how the sector will develop further,“Autocar quotes the words of one of the highest members of the carmaker’s board of directors.
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At the same time, Europe is currently one of the few places in global markets where station wagons are still popular. For example, in the USA and China, for a long time, customers prefer SUVs. With their increasing economy, to which the more aerodynamic shapes of the electric versions also contribute, the range of station wagons is expected to decrease.
In addition, Schäfer admitted that not only the future of station wagons is being addressed, but also coupes and convertibles. For example, demand for open-body cars is reportedly declining around the world, while in China they have never caught on.
According to Schäfer, it is not easy to make an elegant convertible in addition. The car must have nice proportions and not be too tall, yet large batteries must fit in its floor. “There are some cars on the market that do not suit our taste. So we’re going to have to come up with something better,Schäfer added, perhaps relying on the SUV convertible trend that some brands have been trying to kick-start in recent years.
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But Mercedes-Benz realizes that convertibles are a very attractive and emotional product. Probably that’s why they probably won’t break the stick over them for a while. The future of the coupe will also be decided.
But what the carmaker definitely does not want to give up is leather upholstery. Despite its obsession with sustainability and the emphasis on electrification and low emissions of virtually all components, leather should remain part of the offer. Of course, there will also be alternative vegan interiors. In particular, Schäfer is determined to preserve the materials used on the steering wheel, such as genuine leather and wood. It works much better than just plastics and artificial leather.
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