Mercedes to trim coupe and cabriolet line-up due to EV expansion

Company boss says need to expand EQ range will lead to more focused line-up of 'brand-shaping' open-top and two-door models

Mercedes-Benz is committed to offering coupe and cabriolet models in the future, according to chief operating officer Markus Schafer, but will trim back and refocus its line-up of such machines.

The firm has launched the new C-Class in saloon and estate form, which in the past have been followed by Coupe and Cabriolet variants. But with Mercedes currently expanding its line-up of EQ-branded electric models, Schafer said the firm needed to rationalise and focus on higher-volume machines.

“We reached a portfolio of close to 50 vehicles last year, and there’s more to come on the electric side with our EQ line-up,” said Schafer. “We have some limitations in terms of what we can do in research and development.

“Some of [our models] got quite narrow [in terms of market] so we want to really focus on a portfolio that’s more precise and consumer-oriented. So we’re doing some significant shifts in our line-up, portfolio and shape of vehicles. 

“We have a very high density on the coupe and cabriolet side with the C-Class, E-Class and SLC. It’s a wide offering and the market is going in a different direction. That’s why we’re shifting: we’re going to continue with coupes and cabriolets in the future, but in a different form and shape.

“We will not give up the segment because it’s very important to use as a brand-shaper, but maybe in a more limited offering.”

*READ MORE*

*New 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class arrives with luxury focus*

*First ride: 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class prototype review*

*Opinion: Why the 2021 C-Class has ditched the six*