Mercedes-Benz M-Class

The M-Class was first introduced in 1997 as the Mercedes -Benz W 163. It is the first SUV from Mercedes -Benz. Typical SUV, the M-Class has a high towing capacity, so that this model particularly for pulling heavy trailers, such as horse transport in equestrian sport, is.

The M-Class is produced the first Mercedes Mercedes- Benz U.S. International in Vance in Tuscaloosa (Alabama / USA) since 1997. The designation " M" had however already be protected for his BMW sports models. Therefore, it was agreed with BMW on the name M-Class, but the models are under the symbol "ML" sold (eg ML 320).

The first generation was replaced in 2005 by the successor to Mercedes -Benz W 164.

The following model Mercedes -Benz W 166 was introduced on the German market on 19 November 2011 and was previously presented to the public on June 7, 2011.

From 1997 to April 2011, a total of 1,170,000 vehicles of the M-Class were delivered to customers.

Models of the M-Class

Mercedes -Benz W 164 (2005-2011)

Mercedes -Benz W 166 ( since 2011 )

Registrations in Germany, market positioning and competition: monopoly and loss just this

Mercedes -Benz entered with the launch of the M-Class in March 1998, breaking new ground. Previously, the M-Class had been sold a year in the U.S. and enjoyed great popularity there quickly. Quickly the vehicle concept, also established in Germany and became a success. Layers, new registrations in the first full year of new registrations in 1999 12,877, which meant the 63rd rank in the German vehicle statistics, just this rose to 2002 steadily and reached 21 263 units since (Rank 37, 26). This value is the highest to date for the M-Class. Subsequently, the registrations for the model fell to 2005, so that the M-Class was ranked 63 in this year. Only with the introduction of the second generation, new registrations were increased in 2006 to its highest level since 2002. Furthermore, it was the second best year to date in the German market at all. The M-Class was ranked 49, 2007 the 40th Place. After the registrations were dropped significantly in 2009, the M-Class the following year four places reached this year, only the 92nd place of the German vehicle statistics, could again make up and landed at the end of their production cycle to rank 88th 2011 was the up to now worst year in the history of the M-Class. She reached both absolute and wrestled technically accommodate 106 first time outside the top 100 Only with the introduction of the third generation succeeded the M-Class to occupy 2012 Rank 58.

While the M-Class, the first two years represented a novelty and none of the competing manufacturers offered an equivalent product, dominated the M-Class SUV the market of its size completely. It was not until mid-2000 with the BMW X5 pulled by the numbers of the M-Class through 2003 could not reach. Only in the last full year of production of the first -generation M- Class succeeded the X5 for the first time, to find more buyers than was the case for the M-Class, Mercedes-Benz so BMW had overtaken. But it was not only the manufacturer BMW, who saw potential in this class, but also other manufacturers. Thus in 2002 to Volkswagen with the Touareg, Volvo XC90 and the Porsche with the Cayenne to and made leading to higher competitive pressure. In addition to the X5 and the Touareg had overtaken the M-Class in 2004. The introduction of second -generation M- Class, Mercedes- Benz, in 2006 and 2007, BMW and Volkswagen refer to the courts, so that the M-Class became the market leader. Between 2008 and 2011, new registrations fell to the model cycle accordingly. Since 2012, the M-Class is a leader again in terms of new registrations in Germany.