US Release Mercedes-Benz GLT Luxury Pickup Uncertain
Peter Parcon May 23, 2016
For the moment, it remains uncertain if the upcoming luxury pickup of Mercedes-Benz will be offered in the US market, as shown on a report from motor1.com. The announcement of the potential launch of the vehicle, which may be called the Mercedes-Benz GLT or X-Class, in the US market was supposed to happen last year based on an announcement by Steve Cannon, the former CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. The announcement was postponed to the middle of this year.
But, according to CEO Dietmar Exler, there is still no final decision of the matter. Exler added that the company cannot give a definite timetable for the announcement, which may come at any time. Exler said the main priority of the company is to ensure that the luxury pickup will be a “true Mercedes inside out.”
At present, Mercedes-Benz USA is still mulling of the idea of the wisdom of selling the luxury pickup in the US market. Due to this, the company is working with a number of dealers to get feedback on the possible launch of the luxury pickup, which is based on the Nissan Navara. The biggest dealer in the United States, AutoNation, indicated through CEO Mike Jackson that it may not be advisable to offer the so-called Mercedes-Benz GLT in the US since it will have to deal with stiff competition from Ford, FCA and General Motors.
The exterior of the luxury pickup of Mercedes-Benz is expected to have a different design compared to the Nissan Navara to make it worthy of the Mercedes-Benz logo. The interior may also come in two versions, a basic finish designed for commercial users and a stylish finish for customers looking for a luxurious interior.
The Paris Motor Show is expected to be the venue for the launch of the Mercedes-Benz GLT in October. The production version is expected to hit the market in Europe near the end of next year. The high-end luxury pickup of Mercedes-Benz will be released into Australia and other countries. It will be offered through the passenger car dealerships of the company even though Mercedes-Benz Vans is behind its development.
While an AMG version may not likely happen, the German luxury vehicle manufacturer gave indications that an AMG body kit may be offered for the Mercedes-Benz GLT.
