Daimler To Phase Out Maybach Brand

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed)
Mar 15th 2010 at 10:02PM

Since its launch eight years ago, Maybach has largely been characterized as a failed venture. The ultra-premium counterpart to Mercedes-Benz never reached the sales figures which its rivals Bentley (part of the Volkswagen group) and Rolls-Royce (owned by BMW) have enjoyed in the superstrata of the luxury car market. That's largely come down its lackluster product, which appears to all to be little more than a gussied-up Mercedes S-Class, available in 57 and 62-decimeter lengths.

In the face of even further lagging sales, however, reports now indicate that Daimler is preparing to wind down the brand and phase it out entirely. But not before the line-up gets a mild refresh. After that, Mercedes hopes to fill the niche with more exclusive versions of the S-Class, which to our ears sounds more or less the same as where it stands now, only with a different hood ornament.

Gallery: Maybach Landaulet

Tags: daimler, maybach, maybach 57, maybach 62, mercedes, mercedes-benz, MercedesBenz

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

UnHappy Mar 16th 2010 3:19PM

I believe the demise of this brand is due to the fact that Rolls Royce and Bentley have no substitutes, but this brand looks like a Mercedes Benz so why would I spend that amount of money on a car that is comparable to its lesser counterpart. How unfortunate that car manufacturers are not innovative when it comes to design. They believe that we can't distinguish between a Lexus and a Camry. This brand would have made so much money if it would have come out the gate with a design so space age and innovative that people would have sold their limbs to buy one. But, alas, corporate executives who are the stupidest people in all the world, call the shots and the shots are always wrong.

pissis1952 Mar 16th 2010 3:42PM

Maybach, another Panzer tank...

eddiemylove Mar 16th 2010 4:38PM

Oh, like this is a big loss. I saw one Maybach on the road and it looked like a Mercedes on steroids. There was nothing outstanding to view, just a big hunk-o-steel.

jasonbernsteen Mar 17th 2010 10:16AM

i drive a wedge of cheese around. sure i get looks, mostly approving, and it only cost me about ten dollars. proof that u dont need to spend alot to drive around in style.

TIM CAN DO IT !! Mar 16th 2010 5:15PM

I'll stick with my Porsche!

Charles Mar 16th 2010 6:40PM

The measures of decimeter and decameter which respectively mean 10 cms or one tenth of one meter or in the case of decameter mean ten meters are never used. They do exist but are not even part of the vernacular.
the car's lengths as 57 and 62 decimeters mean the models are either 5.7 meters or 6.2 meters.
I prefer it when writers don't try to get creative with some new primary school level notion and stick to the mainstream standards.

sean murry Mar 16th 2010 7:54PM

i will stick to my 15 year old ford.

Alan Mar 24th 2010 10:43AM

I'm with you. I bought my (now) 13 year old Taurus 3 litre 4 years ago as temporary transport but after 168,000 miles it just goes on and on.
25 mpg urban and uses no oil.

Donald Wilson Mar 16th 2010 8:02PM

I'll stick with my Porsche too. Yea, really I'm not braggin or nuttin - I got one in the driveway right now. Yea,oh wait - my mechanic is taking it for a test ride. No BS. really.You can't see it right now but i gots one.Yea, that's the story and i'm a gonna stick to it.

waga Mar 16th 2010 8:46PM

Not even closr to a Rolls or Bentley.....

waga Mar 16th 2010 8:48PM

Not even close to a Rolls or Bentely.....

Donald Wilson Mar 16th 2010 8:53PM

Hey Wayne Wait a minute - it's not a Porsche it's a Viper. I get those 2 confused. No really, I mean they kinda look alike - and my mechanic is still test driving it - no kidding so when he brings it back I'll show you. Yeas , that's the story - Viper - Yea

copy222 Mar 16th 2010 11:16PM

Make money in 2010. Buy Ford stock.

leolux10 Mar 17th 2010 1:44AM

Ummm, i'm sorry (not), but GOT DAYUM!!!!! That interior is sexy!!! So clean. I'd own one just off of it's business-style attributes (fold-out table)! Not to mention that enormous sunrooof! I could really use certain features in this vehicle. I'm not mad at the exterior, either. Since when was a Mercedes design not good enough, anyway? It sure as hell is for me!

Just leave this for those who can truly afford it. To them, it wouldn't exactly be a waste of money. We buy what we want (for our own reasons). Not what others consider a "smart buy". Period.

Kelly Mar 17th 2010 2:02AM

Maybach's look a little bit like Jaguar S-Types, only longer. The 62 especially. It's a brand who's time has come and gone, there's nothing refreshing about it's appearance. "Unhappy" is right, cars are clones now, there's nothing innovative or original about them. A few cars stand and have stood out over the years i.e., Plymouth Superbird, Chevy Corvette, Studebaker Avanti, VW Beetle and a few of the current high-priced rockets... Leblanc Mirabeau and the Saleen S7. Automotive innovation is a thing of the past. Camrys, Sonatas, Accords, Lexus, all look the same. We need a DeLorean, Ioccoca or C. Shelby to distill some genius into car brands again.

ateazeinbham Mar 17th 2010 6:43AM

I had a 1995 Mercedes SL 500. Thank goodness for the warranty. At 35 thousand miles the convertible top was on its way up and stopped. The electric windows also quit. That was 4000 thousands dollars. I had to pay the deductible of 500 dollars. At 48 thousand miles the valve train had to be replaced. That was about 12000 dollars. Another 500 dollar deductible. The warranty was almost out when we sold it to a local car lot. HUGE LOSS on selling this car. A month later the dealership we sold it to called. They ask if we had ever had a problem with the car just quitting. The person they had sold it to had problems with the car just stopping. No problem could be found. It would stop running and then it might be a day, week, or many weeks the car would mysterious start running again. I do love Mercedes look. Especially the Roadsters but I would not buy another. Give me a Porsche or BMW to drive which are great cars in the same price range.