Mercedes offered far fewer vehicles destined for the taxi enterprise in 2024, and listed below are the the explanation why the German automaker is not within the enterprise.
Photograph: Mercedes-Benz
The German newspaper Handelsblatt stories that solely 497 Mercedes fashions had been registered as taxis in Germany between January and August 2024 in comparison with 1,730 in the identical interval final 12 months. The drop is a dramatic 71%.
Of the 497 items, solely 127 had been Mercedes E-Class and B-Class, which had been Mercedes’ best-selling taxi fashions. The German carmaker had introduced as early as spring 2022 that it could not supply the new-generation Mercedes E-Class limousine and property (W214 and S214) as a taxi. Nor was the facelifted model of the B-Class provided as a taxi. Additionally, the present era Mercedes C-Class (W206 limousine and S206 station wagon) launched in 2021 not has a taxi model both.
What causes this dramatic drop? There are two causes.A very powerful is that Mercedes has modified its technique. The parents at Mercedes imagine that the concept of a taxi doesn’t match Mercedes’ luxurious requirements. Secondly, the fashions supposed for the taxi enterprise have a small revenue margin and Mercedes has reached the conclusion that it’s not price supporting this enterprise anymore. For instance, in 2022 Mercedes was providing taxi variations of the E-Class at a big low cost. The E 200 d value 35,535 euros plus VAT, the E 220 d 36,410 euros plus VAT, and the E 300 de Plug-in Hybrid 47,235 euros plus VAT. Right now, an E 220 d prices 54,050 euros plus VAT, nearly 20,000 euros extra.
The opposite purpose pertains to altering market demand. Demand for the E-Class and B-Class as taxi fashions has fallen by 75% within the final 4 years, changed by multifunctional fashions with higher entry and house for as much as seven individuals. Mercedes has due to this fact quickly provided the Mercedes Vito Tourer and V-Class together with their electrical variations EQV and E-Vito Tourer. Nonetheless, Mercedes officers mentioned they not supply both mannequin as a taxi.
The V-Class and Vito van fashions couldn’t make up for the disappearance of the E-Class and B-Class within the taxi enterprise and that’s why Mercedes’ share of taxis in Germany fell from 52% in 2019 to only 38% in 2023. And by August 2023 it was down to only 13%.
Mercedes’ place within the taxi enterprise has been taken by VW with the Touran and Caddy and Toyota with the Corolla and RAV4.
Sooner or later, Mercedes will not supply absolutely geared up taxi autos straight from the manufacturing facility. From the tip of this 12 months, Mercedes will solely supply some taxi packages for the V-Vlass, Vito, and their electrical variations however then these autos should be transformed for taxi work by specialised corporations. As well as, there might be a Mercedes E-Class with a limousine service package deal for luxurious transportation for motels or officers.
By abandoning this market Mercedes loses a few of its model consciousness when it comes to reliability. Mercedes E-Class fashions which have lined over 1 million kilometers in just a few years weren’t remoted circumstances and had been residing proof of the indestructibility of those fashions.
VW and Toyota, however, are making the most of this case and are joyful to occupy a market section intentionally vacated by Mercedes. Toyota, for instance, can show and make sure the low gas consumption of its hybrid propulsion techniques.
