It's basically Mercedes wanting to take the tried and true route which is to launch in markets with the least resistance, where its not nearly as competitive and easier to stand out. Starting off in a market where your launch will be less than acceptable is not what you need with a new product.
Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup Release Skips The US
Mercedes-Benz finally unveiled their new X-Class pickup truck in concept form last month and it'll be available in Europe, South America, South Africa and Australia, but not the United States.
At the 2016 Los Angeles auto show, Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Dietmar Exler told Automotive News that "Once the next version of the truck comes out -- when we see the next iteration -- there might be an opportunity to bring it in the medium and the long-term."
So North America may still get the X-Class pickup in the future, just not the upcoming iteration of it. Mercedes will keep an eye on the pickup's global sales and the U.S. market to see if selling the X-Class pickup there will make sense.
"That's exactly what we're taking a look at," Exler said. "We want to bring it when we believe it makes sense as Mercedes to bring out the pickup truck."
We're expecting to see the X-Class pickup's production model debut before it goes on sale early next year. After that, it could be a four year wait before the pickup makes its way to U.S. showroom floors because that's typically how long Mercedes waits before refreshing a model.
By then, the U.S. market could shift from wanting overpowered Rams and loaded F-150s to luxurious models like the Mercedes-Benz X-Class.
