Mercedes-Benz to drop R-class wagon in U.S.
David Arnouts
Autoweek -- March 20, 2012 - 11:31 am ET
UPDATED: 3/20/12 11:48 a.m. ET
Mercedes-Benz will drop the slow-selling R-class wagon from its U.S. lineup after the 2012 model year. But the German automaker will continue to build the R class at its plant in Alabama for export to other markets.
Mercedes dealers sold 293 copies of the R class through the first two months of this year, one-third less than the number sold in the first two months of 2011.
It went on sale in the United States in Sept. 2005.
In 2011, R class demand in the United States dropped 19 percent to 2,385.
A Mercedes spokesman confirmed the move in a report by Yahoo Autos.
Demand for the R class is much higher in foreign markets. Mercedes will continue to sell the wagon in Mexico, Canada and China until at least 2015.
The 2012 R350 4Matic starts at $53,565, including shipping charges, and comes with a 302-hp V-6 engine. For $54,715, the R class comes equipped with a diesel engine.
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120320/OEM04/120329996#ixzz1phyx849k