The Germans have figured out they can’t save Maybach on their own, as the Financial Times indicates that Mercedes is courting Aston Martin to help bring the Maybach name back from the brink of death. Under the yet-unfinalized deal, the British automaker will both design and manufacture the bodies of future Bentley competitor.
The deal benefits Aston a lot, as Mercedes will provide them with new engines for their own models. Although no details were given, this might mean they could finally have much needed smaller displacement mills in the range. The FT also suggests that outsourcing the next Maybach's assembly and coachwork to Aston could be cheaper than if Mercedes did it on its own.
Daimler revived the Maybach brand back in 2002, when Jurgen Hubbert, then head of Mercedes-Benz, said it was time “to kiss the sleeping beauty awake.” That beauty turned out to be a sales disaster for the company, as the Rolls Royce and Bentley rival only managed to sell 200 units in 2009, a third fewer than in 2008.
According to the same FT report, Aston Martin could also gain access to Daimler’s four-wheel drive platforms for the off-roaders it is considering in the future. We hope they don’t, as there are already enough posh SUVs from Land Rover. It’s clear that sticking with what they know best is what British manufacturers should do.
Google News