Currently reading: Mercedes-Benz SLC future uncertain due to low demand

Model may not be replaced as the global market for two-seat convertibles contracts

The Mercedes-Benz SLC faces an uncertain future after Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche said a replacement is by no means a formality.

“These speciality cars have lost their share in our total portfolio,” said Zetsche. “For a particularly long time, China has led growth, and China shows little interest in cars such as these.

“Our portfolio is not something defined for eternity. We revisit constantly, and that’s what we’re doing. Any decisions we will communicate in the future.”

Without referring to the SLC, Mercedes development boss Ola Källenius also said that Mercedes could look to make changes to its product line-up in the future.

“We’ve has 20-plus years of uninterrupted broadening of the portfolio,” he said. “In 2022, we’ll have 40-plus models. Even if we love every child - and we do - we’ll be rational. We will not hesitate to slim down if we look at the economics. We will look at the next 10 years and cater to where the market is going.”

Källenius added that Mercedes is still open to finding yet more niches. “We won’t rule out creativity,” he said.

The SLC, badged SLK until 2016, was launched in 1996 and kick-started the industry-wide trend for folding hard-top convertibles. 

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Mark Tisshaw

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Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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Daniel Joseph 2 October 2018

Really?

The market for two-seater convertibles may be contracting, but Porsche and BMW still think it's worthwhile having a presence in this market.  Perhaps the weak sales of the SLC is more to do with it being, at least as a driver's car, a bit rubbish?

martin_66 2 October 2018

 

 

Daniel Joseph wrote:

The market for two-seater convertibles may be contracting, but Porsche and BMW still think it's worthwhile having a presence in this market.  Perhaps the weak sales of the SLC is more to do with it being, at least as a driver's car, a bit rubbish?

You beat me to it Daniel!

Porsche doesn’t have a problem shifting Boxsters.  Mercedes has become too focussed on sales in China, and not focussed enough on making the SLC both look better and be better to drive.