And now for something completely different:
Mercedes Benz is not doing bad in Indonesia. But unlike Vietnam, it is not
the preferred choice when shopping for a premium brand.
The A-class has been the baby Benz the previous years. That car is rather popular here. Now it definitely is not the infamous "I failed the Elk test" model anymore. The later models are sportier and aimed at a younger audience. A bit more for people who would also consider a 1 or 2 series Beemer or Audi A3. The weird thing is that BMW does not offer the 1 and 2 series here, the 3 series is their smallest sedan.
Now the problem is, the population is aging. And 'everybody' wants a car with a higher seating position for perceived safety and ease of getting in and out of the car. For that group MB offers the B class. A car that you will not find in Indonesian dealerships. It has a rather quaint image, even my father did not want it but went for the BMW 2 series Sports Tourer instead.
MB is providing the GLx family for the target group which often shops for a (2WD) SUV or cross-over. The GLA, GLC, GLE, .... are for sale in Indonesia but amazingly expensive. And in fact you see the large high end SUV (read GLS, formerly GL), which is competing with the Landcruisers/Lexus and Range Rovers, more than the cheaper versions. Unlike BMW, which is doing really well with their X1 and X2.
Going back to the A class. Officially only three versions are available in Indonesia, the hatchback (oh sorry, it is the compact Saloon), the cross-over (oh sorry, Cross Country Vehicle) and the sedan (ah no, it is Limousine or Coupé).
You know sedans are still quite popular here. But the weird thing is that MB does not offer the A-class Limousine for sale in Indonesia. Only the CLA. That CLA is in fact playing in a rather new niche; the 4-door coupé. (And you thought a coupé is a two door?) It also has a big brother, the CLS. In my eyes a real beauty.
The CLA is revamped. So wait a bit for this second generation if you're in the market for this car. Count on a starting price of more than 810 Juta, excl. options you'd definitely want. The car is 11 cm longer than the first edition but offers less interior space.
The interesting thing is there will also be a 'shooting brake' version of this CLA. Some would say it is just a restyled break or stationcar with a fancy name. Judge for yourself:
Every time I see a CLA, I think I'm looking at a C-class. It's a fact that the smaller models more and more cannibalize the bigger cars. They grow in every new generation. Look at the Civic, the Mazda 3, a BMW 2 series, and this A class derivative.