DaimlerChrysler has wanted a sub M-Class sports utility vehicle for some time now. But the recent axing of the Smart Formore project through the whole concept into doubt.

But now comes the story that the new model will be a Mercedes-Benz rather than a Smart.

The Next Car Team expects this new model sooner, rather than later!

Let's look at what is known.

The DaimlerChrysler Board of Management has decided that an additional, new Mercedes-Benz Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) will be produced at the company’s Bremen plant. “We are expanding our product offering by adding an attractive vehicle in a very interesting and growing market segment”, says Dr. Eckhard Cordes, DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member responsible for the Mercedes Car Group.

This decision was preceded by in-depth negotiations with the works council. “The decision to produce the vehicle in Bremen is a building block of our employment accord, and also shows that Germany is a competitive production location if the right framework conditions are defined,” says Prof. Jürgen E. Schrempp, Chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG.

After the positive response to the Sports Tourer vehicles of the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class and R-Class as well as the successful launch of the new M-Class, Mercedes-Benz is rounding out its portfolio with another SUV below the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. The Group’s plant in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, was also considered as a possible production location for the SUV. DaimlerChrysler now plans to resume CKD assembly of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class at Juiz de Fora.