Daimler Ends Maybach Production 6 Months Early

MaybachMaybachGermany, 1909 > present15 models
48 photos
2 videos
seemed like a good idea. Rolls-Royce commanded the super luxury space for decades with basically no competition. Maybach created extremely luxurious cars based on the Mercedes S-Class chassis. The brand was meant to compete with BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
8471 photos
43 videos
-owned Rolls-RoyceRolls-RoyceUnited Kingdom, 1904 > present31 models
1281 photos
1 video
and VWVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
9654 photos
31 videos
AG-owned BentleyBentleyUnited Kingdom, 1919 > present37 models
1460 photos
5 videos
. 

DaimlerDaimlerGermany, 1889 > present12 models
77 photos
1 video
has known that Maybach was struggling for years and planned to shutter the company in 2013. However, even that was not soon enough for them. The last Maybach left the factory in June. 

Sales of the Maybach 57Maybach 57Germany, 2002 > present2 versions
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and 62Maybach 62Germany, 2002 > present2 versions
14 photos
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began in late 2002, and it sold 166 cars in its first full year and 244 in 2004. With the recent market downturn, sales began to struggle. By 2010, sales were down to 63 units and just 46 cars in 2011. In comparison, Rolls-Royce sold 472 cars in 2011, and Bentley sold 1,774. 

MercedesMazdaJapan, 1920 > present80 models
2325 photos
7 videos
believes that the next generation S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-ClassGermany, 1972 > present6 series
293 versions
353 photos
1 video
will be even better than the current Maybach. 

Maybach was originally launched in 1912. It built engines for zepplins and planes during World War I. Its first car came in 1921. In the style of luxury automakers of the time, Maybach built the chassis and engines, but buyers were responsible for sending the car to a coachbuilder for a body. The company closed in 1941 and completed 2,300 cars in its original 20-year existence as a car maker. 

Source: Automotive News Europe