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Maybach (, ) is a German luxury car brand owned by and a part of Mercedes-Benz. The original company was founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach, originally as a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH, and it was known as Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH until 1999.
In 1960, Maybach was acquired by Daimler-Benz. The name returned as a standalone ultra-luxury car brand in 2002, sharing significant components with Mercedes-Benz cars. In 2013, after slow sales, Maybach ceased to be a standalone brand. In 2015, it became a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz, which the Mercedes-Benz Group owns. , Daimler produces an ultra-luxury edition of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, and the Mercedes-Benz SL under the Mercedes-Maybach name.
In 1919, Maybach built an experimental car, introduced as a production model two years later at the Berlin Motor Show. Between 1921 and 1940, Maybach produced a variety of opulent vehicles, now regarded as classics. Maybach continued to build heavy-duty diesel engines for marine and rail purposes.
Maybach had a British subsidiary, Maybach Gears Ltd., that specialised in gearboxes. In 1938, in conjunction with Dr Henry Merritt, they produced a gearbox and steering system – the 'Merritt-Maybach' – for the abortive Nuffield A.16E1 Cruiser tank design.David Fletcher, David Wiley, et al., "Workshop Manual: Tiger Tank Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz. 181)", Haynes Manual in conjunction with The Tank Museum, 2011, p. 19.
After WWII, the factory performed some repair work, but automotive production was never restarted. Some 20 years later, Maybach was renamed MTU Friedrichshafen.
Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, based in Friedrichshafen, used to manufacture the commercial Maybach diesel engines under the MTU brand through its subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH.
To promote the new Maybach line, Mercedes-Benz engaged figures such as Maybach heir Ulrich Schmid-Maybach and golfer Nick Faldo to serve as .
Initially, Daimler-Chrysler predicted annual sales of 2,000 worldwide with 50 percent coming from the United States. These expectations never materialized. In 2007, Mercedes bought back 29 US dealers, reducing the total from 71 to 42.
In 2010, only 157 Maybachs were sold worldwide, compared to 2,711 similarly priced Rolls-Royces. By the time of the announcement that the brand was to be laid back to rest, 3,000 had been sold worldwide since the brand was revived in 2002.
In November 2011, Daimler announced that Maybach would cease to be a brand by 2013 and manufactured the last Maybach vehicle in December 2012. This was because of poor sales.
An article in Fortune noted that Mercedes had missed out on the chance to purchase Rolls-Royce and Bentley when they were up for sale in the 1990s:
"Mercedes backpedaled and decided it needed to be in the ultra-luxury business too, but it went after it in a remarkably clumsy way.It stated that the first Maybach models had poor driving dynamics compared to its contemporaries from Rolls-Royce and Bentley.
Mercedes took an aging S-class chassis and plopped an absurdly elongated body on it ... rather than develop a new car from the wheels up, as BMW did with Rolls-Royce, or cleverly use the underpinnings of an existing model like the Volkswagen Phaeton for a new Bentley."
Maybachs were never advertised as owner-driven vehicles, as the company believed that the luxury amenities would be sufficient to drive sales, and they even insisted that auto journalists, who usually test drive the vehicle, ride in the back seat.
Another suggestion for Maybach's struggles was that parent Daimler had failed to differentiate it from its Mercedes-Benz brand. While all three ultra-luxury marques share platforms and engines with other luxury brands from their parent auto company, Maybachs are built alongside the Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship sedan, whereas Rolls-Royce and Bentley are assembled in England, separate from the rest of BMW and Volkswagen Group's respective production plants, and thus are regarded as being more "exclusive". Furthermore, the Maybach's pedigree was virtually unknown outside of Germany, unlike its British rivals which have long enjoyed renown worldwide. The 2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom's interior evokes memories of a 1930s car, while the Maybach 57S's inside makes no reference to its marque's history.
In November 2011, Daimler's CEO Dieter Zetsche announced that the Maybach-brand would cease to exist in 2012, making room for other models of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The Maybach-limousines were still being sold up to 2013, but after that, the name "Maybach" would not be used. In August 2012, parent Daimler AG announced the official discontinuation of Maybach by releasing a price sheet discontinuing the Maybach 57, 57S, 62, 62S and Landaulet. On 17 December 2012, the last Maybach vehicle was manufactured in Sindelfingen.
Assembled on the same Sindelfingen line used for the S-Class, the model is targeted against the Bentley Mulsanne and Rolls-Royce Phantom. At long with a wheelbase of (132.5 inches), it is approximately longer than the long-wheelbase S-Class models. The Mercedes-Maybach will be available as S500 (S550 in the US) and S600 models, with 4matic all-wheel-drive optional with the V8 engine. Acceleration is in 5.0 seconds.
The base car has several colour finish options and the choice between a three-seat rear bench, or two seats reclining. Options include: air-conditioned, heated and massaging seats; heated armrests; a system to pump scented, ionised air around the cabin; and a 1540 watt Burmester 3D surround sound system with 24 speakers. Maybach S500 assembly in Pune, India, began in September 2015, making India the second country to produce a Maybach.
Since September 2020, the
2 were the 5.7 L inline six engines built for and ordered by Spyker. Not all were purchased, and Karl had to build cars featuring the engines to offset costs.
Around 1800 Maybachs were built before WWII.
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Concept cars
The first Mercedes-Maybach concept car is the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6, a large two-door coupe with a fully electric drivetrain. The model was unveiled at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Models
Pre-war
Engines
Post-revival
Sales
In November 2020, Daimler announced that it planned to double its Maybach sales, based on strong Chinese demand, where the car is used as a limousine.
2003 166 2004 244 2005 152 2006 146 2007 156 2008 119 2009 66 2010 63
See also
External links
Categories: Aircraft Engine Manufacturers Of Germany, Car Brands, Car Manufacturers Of Germany, Defunct Consumer Brands, Defunct Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Of Germany, Full-size Vehicles, German Brands, German Companies Disestablished In 2013, German Companies Established In 1909, Luxury Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Luxury Vehicles, Mercedes-benz Group Brands And Marques, Vehicle Manufacturing Companies Established In 1909, Vehicle Manufacturing Companies Disestablished In 2013
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