The United States Won't Pickup Mercedes' X-Class in 2017

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Mercedes-Benz has decided against bringing its X-Class pickup to the U.S. market next year. However, this doesn’t mean we won’t eventually see the luxury truck hauling grand pianos and crystal chandeliers down American highways.

Daimler unveiled concepts for the new pickup in October with expectations for it to receive a global launch in early 2017. Automotive News reports that “global” includes Europe, Australia, South Africa, and Latin America — but not North America.

“Once the next version of the truck comes out — when we see the next iteration — there might be an opportunity to bring it in the medium and the long-term,” Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Dietmar Exler said at the 2016 Los Angeles auto show.

Exler could not give a distinctive time frame but did say the company will be keeping tabs on how the pickup does in other markets before making any final decisions.

“That’s exactly what we’re taking a look at,” Exler said. “We want to bring it when we believe it makes sense as Mercedes to bring out the pickup truck.”

With light trucks being immensely popular in the United States the company has said it will continue considering whether the X-Class will make it to the North American market.

“It’s the biggest segment we’re not in,” he said. “It’s overall an attractive, huge segment, but we need to make sure it’s the right time for Mercedes.”

[Image: Mercedes-Benz]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Nov 16, 2016

    I do think the comment fro the MB spokesperson is nonsense. The US Frontier will be different than the global Navara. I have read rumours the US Frontier will be a narrow body variant. The MB X Class will only share the chassis and body with the Navara. Everything else will be different.

  • 86er 86er on Nov 16, 2016

    C’mon Dr. Z they’ll want them in the Big D!

  • Pch101 Pch101 on Nov 16, 2016

    C-Klasse: Ja! Cowboy-Klasse: Nein!

  • Art Vandelay Art Vandelay on Nov 18, 2016

    A Nissan truck that Mercedes has had their hands all over? I'm not sure I'd say we in North America are "missing" anything here.

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