[Glamorous]

http://www.autonews.com/article/20140811/RETAIL01/308119978/supply-of-new-mercedes-gla-will-be-tight


'Crossover-crazy market' likely to pinch inventory, Benz' sales


Mercedes-Benz USA expects its GLA compact crossover to be in short supply when the vehicle debuts in September because of the segment's growing popularity.


The GLA may be scarcer than the CLA compact sedan that went on sale a year ago because of the "crossover-crazy market," said CEO Steve Cannon.
Since its debut in September, CLA demand has been strong and supply has fallen to as low as nine days -- far from the optimal 45-day supply Mercedes covets, he said. Supply is now below 30 days, he said.
Cannon expects a similar pinch for the GLA.
"We have production constraints. We are not going to be able to get as many as we want," Cannon said in an interview at a press event here. "We will not find out where the natural volume is."


Cannon said the United States is competing for vehicle allocation with China, where demand is equally strong. The United States is Mercedes' largest market, but China is likely to become No. 1 next year, he said.


In 2013, Mercedes-Benz USA also received vehicles from slumping Europe. But with European sales rising, "we are not getting them this year," Cannon said.


The GLA will compete with the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque. The GLA has lots of standard equipment, including collision prevention assist with autonomous braking, a power liftgate, Bluetooth connectivity, power front seats and chrome roof rails.


The GLA250 4Matic with all-wheel drive goes on sale in September with a base price of $34,225. The high-performance GLA45 AMG also debuts next month and will start at $49,225. The base front-wheel-drive GLA250 goes on sale in the first quarter of 2015 and will have a base price of $32,225. All prices include shipping.


The GLA base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 208 hp. The reworked four-cylinder engine in the AMG model makes 355 hp.

 

[Sweet Tooth]

So we may have to wait a long time in order to get a GLA once we order it basically. Not great news, but understandable I guess. I wonder how much of a delay this will be in the end. It sounds like it could be a rough wait.

 

[A.T.L.]

Not surprised, there's always some sort of delay going on.
Fortunately, many people are loyal to MB and those folks will probably just wait for this.

 

[Bplayer]

Not good news on two fronts; potentially long wait (4-6 months?) for custom spec, and no real reason for any discounts. Maybe the trick is get an order in soon if they will deal, or wait it out.

 

[parker]

Not good news on two fronts; potentially long wait (4-6 months?) for custom spec, and no real reason for any discounts. Maybe the trick is get an order in soon if they will deal, or wait it out.

to exacerbate the exacerbation, we're going to be competing with China for volume, and the Chinese are willing to pay well above what we're willing. Who do you think is going to get precedent

…the United States is competing for vehicle allocation with China, where demand is equally strong. The United States is Mercedes’ largest market, but China is likely to become No. 1 next year…”

 

[Truthiness]

to exacerbate the exacerbation, we're going to be competing with China for volume, and the Chinese are willing to pay well above what we're willing. Who do you think is going to get precedent

I've read stories about how the Chinese government is forcing car companies to lower the price of their vehicles though, so maybe this factor won't be as influential as you may think. Still, I wouldn't tell anyone that the GLA is going to get delivered to them in a timely fashion. You will most likely have to be patient.

 

[A.T.L.]

maybe it will or wont, we may see the outcome of it come time for these to make their way into the hands of consumers

 

[alcatraz]

Even if Benz has to lower the prices, the GLA will still sell for a lot more in China than it will in NA. The profit margin is going to be higher for China regardless.

 

[parker]

I've read stories about how the Chinese government is forcing car companies to lower the price of their vehicles though, so maybe this factor won't be as influential as you may think. Still, I wouldn't tell anyone that the GLA is going to get delivered to them in a timely fashion. You will most likely have to be patient.

Well actually China is forcing them to lower prices on parts, not entire vehicles.

The backstory is that the Chinese competition authorities are going after the car manufacturers, particularly about their control of spare parts. As a result many of those manufacturers are cutting their prices on spare parts:

So as I say one way of looking at what’s going on is that it’s just China catching up with European Union regulations on how competitive the market for spare parts for cars ought to be.

China's Auto Anti-Monopoly Crackdown Is Just Catching Up With The European Union - Forbes

Original statement stands.

 

[A.T.L.]

At least prices are going down.

 

[parker]

But prices are not going down, OEM parts prices are yes but not total vehicle cost. ITs impossible, If the market is paying those prices then there is no need for anyone to step in and mandate a reduction. Mercedes GLA's are in no means an essential product to anyones life, so the premium forked over by Chiense consumers is completely voluntary. Any interference from the government is pure perversion.

Oh and not to mention the Chinese.gov has a vested interest in higher transaction costs, higher sales tax revenue...

 

[Truthiness]

I'm just telling you what I've read the Chinese government is doing. Here are some quotes so you can read it straight from the horse's mouth.

Volkswagen AG’s Audi, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz, Tata Motors Ltd.’s Jaguar Land Rover, Fiat SpA’s Chrysler, Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have announced price cuts of vehicles or spare parts since July in the wake of the probes. General Motors Co. said Aug. 11 that its joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp. has been responding to regulator requests since 2012.

Chinese investigators are picking on foreign companies, pressuring them into accepting punishments and depriving them of full hearings, the European Union Chamber of Commerce said yesterday in a statement, without naming anyone. Representatives at the chamber, which has about 1,800 members in the country, declined to elaborate on any specifics beyond the statement.

Business sentiment is deteriorating in China as dozens of foreign companies, including Germany’s three biggest luxury carmakers, are being targeted in the country’s broadest antitrust investigation since the nation’s anti-monopoly law went into effect six years ago. The probes, focusing on the car industry, have also involved Japanese automakers and General Motors Co.

China Probes Called Intimidation as Europeans Cry Foul - Bloomberg

 

[parker]

I'm just telling you what I've read the Chinese government is doing. Here are some quotes so you can read it straight from the horse's mouth.


China Probes Called Intimidation as Europeans Cry Foul - Bloomberg

I understand, but again its the parts not the vehicles themselves. As i Posted earlier this Forbes article speaks specifically about the auto companies...

China's Auto Anti-Monopoly Crackdown Is Just Catching Up With The European Union - Forbes

 

[Truthiness]

I understand, but again its the parts not the vehicles themselves. As i Posted earlier this Forbes article speaks specifically about the auto companies...

China's Auto Anti-Monopoly Crackdown Is Just Catching Up With The European Union - Forbes

Alright, I've found some quotes to support what I'm saying. These come from Reuters.

Brands including Volkswagen AG's (VOWG_p.DE) Audi, BMW (BMWG.DE) and Mercedes-Benz are cutting prices for new cars and spare parts in an effort to appease Chinese regulators which have accused some of them of anti-competitive behavior.

Anti-trust regulator, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), launched an investigation into the auto industry following domestic media complaints that foreign carmakers were overcharging Chinese customers for vehicles and spare parts.

In the longer run, forcing European carmakers to lower the price of spare parts and imported vehicles could see margins in China normalize to levels currently seen in Europe, JP Morgan said in a note earlier this month.

From that last quote, we can see that margins are much higher in China, so there is some truth to what the Chinese government is saying about companies overcharging Chinese customers.

China finds Mercedes-Benz guilty of price fixing: Xinhua | Reuters

 

[olmate]

This from a bloke in Melbourne Australia

Not long now guys...
I'm hoping for pickup late next week! Yay !

mmmmm...I got no phone call:crying:

 

[A.T.L.]

This from a bloke in Melbourne Australia

Not long now guys...
I'm hoping for pickup late next week! Yay !

mmmmm...I got no phone call:crying:

Hopefully it does happen by then, what i have learned with these guys is that you have to contact them, waiting on a response from them may not be the best thing to do.

 

[olmate]

Hopefully it does happen by then, what i have learned with these guys is that you have to contact them, waiting on a response from them may not be the best thing to do.

Thanks for the tip A.T.L.
If I dont hear anything soon I will give them a ring

 

[dave]

UK Delivery Dates

Hi All

Ordered my GLA 250 from UK dealer back in May 2014 (17 weeks and counting)
Still no word on build or delivery, anybody else experiencing similar delays ?
spec includes Pano roof/ AMG Exc Pkg/ Drive Assist/ Prem plus/ Comand.
Considering taking the hit and buying another make from stock, some great deals at my local VW and Volvo dealerships.