Daimler kills Maybach

David McCarthy, spokesman for Mercedes-Benz Australia, confirmed that Maybach production will end at the end of 2013.

Only seven Maybachs have been sold in Australia, and that number is unlikely to rise now that Mercedes-Benz management has pierced the car and the company.

He turned down an offer to upgrade the lineup to replace the Maybach 57 and 62, which were due to go on sale in 2014.

“We have come to the conclusion that it is better to cut our losses with Maybach than to continue operating into the uncertain future,” says Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler.

“Yes, production will end at the end of 2013,” confirms David McCarthy, spokesman for Mercedes-Benz Australia.

The revived Maybach hit the road at almost the same time as the Rolls-Royce Phantom, but there was never any real rivalry. The British limousine owned by BMW was just right for the money, but the Maybach always gave the impression of a long-wheelbase S-Class Benz with a Dick Smith shop in the back seat.

Maybach promised two business class seats and a brilliant entertainment package, and delivered on that part of the deal.

But the car was never great enough, or better enough, to win over customers or even satisfy high-end Benz buyers. For example, longtime Benz owner and collector Lindsay Fox always wanted an S-Class Pullman, not a Maybach.

When prices could easily rise above $1 million, sales were low at a time when Rolls-Royce was regularly delivering 20 cars a year to Australia and over 1000 cars worldwide.

McCarthy says only a couple of fully loaded Maybach 62s were sold here, with the rest delivered as shorter-wheelbase 57s, but declines to elaborate.

“Each Maybach was custom-made for the customer. There is nothing “average” about Maybach price, specs or buyers,” he says.

Despite the death sentence, Maybach owners will still receive support.

“Every Maybach owner will continue to enjoy the exceptional level of customer support, interaction and exclusive benefits that come with owning one of the most exclusive cars on the planet,” says McCarthy.