Mercedes-AMG CEO Admits V8 Ditching Leads to Loss of Customers
The head of Mercedes-AMG has admitted that the V8 loss has caused a loss of customers. In an interview with Car Magazine, the head of the sub-brand Michael Schiebe made it clear that the switch to a plug-in hybrid system based on a turbocharged four-cylinder engine was not accepted by some buyers. "We have certainly lost customers who are into V8s," the head of Mercedes-AMG said. However, Schiebe insists that the choice of powertrain for the current AMG C 63 was correct.
Michael Schiebe called the C 63 "a very important car in the portfolio." The specialist said that it uses the latest technology from Formula 1. The functionary explains the modest sales of the super hybrid simply: in his opinion, Mercedes-AMG failed to properly explain the technology to sellers and customers, and missed the opportunity to make the right first impression.
The portfolio will include all types of transmissions: from a "pure" internal combustion engine and a hybrid to electric vehicles. However, the future of Mercedes-AMG is not linked to the internal combustion engine: Michael Schiebe is confident that the pace of transition to electric traction should not be slowed down, and high-performance cars in the future will not have petrol units.
"The new technology opens up a lot of opportunities for us. We can do a lot of new things that are not possible today with an internal combustion engine," the head of Mercedes-AMG said. Interestingly, three months ago Michael Schiebe claimed that customers would not notice the replacement of the V8 with electric traction at all.
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