Right-hand drive a cornerstone: Mercedes boss

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed its long-term commitment to right-hand drive vehicles.

Although not all models will be built in right-hand drive – witness the F1-engined Mercedes-AMG ONE – the company’s top executive has nonetheless labelled right-hand drive production as a cornerstone of the Daimler group’s strategy.

Speaking via a teleconference last night in the wake of the Geneva motor show’s cancellation, Mercedes-Benz and Daimler boss Ola Kallenius made it clear that right-hand drive and his company’s fortunes were linked.

“Right-hand drive remains a cornerstone of our strategy and we have no plans to not serve our friends and customers around the world,” he stated.

“Absolutely, the right-hand drive markets are very important to us around the world,” Kallenius said.

“In Europe, of course, the UK is a hugely important market – being the second biggest of our markets in Europe,” he explained.

“Australia has always been a strong Mercedes market. We have a strong position there [and] we feel we have growth potential in the mid to long term in Australia…

“Japan and I could go on and on,” he stated.

General Motors’ decision to abandon right-hand drive markets sealed the fate of Holden. However, some of the world’s largest car-making groups retain interest in the opportunity right-hand drive markets present.

Local Fiat Chrysler Automobiles sources last week confirmed right-hand drive commitments for marques such as Jeep and Alfa Romeo.