Each new platform is an increase in fixed cost for the carmaker.
Mercedes historically has taken top price position in the non-exotic auto world, so the only place for them to grow outside of a small and under-attack luxury segment is downward, into premium and near-luxury models.
Examples: A, CLA, GLA and GLB. I sat in a GLB and an A recently. These things are cheap. They have MB styling cues. And they are cheap.
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