"Women Are The New China" / myLot

Germany

March 8, 2016 11:44am CST

You don't understand this sentence? Maybe it helps to mention that Mr Dieter Zetsche* said it, Chairman of the Daimler works in Stuttgart, Germany, where the Mercedes Benz cars are built. No? Then let me enlighten you. At the end of this decade Mercedes wants to be at the top end of the list of German premium cars. They've already overtaken Audi and are close on the heels of BMW. This has happened thanks to the Chinese market, where sales have increased eightfold during the past eight years. Last year the shareholders had the best result ever in the history of the Daimler works. Each worker got a bonus of 5650 Euro / $6225 / 4374 GBP. Yet, a half sentence by an executive board member claiming that the growth rate will be slower in China this year was enough to make the share lose 5%. Dieter Zetsche, "It's damned hard to get to the top. But it's even harder to stay at the top." So the idea came up that the road to permanent success may lie in winning a new kind of buyer. Up to now the typical buyer of a fat** Mercedes Benz is a well-off, elderly man. The average age is 56 years. This is what made Mr Zetsche say, "Women are the new China." Yet, only women in the USA have heard the call. There, more women buy a Mercedes Benz than an Audi or a BMW. I think this is a good post for International Women's Day which is celebrated on 8th March. Do I have to point out that before women can buy more Mercedes Benz cars, they have to get equal pay ? *Try to pronounce that name! **In German a Mercedes Benz is usually preceded by the adjective 'fat'.

27 people like this

25 responses

Anna

@LadyDuck (458297)

• Switzerland

9 Mar 16

What about Mercedes, do women have the same pay and rights in their factories? My husband had two different Mercedes during the years, both were stolen in Italy (they were not on the road, but in a private garage).

4 people like this

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Anna

@LadyDuck (458297)

• Switzerland

9 Mar 16

@MALUSE Unfortunately this is pretty common in some Italian cities.

2 people like this

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

9 Mar 16

I don't know about equal payat the Mercedes works, but, sadly, Germany as a whole is not tops when it comes to equal pay. I hadn't heard about cars stolen out of garages, but I can imagine this in Italy. In Germany it's mostly the Poles who steal cars and take them to Eastern Europe.

3 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

10 Mar 16

Yikes. Italy sounds like the US.

3 people like this

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DianneN

@DianneN (246906)

• United States

8 Mar 16

I have my fifth one parked in my garage at home. My husband bought it for me. His money is mine. Go figure.

4 people like this

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

8 Mar 16

If you had the same job as your husband, would you get the same salary?

3 people like this

DianneN

@DianneN (246906)

• United States

9 Mar 16

@MALUSE Yes. Very lucky.

1 person likes this

Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (49016)

• United States

8 Mar 16

I have a cousin whose name is Mercedes. Her daddy named her after his favorite car.

3 people like this

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

8 Mar 16

I once had a pupil called Mercedes. She liked wearing shirts with the Mercedes star on the front. When she was asked her name, she only pointed at it. :-)

3 people like this

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

9 Mar 16

@JudyEv But it started the other way round. The first Mercedes was called after a girl.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (325854)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Mar 16

I think it's a nice name. There aren't too many car brand names that are suitable for girls' names.

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WorDazza

@WorDazza (15833)

• Manchester, England

8 Mar 16

Before I read your final sentence I was just thinking to myself, I wonder if Mercedes operate an equal pay policy for women!!

4 people like this

Reine25

@Lucky15 (37346)

• Philippines

9 Mar 16

wish i could afford one :))

2 people like this

brendamarie

@whiteream (8567)

• United States

9 Mar 16

Cars don't mean anything to me. I don't drive. But, women do need equal pay that is for sure.

2 people like this

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

9 Mar 16

Same here. I don't drive, either. I don't even enjoy being driven. I prefer going by train. But that's not an alternative in your country. :-(

3 people like this

brendamarie

@whiteream (8567)

• United States

10 Mar 16

@MALUSE I walk everywhere I go.

2 people like this

marcyaz

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

8 Mar 16

I had not heard that expression before but how appropriate. No way could I afford a Mercedes Benz and you can't just take them to anyone if there is a problem you have to take them to the dealer to be worked on mechanically. Very Interesting Post, thanks.

1 person likes this

suziecat7

@suziecat7 (3350)

• Asheville, North Carolina

9 Mar 16

Great post - Mercedes have always been beautiful cars - perfect for a woman who can afford it.

2 people like this

celticeagle

@celticeagle (159105)

• Boise, Idaho

9 Mar 16

I hope that Mercedes can make it. They are a good company from what I have heard. Equal pay would be nice.

1 person likes this

Boingboing

@boiboing (13153)

• Northampton, England

24 Mar 16

I've had Audis and have had many BMWs but I've never been at all tempted by a Merc.

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

24 Mar 16

Well, as long as your cars are German, our Minister of Finance is content with you.

The Horse

@TheHorse (205839)

• Walnut Creek, California

10 Mar 16

Women get equal pay here in the US for all of the jobs I've worked. But my friend has a BMW and a Mercedes and I like the way the BMW drives more.

1 person likes this

Macarrosel

@Macarrosel (7498)

• Philippines

10 Mar 16

When I was a kid, I was really amazed seeing a man driving a mercedes benz. For me he is such a lucky and rich man.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (325854)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Mar 16

There was a news article last night on our TV about women still being way behind in the equal pay stakes - even in the top jobs women are paid substantially less.

1 person likes this

Janet Anderson

@Auntylou (4264)

• Oxford, England

10 Mar 16

In the UK women stil earn much less than men.

1 person likes this

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

11 Mar 16

@JudyEv One must also mention that there are only few women in top jobs at all!

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (325854)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Mar 16

@Auntylou I wonder if the discrepancy will ever get corrected?

2 people like this

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Anne Johnston

@AnneEJ (4917)

• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec

9 Mar 16

Very interesting, don't think I would ever be able to afford a Mercedes Benz.

1 person likes this

Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61047)

• United States

15 Mar 16

My sister in law has a BMW, me I have a Subaru!!

Marlina

@marlina (154166)

• Canada

14 Mar 16

I think that women would probably look better at the wheel of a Mercedes, but first like you mentioned, they have to get better salaries.

Gary Marsh

@garymarsh6 (23393)

• United Kingdom

12 Mar 16

I believe a Merc is far more classy than a BMW. In London BMW are favoured by black people. I think they call them 'Black Man's Wheels'.

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

12 Mar 16

My husband isn't black but has a BMW. :-)

PaintsOnSlate

@PainsOnSlate (21854)

• Canada

2 Apr 16

I can't imagine buying such an expensive car. I drive a Dodge and love it. My sister has a Mercedes (her husband bought it) she likes to drive it but says it certainly not worth the amount of money it cost...Its for show... Her husband is all about show... Making a Mercedes a "woman's" car is probably brilliant...you see more and more on the roads today. I never looked to see if they were driven by men or women...but I will from now on...

RussTeed

@RussTeed (1498)

• United States

22 Mar 16

American women enjoy exponentially more freedom than women in China, and many countries. It will be a tough sell to women in China, but here in the states they will gobble them up.

Vincent Summers

@KuznVinny (768)

• United States

2 Apr 16

I thought the gist of this article was going to be women are used as cheap labor to build the cars. Although that wasn't the intent, it still received an "honorable mention." If women do the job of men, it's not fair to pay them less these days. At one time it would have seemed fair, as it would have discouraged women to join the job market and so increase the cost of goods to families (don't ask - this is too complicated for a comment). But now it just isn't fair.