Discussion
Sheepshanks said:
Apparently some Mercedes dealers will be selling them...
There was a Merc franchise up North which announced last year that it would be selling BYD in the Merc shops. Stratstones also announced they'd be stocking BYD. Neither bodes well for BYDs being sold in the U.K. at BYD prices. 
Merc buy their EV batteries from BYD.
Jazzy Jag said:
Sheepshanks said:
Apparently some Mercedes dealers will be selling them...
I find that hard to believe given MBs association with Smart which has new #1 and #3 EVs...but I think there is some level of tie-up at the manufacturer level too.
DMZ said:
Why do they even bother with dealers seeing as the only realistic path to sales is SS lease?
Brand awareness? It's not like these are stupid businesses but they do understand stupid consumers. If a punter is sifting through the list of what their employer offers then max prestige and brand are huge components of the process. People don't start at Toyota, they typically end up there after a thought journey that began in a different place. From BYD's perspective being in a few showrooms near to some things with shiny Merc badges and big numbers is no bad thing. Even if no one walks in and buys one it's the value association and brand awareness that is at work.
The bit I can't work out is why retain the 'Seal' name for the U.K. market where it is typically essential to have names so macho they're originally taken from all male sex shop products, like Warrior, Probe, Invader, Intruder or power letters such 'X'. The soft cuddly names are usually the reserve of cars patronisingly aimed at women by blokes still strapped in the 20th century like Adam or Funky Cat.
This is a big man's wagon with a price tag and usage case that typically fits GenX or older who don't seem a brilliant demographic for punting overtly Chinese products with overtly girly naming?
Again, it's hard to believe they haven't invested in researching whether a name change was needed so it's interesting and intriguing that they've stuck with it. Being mid sized mayne the research showed the most likely market is the under 45s where masking toxic masculinity is seen as important? Don't know but the name retention is the intriguing bit in my view.
Sheepshanks said:
DonkeyApple said:
….Funky Cat.
…..and that’s called 03 now! Very macho.Is Gareth Cheeseman going to want to rock up with something called a Seal?
It's where Fisker have been smart using the word Ocean. It leaves interpretation open. People can care about an ocean or think of all the cute little things living in it or they can imagine they are a predator. You also get to call your car Billy whereas of you call your Seal 'Henry' people will assume you just really like things that suck.
DonkeyApple said:
Brand awareness? It's not like these are stupid businesses but they do understand stupid consumers. If a punter is sifting through the list of what their employer offers then max prestige and brand are huge components of the process. People don't start at Toyota, they typically end up there after a thought journey that began in a different place.
It's Brand awareness but its driven entirely by price. Only a small handful on our scheme have gone for BM's, Jags and Mercs and that's largely because the Jags and Mercs when in stock are hugely discounted, EQE's for £500 odd net when they're near £100k cars etc. One person went for an i4 M50 but he's 25 so I can see the appeal of included insurance and tyres. I agree they need to drop the odd names, you'd think they'd have learned from the Japanese and Koreans.
We used to abuse our Maths teacher something rotten for driving a Diahatsu Applause.
ChocolateFrog said:
It's Brand awareness but its driven entirely by price. Only a small handful on our scheme have gone for BM's, Jags and Mercs and that's largely because the Jags and Mercs when in stock are hugely discounted, EQE's for £500 odd net when they're near £100k cars etc. One person went for an i4 M50 but he's 25 so I can see the appeal of included insurance and tyres.
I agree they need to drop the odd names, you'd think they'd have learned from the Japanese and Koreans.
We used to abuse our Maths teacher something rotten for driving a Diahatsu Applause.
Yup. £45k for something on sale next to cheap brand is going to look more expensive than of next to an expensive one. We humans are genetically programmed to ascertain value/worth by association. I agree they need to drop the odd names, you'd think they'd have learned from the Japanese and Koreans.
We used to abuse our Maths teacher something rotten for driving a Diahatsu Applause.
Re the comedy naming, I've often wondered how the Asian firms come up with the English names for their exports. You'd think they'd hire some local expertise of maybe they keep hiring Brits taking the piss?
Sheepshanks said:
Apparently some Mercedes dealers will be selling them...
I wonder if this is linked to the new rule about 22% of new cars being sold needing to be electric? Could be BYD get to piggyback on Merc's dealer network whilst they build brand awareness, and Merc get an easy way of achieving the government's EV sales target without needing to introduce the heavy discounting on their main EV products, which most other brands will need to do this year.EddieSteadyGo said:
I wonder if this is linked to the new rule about 22% of new cars being sold needing to be electric?.
No, it's a dealer group owned by a Chinese firm thing.I'm astonished MB have agreed to it - maybe the Chinese just did it anyway?
My local Honda dealer added MG a while ago - that was equally surprising.. although I suppose it might have stopped the dealer closing down as many Honda dealers have.
Sheepshanks said:
EddieSteadyGo said:
I wonder if this is linked to the new rule about 22% of new cars being sold needing to be electric?.
No, it's a dealer group owned by a Chinese firm thing.I'm astonished MB have agreed to it - maybe the Chinese just did it anyway?
My local Honda dealer added MG a while ago - that was equally surprising.. although I suppose it might have stopped the dealer closing down as many Honda dealers have.
Sheepshanks said:
Silvanus said:
Guess it makes it a lot easier for the old folk trading in their Hondas for an MG ZS, if you can't beat them, join them.
Yes, works for the dealer - bonkers for Honda.Honda have very reliable products but the whole marketing and product plan is a shambles.
The HQ structure and corporate culture are a a triumph of form over function.
Are you a graduate? Come in, take a seat.
Got experience? Know what you're doing? Understand the automotive industry? Sod off, we find you intimidating.
I see Honda dealers changing franchise all around me.
Jazzy Jag said:
Sheepshanks said:
Silvanus said:
Guess it makes it a lot easier for the old folk trading in their Hondas for an MG ZS, if you can't beat them, join them.
Yes, works for the dealer - bonkers for Honda.Honda have very reliable products but the whole marketing and product plan is a shambles.
The HQ structure and corporate culture are a a triumph of form over function.
Are you a graduate? Come in, take a seat.
Got experience? Know what you're doing? Understand the automotive industry? Sod off, we find you intimidating.
I see Honda dealers changing franchise all around me.
Silvanus said:
Jazzy Jag said:
Sheepshanks said:
Silvanus said:
Guess it makes it a lot easier for the old folk trading in their Hondas for an MG ZS, if you can't beat them, join them.
Yes, works for the dealer - bonkers for Honda.Honda have very reliable products but the whole marketing and product plan is a shambles.
The HQ structure and corporate culture are a a triumph of form over function.
Are you a graduate? Come in, take a seat.
Got experience? Know what you're doing? Understand the automotive industry? Sod off, we find you intimidating.
I see Honda dealers changing franchise all around me.
What a complete disappointing POS.
It's like you have ordered a real car from Wish or Ali Express.
More flat spots that a 50p piece and unimpressive MPG.
Totally frustrating infotainment that doesn't do what it could should, but just looks like it will.
Give me a Kia or Hyundai any day of the week.
Jazzy Jag said:
I currently have an MG ZS on the drive at the moment courtesy of Avis.
What a complete disappointing POS.
It's like you have ordered a real car from Wish or Ali Express.
More flat spots that a 50p piece and unimpressive MPG.
Totally frustrating infotainment that doesn't do what it could should, but just looks like it will.
Give me a Kia or Hyundai any day of the week.
I expect the people who buy them would prefer a Kia or a Hyundai, but they cost thousands more for a similar spec, that's why they sell so well.What a complete disappointing POS.
It's like you have ordered a real car from Wish or Ali Express.
More flat spots that a 50p piece and unimpressive MPG.
Totally frustrating infotainment that doesn't do what it could should, but just looks like it will.
Give me a Kia or Hyundai any day of the week.
DonkeyApple said:
Brand awareness? It's not like these are stupid businesses but they do understand stupid consumers. If a punter is sifting through the list of what their employer offers then max prestige and brand are huge components of the process. People don't start at Toyota, they typically end up there after a thought journey that began in a different place.
From BYD's perspective being in a few showrooms near to some things with shiny Merc badges and big numbers is no bad thing. Even if no one walks in and buys one it's the value association and brand awareness that is at work.
The bit I can't work out is why retain the 'Seal' name for the U.K. market where it is typically essential to have names so macho they're originally taken from all male sex shop products, like Warrior, Probe, Invader, Intruder or power letters such 'X'. The soft cuddly names are usually the reserve of cars patronisingly aimed at women by blokes still strapped in the 20th century like Adam or Funky Cat.
This is a big man's wagon with a price tag and usage case that typically fits GenX or older who don't seem a brilliant demographic for punting overtly Chinese products with overtly girly naming?
Again, it's hard to believe they haven't invested in researching whether a name change was needed so it's interesting and intriguing that they've stuck with it. Being mid sized mayne the research showed the most likely market is the under 45s where masking toxic masculinity is seen as important? Don't know but the name retention is the intriguing bit in my view.
Probably because at least you can remember them, which is a bit of a challenge with the copy paste stuff from China I find. Not sure a BYD 340 would be all that memorable. Naming a car after a fish seems to be a bit more distinctive where there in reality are very few other distinctive attributes. Eventually they might figure out to use more interesting fish names like Stingray. But I guess for an EV something like Whale is often more appropriate. Instead of Hans Zimmer you get wails when you hit the accelerator. I think could work. From BYD's perspective being in a few showrooms near to some things with shiny Merc badges and big numbers is no bad thing. Even if no one walks in and buys one it's the value association and brand awareness that is at work.
The bit I can't work out is why retain the 'Seal' name for the U.K. market where it is typically essential to have names so macho they're originally taken from all male sex shop products, like Warrior, Probe, Invader, Intruder or power letters such 'X'. The soft cuddly names are usually the reserve of cars patronisingly aimed at women by blokes still strapped in the 20th century like Adam or Funky Cat.
This is a big man's wagon with a price tag and usage case that typically fits GenX or older who don't seem a brilliant demographic for punting overtly Chinese products with overtly girly naming?
Again, it's hard to believe they haven't invested in researching whether a name change was needed so it's interesting and intriguing that they've stuck with it. Being mid sized mayne the research showed the most likely market is the under 45s where masking toxic masculinity is seen as important? Don't know but the name retention is the intriguing bit in my view.
In the glorious future when choosing your daily and you’re going down the list of Ying Yong 280, Great Wall #3, or a BYD Dolphin on the SS sheet then it at least stands out a bit.
Jazzy Jag said:
I currently have an MG ZS on the drive at the moment courtesy of Avis.
What a complete disappointing POS.
It's like you have ordered a real car from Wish or Ali Express.
More flat spots that a 50p piece and unimpressive MPG.
Totally frustrating infotainment that doesn't do what it could should, but just looks like it will.
Give me a Kia or Hyundai any day of the week.
Big numbers of these MGs appearing around our estate.What a complete disappointing POS.
It's like you have ordered a real car from Wish or Ali Express.
More flat spots that a 50p piece and unimpressive MPG.
Totally frustrating infotainment that doesn't do what it could should, but just looks like it will.
Give me a Kia or Hyundai any day of the week.
If you drew a Venn diagram of new MG, gobby a
hole in the neighbourhood Facebook group and treats the speedtables as launch ramps usually with their nose glued to their phone, you would end up with something that looks like someone has repeatedly placed a moist glass on a coaster.Hateful cars for hateful specimens.
SJfW said:
Jazzy Jag said:
I currently have an MG ZS on the drive at the moment courtesy of Avis.
What a complete disappointing POS.
It's like you have ordered a real car from Wish or Ali Express.
More flat spots that a 50p piece and unimpressive MPG.
Totally frustrating infotainment that doesn't do what it could should, but just looks like it will.
Give me a Kia or Hyundai any day of the week.
Big numbers of these MGs appearing around our estate.What a complete disappointing POS.
It's like you have ordered a real car from Wish or Ali Express.
More flat spots that a 50p piece and unimpressive MPG.
Totally frustrating infotainment that doesn't do what it could should, but just looks like it will.
Give me a Kia or Hyundai any day of the week.
If you drew a Venn diagram of new MG, gobby a
hole in the neighbourhood Facebook group and treats the speedtables as launch ramps usually with their nose glued to their phone, you would end up with something that looks like someone has repeatedly placed a moist glass on a coaster.Hateful cars for hateful specimens.
Calm down dear!
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