Hopefully someone smarter than I can answer this one, or if I was fed 'a line'.

I inquired as to the date new C300 RWD would hit dealer lots to go eagerly test drive one and compare to the 4matics already here. I'm in FL, and not a far ride on a truck from Alabama. There's some in pipeline for build as early as January 23rd. That said, when build date is generated in NetStar, I'm not sure if that's the start date or completion, or both, as fast as they roll them out.

Response from sales manager was that they're "due at the dealer the first of February, take a week, or give up to a month, because the RWD is considered an entirely new model, after they get build in Alabama, they're all then held in Jacksonville for this region until the US government certifies the new model, and then they are released and trucked' Therefore, he said anywhere from January 26 to February 28. Pretty big window! He also mentioned that the 4matics hit dealers 3 weeks before the due date to their surprise, but that was an anomaly, and a first in his 20 years with 'benz and the government 'releasing' them, and said with the winter shut down it's impossible the RWD would be early.

What exactly is our government 'checking'? I don't think EPA #s out yet, but thought maker set those. Anyone else have connection with tighter delivery times for build of RWD C300 models? Thanks in advance

 

I understand that the simple answer is that all vehicles sold in the US have to be homologated against the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards which are incompatible with Europes standards & ROW.

 

one would think they inspect safety standards prior to production...

 

Sorry to say, you were "fed a line". The dealer does not understand how the process works, or is fabricating, as blaming the government goes over well with many people and deflects the issue. I used to manage this process at another car company. Here's what really happens.

All cars sold in the US must comply with federal regulatory requirements. However, in the US, manufacturers are self-certifying. The government does not do any "checking" as part of the normal vehicle release and launch process. A couple of things may be happening here, including sales allocation availability and inventory planning. Another, although low likelihood, is that a manufacturer may, at their discretion, label the vehicle model year one year in advance, but only once January 1 passes. So, MBUSA would have the discretion to label these as 2016 vehicles, if they enter commerce on/after January 1, 2015 (defined as leaving the plant bound for interstate commerce). That strategy would alter when the initial production starts and could result in a late January dealer lot arrival, but it's not the most likely scenario.

A rear wheel will require its own development program which includes impact testing and emissions. So, it may be on a timetable not known to the dealer body.

As well, it is possible that delays may have been encountered with late changes needed to meet one or more of the regulatory requirements ranging from safety to emissions. We had more late changes for engine calibrations which affected emissions than for safety. The certification labels are affixed to the cars by the manufacturer after they have internally documented compliance. I can recall some situations where we produced vehicles which were not yet ready to have labels affixed, and then plant employees had to swarm the shipping lot to affix each label to each vehicle after the compliance had been documented to vehicles which did not need any changes. The testing process had simply been late to launch.

So, without some key internal knowledge, you may never know what is causing this timing. However, the one cause which is not at play is a delay in the government certifying the vehicle...because they don't.

Good luck and best wishes with your new car!

 

Thanks SS ~ always learn about US issues from you. So FMVSS is self-certifying much as SAE is to the oil industry.

 

I had a feeling....it's never 'their' fault. Thanks for the truth on it.

He did elude somewhere in the conversation about emissions and felt maybe something to do with that or mileage/gallon quotes, which yet to be released.

Anyone get better word when RWD will show up? They're supposedly on the production line now.