but... but... on what basis?

I see, but then it is because only your market has long wheel base A-Class, C-Class, E-Class right that might explain why they need that badge as your market also offer the standard/short wheel base of those aforementioned models right?

I read on the forums you guys need the long wheel base because having a chauffer is a big deal and sitting and most buy these cars don't drive and sit in the back?

Untrue, the vast, vast majority of S class owners drive themselves here. I'm talking at least 90%. And LWBs are popular because customers here like their cars big. Chinese customers popularised SUVs. And recently they took a step further, moving on to MPVs. Big cars sell big in here. End of story.

I was at the Shanghai motor show, the largest motor show in China, a few months earlier. And you know what was the 'star' product on every car maker's stage? BIG MPVs. Glorified mini-vans with reclining captain seats for all passengers. Or SUVs / CUVs with similar bloated designs.

And before you ask: yes, most buyers of those MPVs also drive themselves. There aren't enough professional drivers in China to create such an MPV bloom. The buyers are typically extended families with needs for additional capacity that regular sedans cannot provide.

I see, weird, what I mentioned was on this forum but I guess the information wasn't reliable since you have first hand experience.

but wait then that doesn't explain the A long, C long, E long etc. if the long wheel base is not for being more comfortable in the back?

Sure, the added comfort in the back matters. But so do extrinsic perceptions of prestige and luxury. As far as the Chinese market is concerned, the latter is often assigned even more significance than the former. You are not just buying a car. It is also an investment in your 'face'

you are right, short wheel model just won't work for the majority of Chinese buyers, big dick issue, a longer and wider car is a "face" race for chinese family and friends, and works even better in black car.

see above

Social credit is fun one, in 2020. I still like it.

I see, it is a cultural thing then. I respect that.

I see, fair enough, but in terms of cultural reasons, unless I am understanding this incorrectly, wouldn't there will be more "face" if they get a higher tier vehicle for example if you were to buy an E, you get an S instead or if you buy a C, you get an E instead?

You do？I personally don't

You are absolutely right - this is what they will do, if, at all, their finances allow.

I paid about USD 270,000 for my fully-equipped V223. This far exceeds the starting price of the Z223 variant in my market. And most of my peers, at this price point, will rather have an under-equipped, barebones 'Maybach', for the additional silver plastic blings, and the 'posh' Maybach badging.

This is also the reason why Caynne and Panamera had such explosive success in China. Porche was seen as more prestigious and exclusive brand than your run-of-the-mill Audis, MBs and BMWs. So when Porchecame out with these 'practical daily drivers', people flocked to them, to make themselves 'a cut above' their S-class-and-X7-driving neighbours.

I guess you could call it a 'cultural' thing. Just a pretty sad and pathetic one.

I see.

I see, is SUV also a big thing in your market by any chance? What about pick up trucks, in North America we are riddled with those stuff (sorry just to be clear no offense to SUV lovers)

I think in any culture, at any given time, you're one step away from becoming a caricature of yourself, a meme, particularly when viewed from the outside. For me, cars and face have taken that step over there. We have it here too, but not to that extent.

Boy, are they popular. SUVs and CUVs make up practically half the passenger car market in China.

We have here a brand, called Haval, whose entire lineup consists of nothing but SUVs and CUVs. I know this sounds absolutely ridiculous, but in China, it actually makes for a viable business strategy, as evidenced by the brand's commercial success.

Pick-ups are very rare in China though. Most of the local car makers do not even bother having one in their portfolio. Almost all of the non-commercial pick-ups I see are imported American muscle classics, like variants of F150. More of a fashion statement, than utility.

Really, pick-up seems to be a very American thing. I don't recall seeing any of those in my time in England, neither.

The majority of people that I know that drive a pick-up treat it like a car. Nothing goes in the bed. But, choice is great. I wish we (US market) had the option of the LWB C and E-Class cars though.

I see, so SUVs' popularity is a global thing and not just North America.

Interesting nonetheless because I heard your market's parking spaces are scarce and the actual spots are tight to park? How does a big vehicle like an SUV help in that case?

Well it doesn't. I always uber, rather than drive, to congested destinations (like hospitals) to avoid the endless parking space hunt.

Which empathizes the point that SUVs makes parking harder so why the love towards these things even in your market?

one car per family is normal, bigger better, family cars in China gotta be spatial in case of "needs".
For parking, those tiny parking lots exist in Japan are not the case here. it's not about the size, getting one parking slot in a major city (downtown), the price easily goes from 50,000 USD per slot (one car slot). renting is around 120-150 USD per month, not that affordable for most families. where I live I spend 500 USD monthly just to park my cars. really stupid cost. ah, parking on the roadside is **** price too, high as 2 USD an hour, luxury parking for all citizens。

I wish American pickups can be a tiny bit smaller, 6-meter vehicles are nightmares, I really want to own one, my redneck dream.

Didn't know Japanese have small parking spots, that said I should had expected it since they do have cars known as Kei cars and not entirely a fan of pick-up trucks.

Get the Maverick or RAM Rampage.