Think a lot of this could be true, floods last year, and still ongoing supply problems........ understand the manufactures could have brought the cars into Thailand if they were like for like for no charge/ import duty..

The import duty exemption was only offered to Honda, and they took it up - the Jazz, CR-V (old version), Odyssey, Stepwgn, and CR-Z were all imported under the relaxed rules. The Jazz has been back to local assembly since April 2012, and the new gen CR-V is also TH made.

The imported versions were/are sold here with a "JP" badge for those interested

...a lot of the cars built here are exported to Australia,.Europe and even the US, and they simply couldn't be if they did not meet with these countries' respective safety standards.

I don't know of any TH built cars that are exported to the USA, but yes, most models made here are exported to SEA, Australia, Middle East, Europe - even Japan in the case of the Mitsubishi Mirage.

However, the spec differs by destination - the Thai built car someone in one of these export markets buys can be very different to the version sold here domestically.

The biggest differences are normally in engines (most commonly, higher output versions or larger capacity options for export) and safety options (notably airbags and stability control), but in many cases export models also have better insulation, different glass, and even in some cases higher grade chassis steels (to achieve 5 stars).

Agreed, was just going to post the same thing.. Almost bought a Jap Jazz but thought better against buying ANYTHING and a complete change of life direction instead.. Though that was long enough ago that it would have resold well the wait to own was going to be way too long and would have cut into my resale when it finally became necessary.

Are all the "official" C Class Mercs assembled/built here?

What's the difference between grey imports and Thai ones?

RAZZ

Are all the "official" C Class Mercs assembled/built here?

No, only the standard "top sellers" are assembled here,

Old gray styled ones in default colors, basically no extras avaiable as well.

Price ... Well we spoke about that

What's the difference between grey imports and Thai ones?

A gray import is a car basically ordered and paid in germany or the UK, and then shiped to asia.

This car's can have all avaiable options and costing arround 40-60% less as the ones made here with no options.

Mercedes Thailand announced that they will Refuse to Service all gray imported cars in the future, but the Mercedes HQ did smash them down on that because of the Worldwide warranty a Benz comes with.