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Mercedes-Benz Starts Successfully into the Second Quarter of 2012: Sales up 3.6 Percent in April

By | Published Friday, 4 May 2012

Mercedes-Benz has had a successful start of the second quarter, with sales up 3.6%. Last month, the company sold 104,344 vehicles of its core brand. Year-to-date shipments are thus at a record level of 418,246 units (+9.7%).

The Mercedes-Benz Cars division has also registered a new sales record since the beginning of the year. Between January and April, 454,778 vehicles (+9.4%) of Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach have been sold; 113,901 units (+3.5%) of these were in April.

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars: “We are continuing on the road to success as the second quarter begins, and have again increased our sales compared to last year. This is mainly due to the ongoing high demand for our new products. Sales of the new B-Class and the new M-Class are already performing excellently and will continue to develop dynamically due to the gradual introduction to other markets. In the months to come, the next generation GLK, the new G-Class and the E300 BlueTec Hybrid, the most efficient sedan in the premium segment, are celebrating their market launch. This will provide additional sales momentum.”

Demand for the brand with the star remains especially high throughout the NAFTA region. In the USA, Canada, and Mexico, sales have been at a record high since the start of the year. In April alone, 22,336 vehicles (+23.8%) have been handed over to customers in the United States. From January to April, 83,849 Mercedes-Benz cars (+17.5%) were sold. This makes Mercedes-Benz in April and year-to-date the best-selling premium brand in the U.S. In Canada, sales were up15.8% year-on-year in the same period. In Mexico sales even rose by 29.9% compared to the previous year.

Mercedes-Benz sales also developed very dynamically in Russia. New sales records were reached in April and year-to-date. Sales growth was 25.9% in April.

Sales were also robust in the Middle East region in April, growing by 20.3%.

Mercedes-Benz also continued to perform very well in Germany. Since January, 78,957 vehicles have been sold in the home market, which corresponds to a growth of 10.2%. Deliveries increased slightly year-on-year to 22,405 units (+0.6%). Thus, Mercedes-Benz had the strongest sales of any premium brands in Germany, not just in April but also year-to-date. Regarding registrations, Mercedes-Benz in April once again outperformed the total market and gained market shares. In addition, the S-Class followed by the CLS, the B-Class, and the SLK followed by the E-Class coupe, lead the registration figures of their respective segments of Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).

Unlike the total Western European market, Mercedes-Benz sales in Western Europe (without Germany) continued to develop well since the start of the year growing by 3.8%. Particularly in the UK and Switzerland Mercedes-Benz generated strong sales figures in April and the year-to-date. In the UK April deliveries were up 13.9% year-on-year; in Switzerland Mercedes-Benz even generated a 35.8% sales growth.

Due to the run-out of the high-volume B-Class, as well as the recent launch of the M-Class and the start of the locally manufactured GLK, these very popular models only had a limited availability in China (incl. Hong Kong) last month. Overall, sales amounted to 14,677 units (-11.2%). Since the beginning of the year, 66,005 cars have been delivered to customers in China – more than ever before during this period. Thus, Mercedes-Benz is well on track to achieve its goal of record double-digit growth in China in 2012.

Japan also developed very well, where the company delivered 12,392 vehicles between January and April, increasing sales by 38.5%.

In terms of products, the B-Class continues to enjoy strong demand. Since its market introduction far more than 45,000 units of the new model have been sold.

The other Mercedes-Benz series are also very popular among customers. Since the start of the year, the C-Class segment has grown by 22.5%; in April the growth rate was 10.5%. The sedan and estate of the E-Class passed significant sales milestones last month. Since market launch 2009, 500,000 sedans and 100,000 estates of the current generation have been delivered to customers.
The S-Class sedan generated 14.1% sales growth between January and April. Thus, the brand’s flagship remains the leader in its segment. In addition to this outstanding sales development S-Class made additional good news in April. The S250 CDI BlueEfficiency won the award “World Green Car of the Year 2012.” Besides the S-Class sedan, numerous other models of the Mercedes-Benz brand took top honors in their category.

Demand for SUVs remains particularly high. In April and year-to-date, sales records were achieved once again. In April, 21,437 models (+9.1%) were sold in the SUV segment; in the first four months of 2012 sales accounted to 80,553 units (+8.0%). Especially the new M‑Class is developing very dynamically. In April, one third more vehicles (32.3%) of this series were sold than in April 2011. The sales of the GL and the G-Class also performed very well, increasing in April by 54.6% and 20.4% respectively.

The smart fortwo continued its positive development in the month of its facelift. With 9,557 vehicles sold, sales grew by 2.3%. Since the start of the year, sales totaled by 6.4% (36,532 units). In April, the demand for the innovative two-seater was particularly strong in the U.S. with growth of 63.6% as well as in China (incl. Hong Kong) at 41.5%, and Germany at 14.6%.

Overview of Mercedes-Benz Cars unit sales
Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Highest April on Record with Sales of 22,336 Units

By | Published Wednesday, 2 May 2012

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported April sales of 22,336 for its Mercedes-Benz models, a 23.8 % improvement over April 2011, delivering a year-to-date total of 83,849 new vehicles to customers, up 17.5%. Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled 25,066, up 30.8% bringing a year-to-date total of 91,972, up 22.4%, making this the company's highest April on record.

Sales for the month of April were led by the C-, E-, and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class - the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers - took the lead with sales of 6,424 and the 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,328. MBUSA's top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 3,057, up 53.6% compared to April 2011. Other strong performers were the company's popular new CLS four-door coupe which saw a 522.1% growth and the all-new SLK roadster which increased 215.5% over April 2011. The SLS AMG supercar retailed 104 for the month, up 92.6% over the same period last year.

On a year-to-date basis, top performers again were the C-Class with 24,531 (up 20.1%) the E-Class with 19,201 and the M-Class with 14,537 (up 58.2%).

Monthly sales of the high-performance AMG models were 529, up 55.1% versus April 2011 (341) and up 60.6% year to date. Additionally, despite fluctuating gas prices, diesel sales increased to 2,300 up 142.4% over the same period last year (949) and up 85.8% for the year.

The company's smart brand continued six consecutive months of sales increases with April sales of 764 vehicles, a 63% jump for the month (compared to the 467 vehicles sold in April 2011) and brings the year-to-date volume to 3,028, up 74.6%.

On the van side, sales of Sprinter Vans also saw strong momentum in April with sales of 1,966 - up 76.3% over last year and up 35.4% on a year-to-date basis.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,368 vehicles in April; a -10.2% decrease when compared to April 2011 (sales of 7,091 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 26,292 vehicles, a decrease of -1.3% over the comparable period (with sales of 26,629).

Mercedes-Benz April 2012 Sales Chart
Credits: Mercedes-Benz USA

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Record March Sales Of 23,134 Bring Mercedes-Benz USA To Highest First Quarter Ever At 61,513

By | Published Tuesday, 3 April 2012

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported a record March with sales of 23,134 for its Mercedes-Benz models, a 7.7 % improvement over March 2011 leading to the highest first quarter volume on record with sales of 61,513, up 15.3%. Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled 25,508, up 13.1%, and for the year-to-date 66,906, up 19.5 %.

“With the combination of strong sales performance in our volume model lines and a whole new generation of Mercedes-Benz products in the pipeline, we are ideally positioned to take advantage of the strengthening market and take the brand to new places,” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA.

Sales for the month of March were led by the C-, E-, and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – took the lead with sales of 6,342 and the 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,570. MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 4,070 up 45.8% compared to March 2011. Other strong performers were the company’s popular new CLS four-door coupe which saw 242.9% growth and the SLK roadster which increased 179.3% over March 2011.

The SLS AMG supercar retailed 123 for the month, up 20.6%.

On a year-to-date basis, top performers again were the C-Class with 18,107 (up 19.2%) the E-Class with 13,873 and the M-Class with 11,480 (up 59.4%).

Amidst rising gas prices, diesel sales increased to 1,601, up 55.6% over the same period last year (1,029) and up 65.4% for the year. On the other end of the spectrum, total AMG sales were 702, up 77.3% versus March 2011 (396) and up 62.2% for the year.

The company’s smart brand continued five consecutive months of sales increases with March sales of 999 vehicles, a 135% jump for the month (compared to the 425 vehicles sold in March 2011). The March volume is the highest on record for smart since MBUSA assumed responsibility in July 2011 and brings the year-to-date volume to 2,264, up 79 percent.

On the van side, sales of Sprinter Vans also saw strong momentum in March with sales of 1,375 – up 29.5% over last year and up 18.1% on a year-to-date basis.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,994 vehicles in March; a -3.3% decrease when compared to March 2011 (sales of 7,236 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 19,924 vehicles, an increase of 2.0% over the comparable period (with sales of 19,538).

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz Records Strongest Monthly Sales in the Company’s History in March

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With its best monthly sales in the company’s history and the third record month in 2012, Mercedes-Benz has recorded the strongest first-quarter result ever. In March, sales rose by 11.0% to 131,334 units. Thus, since the start of the year, a total of 313,902 vehicles were delivered to customers, an increase of 11.9%. Moreover, the Stuttgart based car manufacturer managed to gain market shares in numerous markets.

In its Mercedes-Benz Cars division, the company sold as many vehicles as never before in a month and also set a new sales record in the first quarter. A total of 340,877 Mercedes-Benz, smart, and Maybach vehicles (+11.6%) were delivered, including 142,278 units (+9.8%) sold in March alone.

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes‑Benz Cars: “Following up on our record sales last year, we are also off to a highly successful start in 2012. To date we have recorded a new sales record in every month of this year and with 313,902 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars sold, we have set a new high for the first quarter. March was even the strongest sales month of the company’s history. Besides our excellent start to the year it is especially the great customer response on the new models which makes me very confident that we will achieve our goal to post a new sales record in 2012. With the start of production of the new B-Class in Kecskemét last week, we will have even more vehicles available to better meet the high demand.”

The first quarter saw strong sales among others in the SUV segment. Dr. Schmidt continued: “Driven by the new M-Class, SUV sales developed excellently in the first quarter as they already did in full-year 2011. Tomorrow for the first time we will present the completely new GL and the new generation of the GLK at New York International Auto Show. With our SUV offensive we will extend sales further in this segment.” Besides the GLK and GL also the SL 65 AMG has its world premiere at the auto show in New York.

In the whole NAFTA region deliveries have been very satisfying in the first quarter (70,259 units, +15.5%). In the first three months of the year, Mercedes-Benz set a new sales record in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Particularly noteworthy was the dynamic development in the U.S., where sales rose by 15.3% (61,513 units). Also in the month of March, the company achieved another sales record in the U.S.: 23,134 vehicles were delivered to customers (+7.7%).

The development of the Mercedes-Benz brand also had a successful first quarter in China (incl. Hong Kong). 51,328 customers (+19.5%) purchased a new Mercedes-Benz vehicle from January to March, setting a new sales record for this period. Record sales were also registered there in March (17,660 units, +16.1%).

In Russia and India, Mercedes-Benz also recorded its highest-ever sales for the first quarter and for the month of March. Since the beginning of the year, sales have climbed by 32.7% in Russia, and 6.9% in India. Sales development of Mercedes-Benz has been especially successful in Japan, where first-quarter sales grew by 44.0% compared to the same period last year.

In the first three months of 2012, Mercedes-Benz has enjoyed outstanding sales in Germany, with 56,552 units sold since the beginning of the year, an increase of 14.6%. Also in March, Mercedes-Benz successfully sustained its position on its homemarket with a growth rate of 10.5%, handing over a total of 25,932 vehicles. Thus, Mercedes-Benz is again the top-selling premium brand in the month of March as well as in the first quarter. Sales in the rest of the region of Western Europe also developed strongly in March and in the first quarter. From January to March the brand with the star increased its sales on the declining total market by 6.7% (78,135 units). During this period, demand for Mercedes-Benz was especially high in Switzerland (+37.3%), France (+29.0%), and Great Britain (+9.6%). In Great Britain as well as in Switzerland Mercedes-Benz posted new sales records in the first quarter.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz models have developed very dynamically since the start of the year, above all the models of the C-Class segment. Despite new competitors, sales rose by 27.0% to 99,660 units. The S-Class sedan also continues to enjoy strong demand. Since January, sales of the brand’s flagship rose by over a quarter (+27.5%, 21,507 units) compared to the previous year. The new B-Class received again excellent customer response, with more than 35,000 units sold since it was launched to the market in November. In the year of the introduction of its successor, the A-Class increased its sales by 17.0% (20,772 units) in the first quarter. The E-Class sedan and estate also continue to be popular, with a total of 57,980 units (+3.4%) delivered to customers. Mercedes-Benz SUVs were in continued demand with sales of 59,116 vehicles, which set yet another record, topping last year’s high for the same period. The greatest contributors to this success were the M-Class (+19.0%), the G-Class (+39.4%), posting a new sales record, and the GL-Class, whose sales put on by 9.9% shortly before the introduction of its successor.

The smart fortwo also joined in the success of the Mercedes-Benz models in the first quarter. Sales totaled 26,975 units, topping the previous year’s sales by 8.0%. Especially in China (incl. Hong Kong) demand for the innovative two-seater continues to be persistently high. The number of vehicles delivered since January has doubled (4,795 units, +105.1%), setting a new sales record. First-quarter sales of the smart fortwo were equally dynamic in the U.S. (+78.7%).

Overview of Sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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REPORT: Mercedes-Benz USA suspends sales of the R-Class beginning with 2013MY*

By | Published Tuesday, 20 March 2012

It is no secret the R-Class is a big failure in the United States, the market this car was specifically designed for. Because of ongoing poor figures, MBUSA took the decision to axe the large crossover from the range beginning with the *2013 model year, company's PR manager Christian Bokich confirmed recently.


Released ahead of its time, the W 251 never managed to revolutionize the automotive industry, partly due to its awkward styling, the unappealing combination between an SUV, an estate and an MPV and the inefficient marketing strategy. Sales were sluggish right from the start and the situation became worse as years passed. The mid-cycle facelift from April 2010 didn't bring any ray of hope in the end, as the number of units sold merely rose in the U.S. only to begin dropping once again shortly after. In February 2012, the R-Class appealed to just 163 Stateside clients, which is 8.4% less than in February 2011. On a year-to-date basis, 2012 sales for the R-Class declined by almost 30% compared to the same period of 2011.

On the contrary, in emerging markets such as China, figures for the R-Class experience a constant growth trend. The crossover is also doing well in Canada and Mexico, so production of this model is planned to continue through 2015 at the Tuscaloosa plant, when a new generation is said to come into force.

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Daimler Trucks Aims to Increase Unit Sales and Market Share in 2012

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In 2012 Daimler Trucks aims to build on the successes it posted last year. After sales and revenues had each increased by 20% in 2011, and the results even increased by twice this amount, the division aims to boost its unit sales further this year and achieve Earnings before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) that are at least as high as 2011.


Although the markets in NAFTA and Asia did very well in the first months of 2012, the market situation is rather difficult in Europe and in particular in Latin America. Daimler Trucks expects conditions to improve in the second half of the year. Daimler Trucks is on track to reach its strategic return on sales target of 8% as measured across the business cycle. The target figure is a sustainable average that the division aims to achieve from 2013 on.

“In 2012 we will once again prove that our Global Excellence Strategy is working well. We operate worldwide, our by now five truck brands offer the right products for every region, and we are now just hitting our stride in the growth markets of India and China”, said Andreas Renschler, the Daimler Board of Management member responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, in Stuttgart. The division aims to increase its market share in all regions.

A few weeks ago Daimler Trucks presented the wide range of products offered by the new truck brand BharatBenz in India. These “Made in India” trucks are manufactured in Chennai in the southern part of the country. A total of €700 million was invested in the facility, where the first series-produced vehicles will begin leaving the plant this fall. In the medium term up to 70,000 units can be produced in India each year, and the brand’s product lineup will cover the entire range of vehicles, from light-duty to heavy-duty trucks. At the same time as the subsidiary Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) makes its preparations for the launch of series production, it is also setting up a sales network, which will consist of around 70 dealerships this year.

In December 2011 the Chinese government gave its final approval for the Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd., Daimler’s joint venture with the local truck manufacturer Foton. The two companies will cooperate on producing medium and heavy-duty trucks for the world’s largest commercial vehicle market. These trucks will be sold under the well-established Auman brand. The joint venture will have an annual production capacity of 160,000 units, and the first jointly manufactured truck is scheduled to roll off the assembly line in the third quarter of the year. The Chinese market for medium and heavy-duty trucks is expected to grow to around 1.5 million units by 2020, compared to around 1.2 million units in 2010.

The outlook for the Indian and Chinese truck markets is therefore very promising for the years ahead. This applies especially to the modern domestic segment, in which both BharatBenz and Auman trucks are offered. According to experts, this segment will account for around half of the global truck market in 2020. The quality of modern domestic trucks is much higher than that of the “low cost” vehicles that are still common in many growth markets. Although the new trucks are more robust than these “low cost” vehicles, their technology is not comparable to that of the premium vehicles from the triad markets. “The rise in truck standards in the growth markets is opening up new opportunities for us — not only for our existing vehicles and components, but also for our new, locally manufactured products,” Renschler said.

The product offensive in the modern domestic segment is meant to help Daimler Trucks attain its medium-term sales targets, amounting to about 500,000 trucks worldwide in 2013 and more than 700,000 units per year by the end of the decade.
In another BRIC country, Russia, the cooperation between Daimler Trucks and the local market leader for heavy-duty trucks, Kamaz, is going well. Sales of Mercedes-Benz truck and Fuso Canter models rose sharply in Russia after the Chelny plant in the Russian republic of Tatarstan began assembling these vehicles in 2010. As a result, more than 1,200 Fuso Canter and around 2,800 Mercedes-Benz trucks had been sold in Russia by the end of 2011.

In order to offer customers in Europe’s largest truck market a customized product bearing the familiar Kamaz brand, the partners presented their first joint truck in Moscow last fall. The vehicle is a Kamaz that contains Daimler components which enable it to comply with the Euro V emissions standard. The truck will be launched on the Russian market in 2014.

The expansion of the division’s global presence and the massive increase in local manufacturing operations are rounding out Daimler’s global truck organization, and the advantages of this arrangement are becoming more apparent day by day. An example of this is the division’s new Global Powertrain, Procurement and Manufacturing Engineering Trucks unit, which bundles the worldwide activities in these fields.

Because the powertrain accounts for more than half of the total costs of a truck, the synergy benefits are obvious. An example of this is the new heavy-duty engine family, in which Daimler invested more than €1 billion. This new generation of engines has streamlined the previous portfolio of four engine families from four plants down to just one global engine platform for four displacement variants, which is manufactured at two locations.

After the engines were introduced at Fuso in Japan and Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), a European adaptation of this engine is now also used to power the new Actros. Mercedes-Benz’ new OM47x engine generation, which is already available in the new Actros, meets the Euro VI emissions standard, which will go into effect in 2014. The engines share more than 80% of their components worldwide. This results in corresponding benefits due to economies of scale.

The division’s platform and module strategy will extend beyond the powertrain, affecting many more components than just the engines, transmissions, axles, and exhaust treatment systems. The Axor cab, for example, will also be installed in the Indian BharatBenz models in the future.

Daimler Trucks’ platform and module strategy allows it to generate extensive synergies, which will help the division to reach its margin goals. “The message is clear: We aim to become the regional champion wherever we enter the market, and thus also become Number 1 worldwide in our industry,” said Renschler. “Ultimately we want to achieve a sustained average return on sales of 8% per year beginning in 2013 and extending across the business cycle.”

In 2011 Daimler Trucks made considerable progress toward achieving this goal. The return on sales rose to 6.5% from 5.5% in 2010. The return on sales would have even risen to 6.9% had it not been for €32 million in write-offs from the involvement in Kamaz and one-time expenses of €70 million caused by the natural disaster in Japan.

However, Daimler Trucks significantly increased sales, revenues, and earnings compared to the prior year. Vehicle sales substantially exceeded the prior year’s figures in the division’s core regions (NAFTA, Europe, Asia, and Latin America). Total sales worldwide rose by 20% to 425,800 units. Revenues also increased by 20%, to €28.8 billion, while earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) jumped twice as much, or over 40%, to €1.9 billion.

All of the division’s operating units contributed to these good results, with Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) providing the biggest boost. DTNA’s sales skyrocketed by 50% to 118,800 units last year. Demand was particulary driven by the need to renew the aged truck fleets. For the past three decades, the average age of trucks in North America has not been as high as it is today. Thanks to the outstanding market response to its product lineup, DTNA was able to further strengthen its leading position in the segment of vehicles in Classes 6 to 8, where it now has a market share of 31.9% (2010: 31.6%).

Total sales of Trucks Europe/Latin America rose substantially once again, climbing to 159,300 units (2010: 135,200). Sales were therefore back up to the high pre-crisis level achieved in 2007. Western Europe contributed considerably to sales growth. Daimler Trucks once again led the market for medium and heavy-duty trucks there, boosting sales by 14% to 57,100 units. Although the division’s market share dropped slightly in Europe, the full availability of the new Actros “Truck of the Year 2012” in all of the key markets will once again push up market share this year.

Fuso’s performance is particularly impressive. Contrary to the expectations that still prevailed in mid-2011, Fuso was able to increase sales throughout the year by 5% to 147,700 units, despite the disruptions resulting from the natural disaster in Japan in March 2011. The increase was due to the rapid progress of reconstruction work in Japan after the natural disaster, which led to increased transportation needs and thus to a greater demand for commercial vehicles. In Japan itself, Fuso increased truck sales by 9% to 27,000 units.

At 61,900 vehicles, Daimler Trucks achieved a new sales record in Latin America. Despite intense competition, sales remained at the previous year’s high level of 44,100 vehicles in the region’s biggest market, Brazil. Vehicle production in the region was also at a record level.

Daimler Trucks has no intention to slacken its efforts after achieving these successes. The division’s Shaping Future Transportation initiative brings together a wide range of technologies and services that not only make commercial vehicles safer, more economical, and more environmentally friendly, but will also contribute substantially to Daimler Trucks’ future success. The CleanDrive concepts, for example, help to drastically reduce commercial vehicles’ fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions.

Daimler Trucks has already put more than 500,000 environmentally friendly BlueTec trucks featuring SCR technology on the road. In addition, it has delivered more than 8,000 vehicles with alternative drive systems, including around 2,700 hybrid trucks. What’s more, the new, fourth generation of the Mercedes-Benz Actros is the world’s first long-haulage truck to rigorously meet the future Euro VI emissions standard. Despite the fact that this standard represents a big technological challenge, the new truck also consumes far less fuel than its predecessor.

Fuel consumption isn’t the only important issue for truck customers, however; the total cost of ownership is also a primary concern. These costs can be reduced by a number of truck-related services, including customized financing offers (Daimler Trucks Financial), the renting of trucks at short notice to cover peaks in transportation demand (Mercedes-Benz CharterWay), electronic assistance systems that make workshop stays as short as possible, and technology for managing entire truck fleets (FleetBoard).

These services become especially important for customers in times of economic uncertainty. Services, after-sales activities, and telematics systems now account for around 20% of Daimler Trucks’ revenues.
Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Strong Start Into The Year Continues: Mercedes-Benz Posts New Sales Record in February

By | Published Monday, 5 March 2012

After record sales in January, Mercedes-Benz reached new heights in February, to which all regions have contributed, as well . The brand with the star delivered a total of 95,647 units to customers. With an increase of 20.3%, February was the highest-growth month since January 2011. Since the beginning of 2012 sales have risen by 12.6% to 182,568 passenger cars. The company also saw more sales in the Mercedes-Benz Cars division than ever before in the month of February, handing over a total of 104,073 Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach brand vehicles (+20.3%) to their new owners. The sales increase in the last two months amounted to 12.9% (198,599 units).


Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars: “In February we have further improved the good result of the previous month and again had a record month with a sales increase of 20.3%. Thus, we are well on track to achieve our objective of a new sales record in the first quarter. Particularly well is the development of the new B-Class, which again met excellent customer response in February. Since market launch we have already recorded 100,000 orders. Further momentum will also be gained from the new model series in the coming months.”

Mercedes-Benz enjoyed a strong February with record unit sales in China (incl. Hong Kong). A total of 19,205 customers (+57.5%) in the “Middle Kingdom” opted for a new car with a star. Mercedes-Benz also posted a new sales record (+30.1%) in Russia in February. Particularly dynamic was the growth in Taiwan (+24.9%) and Japan (+31.4%).
In the US, Mercedes-Benz continued its excellent performance of recent months in February. With 18,080 vehicles delivered, unit sales rose by 16.9%. Thus, Mercedes-Benz sold more vehicles than ever before in this period. Also in the rest of the NAFTA countries Mercedes-Benz is on a success track. New sales records were set both in Canada (2,158 units; +18.4%) and Mexico (533 units; +22.8%) in February.
The February performance was also excellent in the Middle East region, with a 17.9% rise in unit sales.

As in January, Mercedes-Benz continued its double-digit sales growth on its domestic market in February with a total of 17,993 customers in Germany choosing a car with a star (+21.6%). Thus, the brand is still the leading premium automaker on its biggest market. With sales growth of 9.3% and unit sales of 19,668 vehicles, Mercedes-Benz also sported a winning performance in Western Europe (excluding Germany) in February. Especially in France (+36.9%) and Switzerland (+46.2%) the Stuttgart car manufacturer saw excellent growth rates. Thus, the brand’s sales in Switzerland have been at a record high since the beginning of the year. Mercedes-Benz also posted a positive trend in the UK (+12.6%).

The new B-Class was especially popular among model series in February with a 8.2% sales increase to 9,902 units. Sales of the C-Class sedan together with the C-Class estate amounted to 22,881 models (+15.2%) in February. The SLK also posted an extremely positive performance in February, more than tripling its unit sales. In the same month, the E-Class sedan and its estate stepped up their sales by 22.0% (19,011 units). The February development of the S-Class was outstanding as well: With a total of 9,482 units (+89.4%), almost twice as many models of the brand’s flagship as in the same month last year were handed over to customers. Thus, the S-Class achieved record sales in February as well as since the beginning of the year.

After the record year 2011, Mercedes-Benz SUV sales are also developing excellently in 2012. Sales were at a record high in February (16,679 units; +3.0%) and since the start of the year (34,856 units; +2.2%). The G-Class climbed by 33.1%, while GL sales rose by 9.2% and the M-Class by 20.5%. Considering that the M-Class is not even fully available on all markets yet due to its gradual launch.

The smart fortwo continued its brilliant start into the year in February. With 8,426 vehicles sold, unit sales again saw double-digit growth (+19.9%). The two-seater continues to attract a great deal of attention, especially among Chinese customers who bought with1,459 units twice as many (+103.2%) vehicles as in February 2011. The smart fortwo was also very popular in the US (+58.9%), in France (+44.3%), and in Italy (+18.5%). The same is true for Germany, where February sales surged by 13.2% to 2,122 units.

Overview of Sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars
Credits: Daimler AG

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Highest February on Record for Mercedes-Benz with Sales of 19,679 Units

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Mercedes-Benz models up 16.9%, smart up 58.9%, Sprinter up 16.6%

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported February sales of 19,679 vehicles, a 21.7 % improvement over February 2011 and the highest February volume on record with strong sales across all model lines to brand new customers. On a year-to-date basis, the 41,398 vehicles sold represent a 23.8% increase.


The company reported sales increases over virtually all its model lines from the entry point to the high-end. "With all of our new model launches over the past year bringing new buyers to Mercedes-Benz and prompting our loyal owners to reinvest in the brand, we’re ideally positioned to take advantage of the strengthening market," said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA.

Sales for the month of February were led by the C-, E-, and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class - the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers - took the lead with sales of 5,240 up 17.0% over February 2011. The 9th generation E-Class came in right behind with sales of 4,206 and MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 3,408, up 77.1% compared to February 2011.

Other strong performers were the company’s flagship S-Class which saw its sales increase by 20.3%, the new CLS up 411.2%, and the SLK roadster which increased 108.8% over February 2011.

Amidst rising gas prices, diesel sales increased to 1,415, up 81.9% over the same period last year (778).

The company’s smart brand continued four consecutive months of sales increases versus last year with February sales of 769 vehicles, a 58.9% jump for the month (compared to the 484 vehicles sold in February 2011). The February volume is the highest on record for smart since MBUSA assumed responsibility in July 2011.

On the van side, sales of Sprinter Vans also saw strong sales in February with sales of 830- up 16.6% over last year.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,985 vehicles in February; a 2.2% increase when compared to February 2011 (sales of 5,859 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 12,930 vehicles, an increase of 5.1% over the comparable period (with sales of 12,302).

Credits: Mercedes-Benz USA

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Record Sales From the Start: Mercedes-Benz Posts New All-Time High in January

By | Published Saturday, 4 February 2012

Mercedes-Benz has started 2012 with record sales for the month of January. The brand sold a total of 86,921 units worldwide, thus exceeding the previous year’s record by another 5.1%. Sales in the Mercedes-Benz Cars division also reached a new high in January by handing over 94,526 passenger cars of the Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach brands to customers (+5.8%).


Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars: “We continued the positive development from the record year 2011 in January and started successfully into the new year. We intend to maintain this pace over the coming months and are expecting substantial sales growth in the first quarter. The new B-Class in particular is getting an excellent response from customers. The imminent production start-up in Kecskemét means that we will have even more vehicles at our disposal, which will allow us to even better accommodate the high demand.”

In addition to the B-Class, in 2012, the company is expecting further tailwind among others from the sustained high demand in the C-Class segment, continued growth in SUV sales and the launch of the new A-Class and the CLS Shooting Brake.
Dr. Schmidt continued, “This year, we want to exceed our record sales from 2011 and once again plan to achieve the best year in the company’s history.”

In the USA Mercedes-Benz achieved a very strong start into the year with record sales in January. With 20,306 units sold, sales increased by 23.8%. Thus, Mercedes-Benz was the most successful premium brand in January in the U.S. The brand also enjoyed a very positive performance in Canada, where it was the market leader in the premium segment in January. After record sales in the full year 2011, deliveries in January reached a new monthly high with1,773 units (+26.5%). Mercedes-Benz repeated this success in Mexico (+22.4%) and the entire NAFTA region, where the brand increased its sales by 24.0% in January to 22,660 units.

Mercedes-Benz also started with an excellent performance into the new year in its home market. With brand sales of 12,627 vehicles, corresponding a growth of 14.0%, Mercedes-Benz underlined its position as the strongest premium brand in Germany as it did in 2011 as a whole. This development was driven in particular by the high demand for the new B-Class, which led its segment in the new vehicle registration statistics of Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) in January. At 21,578 units, Mercedes-Benz’ sales in Western Europe (excluding Germany) were over previous year’s level (+1.4%).

Due to the excellent sales performance in December 2011 as well as the capacity expansion at BBAC and the associated production downtime, in China some models were just partially available in January. Overall sales (incl. Hong Kong) totaled 14,463 units (-7.0%). As in full-year 2011, Mercedes-Benz generated record sales in the growth markets Russia (+41.7%) and India (+17.0%).

The S-Class sedan was the best-selling vehicle in its segment in 2011. In January, the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz brand developed excellently, too. A total of 5,302 units (+0.4%) were delivered to customers. Also a very positive start to the year saw the C-Class sedan. With 18,235 units sold, deliveries were up 4.3% compared to the first month of the previous year. On the road to success is also the C-Class estate, whose sales in January rose by 10.8%.

The new B-Class also enjoyed a strong January with sales rising by 7.8%. The company expects to see a further sales boost over the coming months with the first of a total of five new compact models. From the second quarter, the B-Class will be fully available in other markets as a result of the additional production in Kecskemét.

Among the SUVs, the new M-Class (+15.2%), the G-Class (+17.1%), and the GL-Class (+9.6%) enjoyed especially positive development. There was even more reason for the new M-Class to celebrate at the start of the year: It was chosen best in its category within the “Best Cars of 2012” awards voted by readers of the German car magazine “auto, motor und sport”. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class took second place.

The smart fortwo started the year with a brilliant increase in its January sales by 13.7% to a total of 7,605 vehicles. Once again, the two-seater was particularly successful in China (incl. Hong Kong), where 1,464 vehicles were handed over to customers. Sales in the U.S. also developed very positively, rising by 38.5% compared to the same period of the previous year. The smart fortwo also enjoyed increased demand in the UK (+52.8%), Spain (+47.4%), and Mexico (+9.0%). In 2012, the smart will get further positive momentum from two highlights: the smart ebike and the third generation of the smart fortwo electric drive.

Mercedes-Benz Cars: Sales at a Glance
Credits: Daimler AG

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Mercedes-Benz Achieves Record Sales in November: Sales up by 8.3 Percent

By | Published Monday, 5 December 2011

In November, Mercedes-Benz sold more cars than ever before in this month. With 113,859 units, the brand surpassed the previous record result, which was set last year, by 8.3%. Mercedes-Benz has delivered a total of 1,136,525 (+7.3%) units to customers since the beginning of the year — which also represents a new sales record.


Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars: “With record sales in November, we have sold more cars than in the same months of last year for over two years in a row. This shows that Mercedes-Benz is on the right track and that our products are very popular among customers. Further evidence is provided by the outstanding customer response to the new B-Class and
M-Class models, which were launched on the European market at the end of last month. Already now it is certain that we will reach our target of selling more cars over the entire year than ever before.” From January through November, the Mercedes-Benz Cars division sold 1,230,863 (+7.1%) Mercedes-Benz and smart fortwo vehicles, which is a new record, as well.

As many cars as never before in a month, Mercedes-Benz sold in China (including Hong Kong) in November. In total 18,067 units were delivered to customers (+24.1%). Since January sales in China now total 170,112 cars (+30.8%), after the brand had already surpassed last year’s sales total in October. Mercedes-Benz is also reporting record sales during the year to date as well as in November in Russia (+18.2%), Mexico (+17.6%), and South Korea (+10.4%). Since January, more vehicles than ever before have also been delivered to customers in Taiwan (+38.0%), India (+23.6%), Sweden (+13.1%), Denmark (+12.2%), and Turkey (+8.5%). With a 30.8% increase in sales, the Japanese market remained very dynamic in November — as did the market in Brazil (+49.3%).

With a new sales record, November was also a very successful month for Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. Sales grew by 47.2% to 26,796 units. As in October, Mercedes-Benz was therefore the best-selling automotive premium brand in the United States. The brand delivered 219,491 vehicles (+11.8%) to customers in the U.S. during the last eleven months. In Canada, Mercedes-Benz reported another record month in November, with sales totaling 2,685 units (+12.7%). Sales are also at a record level in Canada for the year to date (26,078 units; +2.7%).

As in the previous months, Mercedes-Benz was Germany’s leading premium car manufacturer in November. Deliveries totaled 24,326 vehicles (November 2010: 27,731; -12.3%). Toward the end of the month, the new models of the high-volume
B-Class and the new M-Class celebrated successful market launches in Germany. Altogether, dealers welcomed around 300,000 visitors to the models’ premieres in their showrooms. The company expects sales to get a further boost by these models in the months ahead. According to the new vehicle registration statistics of Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), the CLS as well as the E-Class coupe, followed by the SLK, were once again at the top position in their respective classes in November. Since the beginning of the year, 236,966 vehicles have been delivered to customers in Germany (January-November 2010: 243,728; -2.8%). For the year to date, sales in Western Europe (excluding Germany) have remained at last year’s very high level. A total of 265,549 units were delivered to customers between January and November (-0.8%). During this period, Mercedes-Benz sales developed particularly well in the UK (+10.3%).

Since the beginning of this year the C-Class sedan is the top seller in its respective segment. Combined, the C-Class sedan and estate set a new sales record for the month with a sales increase of 14.3%. The E-Class segment also achieved a new record with sales of 27,209 vehicles (+4.0%) in November. In addition, deliveries reached a new peak for the year to date, totaling 306,763 units (+4.3%). The Mercedes-Benz flagship, the S-Class sedan, developed also positively with sales of 61,808 units (+3.5%) during the last eleven months of the year. At 25,552 units (+23.4%), Mercedes-Benz’ SUVs achieved another monthly sales record in November. The successful run-out of the M-Class was particularly noteworthy, as was the excellent start of its new models in the U.S. In total, M-Class sales rose to a new November-record by +43.3%. Also new peaks in the previous month were set by the GL (+38.0%) and the GLK, of which deliveries are also at a record high since the beginning of the year (+25.6%). From January through November, Mercedes-Benz delivered a total of 221,518 SUVs (+24.3%) to customers — more than ever.

Following the positive development in October, sales of the smart fortwo developed excellently in November. Totaling 8,466 units, sales rose by 18.2% last month. Since the beginning of the year deliveries have risen by 4.9% (94,338 units). Developments continue to be particularly positive in China (including Hong Kong), where smart sold 1.142 units in the previous month. As a result, the brand has delivered more than 10,000 smart fortwo to Chinese customers during the year to date. In November, the two-seater also posted strong growth in Mexico (+171.2%), Austria (+122.9%), the U.S. (+96.2%), Spain (+51.1%), and Italy (+10.8%). A total of 27,156 smart fortwo have been delivered to customers in Germany since January — an increase of 5.5%. Therefore the car continues to lead its comparative segment. For full-year 2011, the smart continues to be on track to meet the sales target of 100,000 units.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars
Source: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz Sales on Track: Upswing continues in October

By | Published Thursday, 10 November 2011

Following record sales in the third quarter, in October Mercedes-Benz once again succeeded in surpassing the excellent sales level reached in the same month of last year. Shortly before the launch of the high-volume B-Class, 103,378 customers (+2.9%) chose to purchase a Mercedes-Benz vehicle. A total of 1,022,666 units have been delivered since January, an increase of 7.1%. Mercedes-Benz thus set a new sales record in the first ten month of the year and passed the one million units mark a month earlier than in 2010.


Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars, said, “Since the beginning of the year we have recorded higher sales in every month compared to the results in the same period of last year. The growth was driven above all by the new generation of the C-Class. Also in the fourth quarter we want to continue the trend of the recent months and grow further. We expect strong momentum particularly from the market launches of the new B-Class and M-Class in November. Even though these vehicles have not yet arrived at the dealerships, the customer response has been outstanding. So we are still on track to sell more vehicles in the full year than ever before.” From January through October the Mercedes-Benz Cars division sold 1,108,538 (+6.9%) Mercedes-Benz and smart fortwo vehicles, also setting a new record.

In October, Mercedes-Benz once again posted record sales in many markets. In China (incl. Hong Kong) 16,539 vehicles (+22.9%) were delivered to customers. With a total of 152,045 units delivered (+31.6%) the overall sales from January to October 2011 have already exceeded the level recorded there in all of 2010. Last month Mercedes-Benz also posted record sales in South Korea (+23.0%), Russia (+34.6%) and Sweden (+2.2%). Sales in these countries have also reached a record-breaking level for the year to date. Mercedes-Benz also set new sales records in the first ten months of 2011 in Taiwan (+38.5%), India (+24.4%), Mexico (+18.2%), Denmark (+13.1%) and Turkey (+11.5%). High growth rates in October were also recorded for example in the UK (+14.9%) and Japan (+18.8%).

The brand with the star performed particularly well in the U.S. in October. The recently introduced models of the new generation of the C-Class (+87.9%) and the new M-Class (+44.8%) were especially popular. With sales growth of 23.4%, a total of 22,637 units were delivered last month, making Mercedes-Benz the best-selling premium automotive brand in the United States in October. Since the beginning of the year Mercedes-Benz has sold 192,695 vehicles there (+8.2%). In Canada, Mercedes-Benz set a new sales record in October - as in September - boosting sales by 18.0% to 2,614 vehicles.

In its home market, Mercedes-Benz once again outperformed its competitors in October. One month before the launch of the new versions of the in Germany popular B-Class and M-Class, 22,603 units were delivered to customers (January - October in 2010: 26,956; -16.1%). During the year to date sales totaled 212,640 units (January – October 2010: 215,997; -1.6%). In the ranking by Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), the CLS as well as the E-Class coupe, followed by the SLK, took the top positions in their respective classes in October. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), sales from January through October were at the very high level reached during the same period of last year. Mercedes-Benz delivered 243,913 (January - October 2010: 244,572; -0.3%) passenger vehicles to customers.

Since the beginning of this year the C-Class sedan and the S-Class have been the top-selling vehicles in their segment. From January to October a total of 56,283 S-Class have been delivered to customers (+5.0%). During the same period, sales of the C-Class sedan rose 6.2% to 219,377 units. The C-Class estate is also continuing to generate very positive results, with record-breaking sales in October and in the period since January of this year. Last month sales of the new SLK developed successfully, again. Sales of the sporty roadster increased by 169.3% compared to the same month last year. Higher growth rates were only recorded for the new CLS. In October more than four times (+331.5%) as many customers chose the four-door coupe as in the same month in 2010. With 26,534 units (+0.4%) sold in the previous month and 279,554 (+4.3%) vehicles delivered since January, sales in the E-Class segment reached a record level. The SUVs from Mercedes-Benz are also setting one record after the other. From January through October a total of 195,966 units were delivered to customers. The GLK has also been a record-setter in October and during the business year so far, with deliveries up by more than one fourth (+28.1%) since January. Also the M-Class developed very strong in October. Despite the model changeover sales rose once again by 22.2%.

Deliveries of the smart fortwo developed positively in October. With 8,305 units (+5.3%) sold, sales increased on the strong performance in the same month last year. A total of 85,872 smart fortwo vehicles were delivered from January through October (+3.7%). A new sales record in October and since the beginning of the year was set in China. Since January 9.484 (+161.3%) smart fortwo were delivered. Demand for the innovative two-seater in October was also high in Spain (+43.6%), Italy (+23.2%), Belgium (+16.4%) and France (+13.7%). In Germany, 24,699 smart fortwo vehicles were sold to customers since the start of 2011, an increase of 7.0% that keeps the car in its leading position in its competitive class. For the full-year 2011 the smart fortwo will significantly surpass its original sales target of more than 90,000 units and is now looking to sell approximately 100,000 vehicles.
Source: Daimler AG

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Mercedes-Benz posts record sales in September and achieves best third quarter ever

By | Published Wednesday, 5 October 2011


After record sales in the same month last year, Mercedes-Benz even set a new record in September 2011. With last month being the strongest one since the beginning of the year a total of 120,982 vehicles have been delivered to customers worldwide. Since January 2011 sales now total to 919,288 Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, an increase of 7.6%. “We continue to grow,” says Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. “After posting a record in the second quarter, we also achieved our highest sales ever in September and for the third quarter as a whole. Positive momentum was generated especially in China, where we also noted record sales this month. We will continue to grow in the fourth quarter as well, so we are on track to make 2011 the most successful year in our company’s history.” The Mercedes-Benz Cars division has delivered 996,855 (+7.3%) Mercedes-Benz and smart fortwo vehicles to customers since the beginning of the year, which is also a new record.


Dr. Schmidt: "According to the latest Interbrand study Mercedes-Benz is already the most valuable brand in Europe. From November the new M-Class as well as the new B-Class will generate additional sales momentum for us and will enhance the brand’s image in public even further."

As in the past few months, Mercedes-Benz was able to rise sales in many of its markets in September. In China (including Hong Kong), the brand with the star increased its sales in September by 12.7% to the record level of 15,272 units. A total of 135,506 vehicles have been delivered to customers in China since January (+32.8%), more than ever before. Last month records were also posted in Taiwan (+57.9%), Russia (+44.6%), South Korea (+37.4%), and India (+14.1%). Sales development was also very dynamic in Brazil (+64,8%), South Africa (+21.7%) and Turkey (+10.5%).

In the U.S., sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles have increased by 6.3% since the beginning of the year (169,862 units, January-September 2010: 159,729 units). September sales were 9.0% (21,649 units)higher than during the same month in 2010 (19,862 units). The market launches of the new-generation C-Class and the new M-Class are expected to generate additional sales momentum in the coming months. A record was achieved in Canada, where 2,343 units were delivered to customers in September.

In Germany, Mercedes-Benz remained the most successful premium brand in September. Following a very strong performance in September 2010 (27,273 units) and shortly before the market launch of the new B- and M-Class a total of 24,514 units have been delivered within Germany. At 190,037 vehicles since the beginning of the year, sales were up slightly (+0.5%) from the high figure recorded during the same period in 2010. A total of 222,926 vehicles (+0.1%) have been delivered to customers in Western Europe (excluding Germany) since the beginning of the year; September sales totaled 32,425 units.

Last month, the new C-Class sedan was the top-selling vehicle in its class for the sixth month in a row. A total of 26,816 units of that model were delivered in September (+8.9%). Outstanding sales also put both the new SLK (+135.8%) and the new C-Class coupe at the top of their comparative segments in September. Total sales in the C-Class segment rose by 19.5%. A vehicle with the star has also remained the best-selling model in the luxury segment since the beginning of the year: Sales of the S-Class sedan increased by 8.4% to 51,665 units from January through September. During that same period, Mercedes-Benz delivered 253,020 vehicles from the E-Class segment to customers, an increase of 4.7%. Sales of the new CLS performed particularly well once again in September, being the best-selling vehicle in its segment (+187%). SUVs with the star have also been on the road to success since the beginning of the year, with deliveries totaling 174,612 units, around one-fourth (+25.5%) more than during the same period in 2010. Worth mentioning are the sales of the M-Class, as they have risen by more than ten percent since January, despite the upcoming model changeover. The other SUVs are also developing very dynamically. Deliveries of the R-Class are up 67.9%, those of the GLK rose 29.8%, and G-Class sales increased by 43.8%.

Sales of the smart fortwo continue to rise as well since the beginning of the year: A total of 77,567 units of the model were sold from January through September 2011 (January-September 2010: 74,885). The innovative two-seater has been particularly successful on the Chinese market, where a record of 8,445 units (+217%) have been delivered to customers since the beginning of the year. smart fortwo sales were also very high in Germany during the same period. At 22, 335 units, deliveries were up by 8.7%. This makes the smart fortwo the best-selling vehicle in its segment during the year to date in Germany. A total of 8,494 units of the model were sold worldwide in September (January – September 2010: 10,066 units). The sales figure for September 2010 was exceptionally high due to the first deliveries of the facelifted model in that month. The smart fortwo will significantly surpass its sales target of more than 90,000 units for full-year 2011 and is therefore looking to sell approximately 100,000 vehicles.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

Source: Daimler AG

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Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Highest September on Record with Sales of 23,897

By | Published Tuesday, 4 October 2011


Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported September sales of 23,897 vehicles, a 15.6% improvement over September 2010 (20,666) and the company's highest September volume on record. On a year-to-date basis, the 182,314 vehicles sold represent a 10.3% increase over the 165,355 vehicles sold during the same period last year.


The highest volume performers for the month were the C-Class and E-Class model lines. The all-new 2012 sporty C-Class - and gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers - led the pack with sales of 6,865, up 32.1% from September 2010. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,122 and the full-sized SUV, the GL-Class, finished third in volume with monthly sales of 2,541. Additionally, sales of the newly launched 2012 CLS-Class posted a 399.3% increase for the month and sales of the new SLK roadster were up 50.8% over September 2010.

At the high end, the company sold 25 of its supercar -- the SLS AMG -- bringing its year-to-date sales to 454. Sales of Sprinter Vans also increased by 121.3% for September with sales of 1,779 - bringing a year-to-date total of 12,452 (up 121.3 %).

Sales of the smart fortwo totaled 469 vehicles for the month (compared to the 422 vehicles sold in September 2010).

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,707 vehicles in September 2011, a decrease of -8.6%. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 57,359 vehicles, a decrease of -5.9% over the comparable period last year.

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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Roman Biondi - new head of Sales Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit

By | Published Monday, 19 September 2011


Roman Biondi assumes responsibility for the sale of Mercedes-Benz buses and coaches at Daimler Buses/EvoBus GmbH on 1 October 2011. The bus manager joined the group in 1994 and has been with EvoBus GmbH since it was founded in 1995. Hartmut Schick says: "Roman Biondi is a proven bus expert and has long been appreciated by our customers as a competent man to talk to. From his many years of work with EvoBus he brings professional experience from international markets as well as from the central management in Stuttgart with him. We hope he gets off to a good start in his new duties in Mannheim." Since 2007 Roman Biondi managed the subsidiary EvoBus Italia S.p.A. His work there was marked by the realignment of the Italian subsidiary, the extension of market shares in new vehicle sales, and the restructuring of the two Sales units Mercedes-Benz and Setra. The Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit sales executive reports to Angela Titzrath-Grimm, head of Marketing, Sales and AfterSales Daimler Buses.



Source: Daimler AG

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Mercedes-Benz continues upswing in August with sales increase of 7.9 percent

By | Published Thursday, 8 September 2011


Sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars continue to rise. In August, the brand’s sales were up 7.9 percent compared to the high volume achieved in the same month last year. The brand delivered a total of 87,384 vehicles (August 2010: 81,010) to customers worldwide. Since the beginning of the year, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 798,306 units (January-August 2010: 735,428), representing an increase of 8.5 percent and the highest sales figure ever attained in this eight months period.


Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Our sales continued to develop very well in August. Germany, as our largest market, was an important growth driver, as well as many other markets in which we increased our sales considerably. All in all, we expect strong sales in the second half of the year and want to grow compared to last year. Record sales over the past eight months have created a very good basis for us to meet our full-year target of selling over 1.35 million Mercedes-Benz cars and smart fortwo- that’s more than ever before.”

New products such as the M-Class and B-Class will generate additional momentum in the coming months. The new M-Class will be introduced to Europe in November, while sales of the new B-Class will start on September 15. “One of the many highlights we’ll present at the IAA will be the world premiere of the new B-Class,” adds Dr. Schmidt. “Together with three other models of our upcoming premium compact car generation, it will set new standards in this segment allowing us to capture new customers and markets.”

Mercedes-Benz grew rapidly in many markets in August. In Germany, the brand increased deliveries by more than one-fifth. Sales increased by a total of 23.2 percent to 19,412 units (August 2010: 15,754). Mercedes-Benz thus remained the strongest premium brand in Germany. The SLK and the E-Class coupe were the leading vehicles in their class. The new generation C-Class achieved the highest sales volume among the premium competitors in the mid-size segment. Since January, deliveries totaled 165,523 units (January–August 2010: 161,768), 2.3 percent more than in the same period of 2010. In Western Europe, Mercedes-Benz surpassed last year’s August figure by 13.8 percent (32,940 units; August 2010: 28,951). Besides Germany, sales were up in the UK (plus 3.4 percent), France (plus 16.6 percent), the Netherlands (plus 10.1 percent), and Sweden (plus 31.0 percent).

Mercedes-Benz has boosted sales in China (incl. Hong Kong) by 35.8 percent since the start of the year, expanding at a much faster pace than the total market. Deliveries rose to the record level of 120,234 units (January–August 2010: 88,509). A new record was also posted in August with 13,812 vehicles (August 2010: 13,382) being sold. Sales thus increased by 3.2 percent compared to the high volume achieved in August 2010. The company expects sales to get a further boost in the coming months due to the greater availability of single model ranges, the ramp-up of local production for the new generation C-Class as well as the market launch of new products such as the new SLK, the C-Class coupe and the CLS.

Record sales and remarkable growth in August and during the year to date were also achieved in Taiwan (August: plus 6.7 percent, January-August: plus 40.1 percent), South Korea (August: plus 10.1 percent, January-August: plus 16.1 percent), Russia (August: plus 52.8 percent, January-August: plus 62,3 percent) and India (August: plus 20.0 percent, January-August: plus 31.1 percent). Deliveries also rose sharply in Brazil in August (plus 40.3 percent) and for the year to date (plus 38.4 percent). In South Africa, last month was also a very strong one (plus 40.0 percent).

In the U.S., sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles increased by 6.1 percent since January (148,409 units; January–August 2010: 139,867). Due to model year changeovers particularly among the high volume C-Class, sales totaled 18,477 units in August (August 2010: 18,826), nearly reaching last year’s level. Beginning in September, the company expects further positive impact from the market launch of the new M-Class and the new-generation C-Class.

In August, in particular the SUVs saw sales pick up and reach new records. The M-Class continued to be in great demand even shortly before the introduction of its successor, with sales rising by 8.1 percent in August and 13.6 percent since the beginning of the year. Sales of the other SUV models also increased substantially, with those of the GLK reaching a new record. The brand sold a total of 16,852 SUVs in August (plus 16.2 percent); since January, sales have risen by 28.4 percent.

Last month, the new C-Class sedan was the top-selling vehicle in its class for the fifth month in a row. Sales in the C-Class segment rose by 9.7 percent in total. The new SLK continued to increase deliveries as well (plus 144.6 percent), ensuring its position as the best-selling vehicle in its segment. The S-Class was the world’s best-selling luxury sedan during the year to date. Since the beginning of the year, sales have increased by 11.4 percent to 45,703 units. In the E-Class segment, 5.6 percent more vehicles have been chosen by customers from January to August (221.682 units). The E-Class convertible did especially well, with sales jumping by 50.2 percent. Last month, very high growth rates were again posted by the A-Class, sales of which climbed 66.3 percent to 8,774 vehicles. The B-Class continued to perform well in the year in which its successor will be introduced, with sales rising by 7.6 percent during the year to date (73,046 units) compared to the same period in 2010.

The presentation of the third generation smart fortwo electric drive will be another highlight at the IAA. It is available beginning in spring 2012 in more than 30 markets and provides zero-emission motoring with even more driving fun. The current generation of the smart fortwo continued to develop positively in August. At 5,778 units, deliveries of the two-seater were above last year’s level (August 2010: 5,748). Deliveries rose by 6.6 percent since the beginning of the year (January–August 2011: 69,073 units; January–August 2010: 64,819). In Europe, smart sales developed especially well in Germany and France. In the vehicle’s home market, sales increased by 13.0 percent to 20,286 units since the beginning of the year. As a result, the smart is the best-selling vehicle in its segment during the year to date. In France, it attracted 7.1 percent more customers during the same period. In China, the innovative two-seater continues to post record results, selling nearly four times as many vehicles in the year to date than in the period from January to August 2010. In August, sales jumped another 141.5 percent.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

Source: Daimler AG

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