Basking in the glory of their sales success, Mercedes has announced today they've gotten off to a good start in the 2008 "convertible season."  Take, for example, the current SL-Class (now in its fifth generation).  To date, 145,000 customers have opted for the luxury roadster, with more than 8,000 SL's delivered this year alone.  Of these, half are headed for the U.S., with the SL 500 being the most popular variant chosen.

Not to be outdone by its larger sibling, the Mercedes SLK-Class continues to note tremendous success with customers as well, particularly in its home market of Germany.  Since its introduction in March 2004, approximately 200,000 units of the SLK have been delivered, with some 20,000 customers opting for the SLK-Class just this year (one-third of which are German bound).  As a result, on its home soil, the SLK has managed to defend its position as market leader in its distinctive segment.

And last but not least, who can forget the Mercedes CLK?  Although its approaching the end of its current generation life cycle, the convertible model has performed well, with the 125,000th unit delivered this July.  Of those that purchase the CLK, the majority reside in either the U.S. or Germany, with the CLK350 the most popular of the variants chosen.

Want more info about Mercedes' convertible sales this year? You're in luck.  Keep scrolling to find the official press release detailing this very subject, with sales of the Mercedes SL, SLK and CLK models all covered.

Enjoy ladies and gentlemen.



OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes-Benz Off to a Good Start in Summer with Updated Convertible Models

• Already 145,000 customers worldwide enthusiastic about the current Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  
  
• With an even sportier design, the SLK roadster maintains its position as the market leader in Germany
  
  
• Second-generation CLK convertible already delivered to 125,000 customers
  
  

Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz has gotten off to a good start in the “convertible season” with its updated models. Since spring of 2008, the new generation SL-Class has been carrying on the brand’s unparalleled sports car tradition, which began in 1954 with the legendary “gull-wing” 300 SL. The latest - and now the fifth - generation of the SL-Class has so far been chosen by 145,000 customers.

The world’s most popular premium roadster in its class features a new design emphasizing the car’s sporty character, and it offers even more athletic performance and enhanced comfort and safety. Since the beginning of the year, more than 8,000 customers around the world have purchased SL-Class models. Demand for the SL is particularly high in the U.S., where half of all SL-Class roadsters are sold. The SL 500 is by far the most popular model among customers who choose SLs.

The compact SLK-Class roadster also continues to be very popular among customers: Since the roadster’s market introduction in March 2004, Mercedes-Benz has sold about 200,000 vehicles of the latest production series - 20,000 units in this year alone. Since the beginning of April 2008, Mercedes-Benz has been offering an even sportier SLK generation. The SLK is a particularly admired by German customers. One third of all SLK drivers live in the home market of Mercedes-Benz. In Germany the SLK thus continued to defend its position as the market leader in its segment since the beginning of 2008. Moreover, Mercedes-Benz delivers one fifth of its SLK models to the U.S. The best-selling variant worldwide is the SLK 200 Kompressor.

In July 2008 Mercedes-Benz also delivered the 125,000th convertible of the new CLK-Class to a customer. Since the CLK’s market introduction in 2002, more than 700,000 coupes and convertibles have been purchased by customers worldwide. The most important markets for the CLK are Germany and the United States, and the CLK 350 is the favorite model of CLK drivers worldwide.

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