The second round of financials are in, and the Mercedes Car Group today is reporting that global sales of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands have risen 3.2 percent in 2006, reaching the record level of 1,260,000 new units.  The Mercedes-Benz brand in particular noted a banner year, celebrating its most successful year in history by increasing worldwide deliveries seven percent to 1,148,500 new units.

As for what areas helped contribute to the aforementioned success, Mercedes-Benz was able to increase its market share in all key regions.  In the United States, sales of the MB brand rose 11 percent to 248,100 passenger vehicles.  In the Asia-Pacific, Japan and Chinese markets, sales again noted impressive gains, with each region noting sales increases of 11 percent, 11 percent and 33 percent, respectively. And in Western Europe, sales of the luxury brand also improved over the previous year, with the region noting a 4 percent sales increase to 685,200 new units.

Unfortunately, due to its ongoing restructuring and phasing out of several models, sales of smart were down significantly this year, dropping 21.6 percent to 112,100 units (compared to 143,000 units in 2005).  Starting in April of 2007, however, the new smart fortwo will hit European dealerships (followed by its U.S. launch in 2008), likely providing a significant boost to the compact car's sales figures.

To learn more about the Mercedes Car Group and how it fared throughout 2006, keep reading for the full press release outlining the various facts and figures of the year.

Enjoy.



OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes Car Group increases 2006 sales to record 1,260,600 passenger vehicles

• Mercedes Car Group posts all-time sales record with three percent increase
  
  
• Mercedes-Benz grows by seven percent to an all-time high of 1,148,500 units
  
  
• Mercedes-Benz increases sales in all key regions
  
  

Stuttgart, Jan 05, 2007
Global sales of the Mercedes Car Group developed very positively in 2006, with a three percent increase of Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart passenger vehicles to the record level of 1,260,600 units (2005: 1,221,000).
In 2006, Mercedes-Benz celebrated the most successful year in its history: Worldwide deliveries of vehicles rose seven percent to the record level of 1,148,500 units (2005: 1,078,000). This growth outpaced by far that of the global automotive market in 2006.

Despite more intense competition, Mercedes-Benz was able to increase its market share in all key regions. In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz once again significantly outperformed the premium market as a whole and recorded its 13th consecutive annual sales increase, with deliveries rising 11 percent to a record 248,100 passenger vehicles.

The brand with the star was also particularly successful in the Asia-Pacific region, where DaimlerChrysler delivered 126,200 Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, an increase of 11 percent from the prior year. Mercedes-Benz sales in Japan also rose 11 percent this year, to 47,800 units, and sales in the growth market of China (including Hong Kong) increased by 33 percent, to 21,100 units (2005: 15,800 units).

Sales of Mercedes-Benz in Western Europe increased by four percent to 685,200 passenger vehicles in 2006. Sales in Germany rose slightly from 319,900 units in 2005 to 324,000 units this year, enabling Mercedes Benz to maintain its position as Germany’s best-selling premium brand.

With the new S-Class, Mercedes-Benz extends market leadership in the luxury segment

Sales of Mercedes-Benz in the luxury vehicle segment reached the record level of 110,300 units this year. This outstanding achievement was mainly due to the full availability of the new S-Class, the model changeover for the CL Class, and the new Generation of the SL. The S-Class performed particularly well this year, expanding its market leadership in the luxury segment by posting a sales increase of 84 percent - much higher than any of its major competitors - to 91,800 units. The new CL-Class, which celebrated its market launch in September 2006, also got off to an excellent start.

After the launch of the new-generation E-Class, sales of E-Class sedans increased slightly since July 2006 in an overall decreasing upper-range segment. In 2006, a total of 243,000 units of E-Class models were sold (2005: 262,000).

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class performed very well in the last year before its model changeover. And with more than two million units sold worldwide since its market launch, the current model series is the best selling C-Class in the brand’s history. Sales of Mercedes-Benz models in the C-Class segment totaled 332,100 units in 2006 (2005: 402,400).

Mercedes-Benz posted strong growth in the SUV segment: Worldwide deliveries of M-, R-, GL- and G-Class models grew by 86 percent in 2006 to 169,500 units. Mercedes-Benz is also the best-selling premium brand in the SUV segment in Germany and Western Europe.

The A-Class and B-Class succeeded in further establishing themselves as important volume models in the compact-class segment in 2006 posting combined sales of 293,200 units (2005: 251,300).

Based on the biggest model offensive in its history, Mercedes-AMG, the high-performance brand of Mercedes-Benz, remained very successful in 2006, delivering about 20,000 AMG vehicles worldwide, half of which went to the U.S.

Maybach expands product range

The Maybach high-end luxury brand further expanded its range of models with the Maybach 62 S in 2006, thereby boosting brand appeal. Since the brand was revived in 2002, Maybach has delivered about 1,900 limousines to customers around the world, with around 400 in 2006.

Very positive response to new smart fortwo - new business model successfully implemented

smart successfully implemented its new business model in 2006 and concluded its integration into the Mercedes Car Group organization by the end of the year. Sales in 2006 totaled 112,100 units. In view of the upcoming model changeover for the smart fortwo and the phasing out of the smart forfour, the result was in line with the sales target. With sales of 32,200 units, Italy remained the brand’s most important market, closely followed by Germany with 30,100 vehicles delivered.

In the year preceding the introduction of its successor, the smart fortwo once again exceeded expectations. More than 750,000 smart fortwo vehicles have been sold in 36 countries since the model’s market launch in October 1998.

The new smart fortwo is due to hit dealerships starting in April 2007. Starting 2008 it will be available in the U.S. for the first time as the growing interest in affordable compact cars with low fuel consumption sets ideal conditions for the U.S. market entry of the smart brand.

Overview of Mercedes Car Group sales in 2006