Daimler AG is reporting today that worldwide sales at its Mercedes-Benz Cars division dropped 4.2 percent for the month of May, with deliveries of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands decreasing to 111,100 new units (compared to 116,000 in May 2007). Despite the decrease, year-to-date deliveries at Mercedes-Benz Cars are up ten percent, reaching a record 548,800 new units (compared to 2007's five-month ytd total of 500,500 units).

Individually, sales of the Mercedes-Benz brand dropped to 98,100 units, a decrease of 5.1 percent when compared to May 2007's 103,400 new units. This figure brings MB's year-to-date total to 493,200 new units - up 5.3 percent over the same period last year.

As for smart, the compact model continued its positive momentum. Deliveries in May totaled 13,000 units - up 3.4 percent over May 2007 - while ytd deliveries improved to 55,600 units, a 73.2 percent increase over the first five months of 2007.

To read more about how worldwide sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars fared for the month of May including statistics for each of the company's key global markets, keep scrolling for the official press release.

Enjoy.



OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars up 10 Percent Since Beginning of the Year

• Mercedes-Benz brand sells 98,100 vehicles in May
  
  
• C-Class sedan and station wagon continue record-setting course
  
  
• New SL roadster thrills customers with even sportier design: Sales of the model increase 48 percent to 1,900 units
  
  

Stuttgart – The Mercedes-Benz Cars division - with the brands Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach - sold a total of 111,100 vehicles in May 2008, a decrease of four percent from the 116,000 units sold in May 2007. Unit sales over the first five months of the year rose ten percent at the division, however, reaching the new record level of 548,800 vehicles (January-May 2007: 500,500).

In May, the Mercedes-Benz brand delivered 98,100 new passenger cars, or five percent fewer than the 103,400 units recorded for the same month last year. Since the beginning of 2008, a total of 493,200 customers worldwide have opted to purchase a Mercedes-Benz model, an increase of five percent from the 468,400 buyers who chose a vehicle from the brand during the same period last year. This five-month sales figure also marks a new record for the Mercedes-Benz brand.
The C-Class remains extremely popular after only a little more than a year on the market. Sales of the model series’ sedan and station wagon variants rose 50 percent to 34,400 units last month (May 2007: 22,900), and a total of 350,000 new C-Class vehicles have been sold since the sedan’s premiere at dealerships at the end of March 2007, and the station wagon’s market launch in December of the same year.

Meanwhile, the new-generation Mercedes-Benz SL is thrilling sports car lovers with an even sportier design, as the latest version of the world’s most successful premium roadster attracted 1,900 buyers last month (May 2007: 1,300). With its new direct steering system, the two-seater is even more dynamic than ever, and also boasts enhanced safety and comfort.
The smart fortwo also continues to do extremely well after slightly more than a year on the market: the two-seater set a new record in May 2008 with sales of 13,000 units (May 2007: 12,200), an increase of six percent.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the U.S. achieved an even high level as last year with 21,800 units sold. The brand also continues to perform well in the Asia/Pacific region, where unit sales rose by15 percent in May to 11,900 vehicles (May 2007: 10,300). Especially the Chinese market made a big contribution here, as it accounted for 2,800 (+39 percent) deliveries to the region (May 2007: 2,000).

Despite a continued sluggish market in Western Europe, Mercedes-Benz was able to boost unit sales in the region by three percent over the first five months of this year to 282,000 vehicles (January-May 2007: 273,900).


Overview of Sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars