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 Unit sales at Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz Cars division totaled 96,600 vehicles in February 2008, an increase of 18 percent from the figure recorded for the same month last year (82,000 units) setting a new benchmark. In addition, deliveries of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach brand vehicles over the first two months of the year rose 17 percent to the record level of 187,000 units (Jan./Feb. 2007: 159,700).
The Mercedes-Benz brand also set a record in February by posting a sales increase of 13 percent to 87,800 units worldwide (February 2007: 78,000). A total of 170,100 customers worldwide opted for a vehicle of the brand with the star over the first two months of the year (Jan./Feb. 2007: 151,500), an increase of 12 percent from the same period last year, and also the best performance ever for that calendar period.
The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class enjoyed continued success in February, posting very high sales growth in all triad markets. A total of 29,000 C-Class sedans and station wagons were sold, more than double the figure in February 2007 (13,700).
The A-Class and B-Class also continued their positive performance last month, with sales in this segment increasing by eight percent to the record level of 21,600 units (February 2007: 20,100). This development was mainly a result of record deliveries of B-Class vehicles in Western Europe.
The strong sales growth achieved with the C-Class sedan played a major role in enabling Mercedes-Benz to increase its sales in the U.S. in February by a further seven percent to the record figure of 18,600 units (February 2007: 17,300). Mercedes-Benz sales in Germany rose 22 percent to 23,100 passenger vehicles (February 2007: 18,900). Unit sales for Mercedes-Benz in Western Europe excluding Germany were up twelve percent to 26,900 vehicles (February 2007: 24,100), which was also a new record.
The response to the new smart fortwo in existing markets has been outstanding, and further growth of the smart brand has also been helped by the launch of the two-seater in the U.S. Deliveries of the smart fortwo worldwide more than doubled (+161 percent) in February to 8,800 units (February 2007: 3,400). Since the model was introduced in mid January, a total of 1,800 customers in the U.S. have taken delivery of the smart fortwo from one of the about 70 dealerships.
Overview of Sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars
|
|
February 2008 |
% change |
Jan./Feb. 2008 |
% change |
|
Mercedes-Benz |
87,800 |
+12.5 |
170,100 |
+12.3 |
|
smart |
8,800 |
+119.4 |
16,900 |
+104.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mercedes-Benz Cars |
96,600 |
+17.7 |
187,000 |
+17.1 |
|
Western Europe |
57,100 |
+22.4 |
107,500 |
+20.7 |
|
- of which Germany |
25,000 |
+24.0 |
42,100 |
+21.7 |
|
NAFTA |
21,700 |
+15.0 |
42,400 |
+13.9 |
|
- of which U.S. |
19,700 |
+13.6 |
38,600 |
+12.2 |
|
Asia/Pacific |
11,400 |
+8.5 |
23,200 |
+12.9 |
|
- of which Japan |
3,300 |
-5.6 |
5,600 |
-5.1 |
About Daimler
Daimler AG, Stuttgart, with its businesses Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks, Daimler Financial Services, Mercedes-Benz Vans, and Daimler Buses, is a globally leading producer of premium passenger cars and the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in the world. The Daimler Financial Services division has a broad offering of financial services, including vehicle financing, leasing, insurance, and fleet management. Daimler sells its products in nearly all the countries of the world and has production facilities on five continents. The company’s founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, continued to make automotive history following their invention of the automobile in 1886. As an automotive pioneer, Daimler willingly accepts an obligation to act responsibly towards society and the environment and to shape the future of safe and sustainable mobility with groundbreaking technologies and high-quality products. The current brand portfolio includes the world’s most valuable automobile brand, Mercedes-Benz, as well as smart, Maybach, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Mitsubishi Fuso, Setra, Orion and Thomas Built Buses. The company is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt, New York and Stuttgart (stock exchange abbreviation DAI). In 2007, the Group sold 2.1 million vehicles and employed a workforce of over 270,000 people. Revenues totaled € 99.4 billion and EBIT amounted to € 8.7 billion. Daimler is an automotive group with a commitment to excellence, and aims to achieve sustainable growth and industry-leading profitability.
Copyrigh © 2008, Daimler AG
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