This month's second round of financials have come rolling in, and unfortunately, worldwide sales of the Mercedes Car Group have declined for the second straight month. In total, global sales of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands amounted to 102,500 new units for October, a decrease of 3.5%.
But despite the decline, sales of the Mercedes-Benz brand have remained strong, with the luxury division noting sales of 94,200 passenger cars in October - matching the high levels achieved in October 2005. The most significant factor helping sales was strong market performance across the globe, including a 13% increase in October sales here in the U.S. and a 17% ytd increase in the Asia/Pacific region.
As for individual model statistics, sales of the S-Class have remained incredibly strong, with sales of the luxury sedan totaling 76,300 units since the beginning of the year. The new E-Class has also noted tremendous success, with the recently-updated model achieving October sales figures of 18,900 units - an increase of 10% compared to October of 2005.
Unfortunately, despite sales at Mercedes, the smart brand continued its downward spiral in October, with the mini-car division noting a 31.3% decrease in sales. This brings the smart brand's ytd total to 96,200 new units - a decline of 20.6%.
To learn more about worldwide October sales at the Mercedes Car Group, keep reading for the official press release, which includes individual region sales figures and a current year-to-date sales summary.
Enjoy.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Mercedes Car Group Sells 102,500 Passenger Cars worldwide in October
- Mercedes-Benz delivers 94,200 units in October and keeps pace with excellent results of the same month in 2005
- E-Class and S-Class further strengthen their leading market positions in the premium segment worldwide
- In the U.S. and Asia, Mercedes-Benz continues to post stronger growth than the market overall
Stuttgart, Nov 07, 2006
The Mercedes Car Group sold 102,500 Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brand passenger cars in October 2006, compared to 106,300 units sold in the same month last year. During the first ten months of 2006, vehicle deliveries from the Mercedes Car Group to customers increased by five percent to the record figure of 1,036,700 vehicles (January – October 2005: 989,300).
Mercedes-Benz sold 94,200 passenger cars in October worldwide (October 2005: 94,200 units), matching the high level for the same month last year. The number of vehicles delivered to customers in the first ten months of 2006 rose by eight percent to the record-setting total of 940,500 units (same period last year: 868,100 vehicles).
In October, Mercedes-Benz once again registered a sales increase in the United States (up12 percent to 20,600 passenger cars), significantly outperforming the market as a whole. During the first ten months of 2006, deliveries in the United States increased by 13 percent to the record figure of 197,600 passenger cars. Mercedes-Benz also continues to make impressive gains in its market share in the Asia/Pacific region, posting a 17 percent increase from January through October 2006, setting a new record of 105,000 passenger cars. Mercedes-Benz sales in Western Europe were up five percent to 563,400 cars during the first ten months of this year, despite a downturn in some of the region’s markets.
The S-Class and the E-Class further extended their leading positions on the world market in the luxury and upper-range segments in October. A total of 76,300 S-Class sedans have been handed over to their new owners since the beginning of the year. Sales of the new generation E Class climbed in October by about ten percent, to 18,900 units. The new CL-Class, the coupe of the S Class, got off to an excellent start following its market launch, meeting with a very positive response from customers.
In the SUV segment during the first ten months of 2006, worldwide deliveries of the M-, R-, GL- and G-Class vehicles more than doubled, reaching a total of 134,200 units. This impressive result was due to the expanded range of models offered and the rapid growth in sales of the new M-Class. In Germany and other Western European countries, Mercedes-Benz is the best-selling premium brand in the SUV segment.
The smart brand delivered 8,300 vehicles to customers worldwide in October 2006. As expected, the focus on the smart fortwo caused sales to decrease from January through October compared to last year, to a total of 96,200 units. Customers have already placed orders for nearly all of the smart fortwo cars that will be produced before next year’s model changeover.
Overview of Mercedes Car Group Sales
| |
Oct. 2006 |
Change in % |
Jan. - Oct. 2006 |
Change in % |
| Mercedes-Benz |
94,200 |
0.0 |
940,500 |
+8.4 |
| smart |
8,300 |
-31.3 |
96,200 |
-20.6 |
| |
| Mercedes Car Group |
102,500 |
-3.5 |
1,036,700 |
+4.8 |
| Western Europe |
64,100 |
-10.2 |
651,600 |
+0.1 |
| - of which Germany |
30,800 |
-12.1 |
281,800 |
-5.3 |
| NAFTA |
22,600 |
+11.8 |
217,100 |
+13.2 |
| - of which U.S.* |
20,600 |
+12.3 |
197,600 |
+13.2 |
| Asia/Pacific |
9,300 |
+2.4 |
108,300 |
+15.9 |
| - of which Japan |
2,600 |
-4.6 |
41,300 |
+10.8 |
|
*Mercedes-Benz passenger cars
Copyright © 2006, DaimlerChrysler AG
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