We knew worldwide sales at the Mercedes-Benz Cars division were going to be down in October; the question was how much were they going be down.  Today we have our answer, as Daimler is reporting that worldwide sale of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands decreased 18.1 percent last month to 93,800 new units (compared to 114,600 units in October 2007).  Despite the substantial drop, Mercedes-Benz Cars did manage to maintain a slight improvement in its year-to-date total, with the division noting sales of 1,073,700 new units – a 1.6 percent increase over 2007's 10-month ytd total.

Individually, things were even worse at Mercedes-Benz, with the luxury division noting sales of 82,500 new units in October – down 20.6 percent when compared to the prior year. Year-to-date figures at Mercedes are also down, with the brand achieving sales of 960,300 new units – a 1.7 percent decline from 2007.

At smart, the numbers weren't nearly as disapointing, with the compact brand managing to note a 6.5 percent increase in sales with 11,300 new units sold.  As a result, smart continues its positive ytd trend, with the division managing to achieve a 10-month sales total of 113,400 new units – up 41.3 percent over the prior year.

To learn more about how worldwide sales fared at Mercedes-Benz Cars complete with data for each of the company's key market regions, keep reading for the official press release.



OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars Up Two Percent since beginning of the year

• 93,800 Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach passenger vehicles delivered to customers in October
  
  
• smart once again sets sales record in October
  
  
• New generation of four-cylinder diesel engines in C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition
  
  

In an increasingly difficult market environment in Western Europe, Japan and the U.S., worldwide deliveries of passenger vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars rose by two percent during the first ten months of the year, to 1,073,700 units (January-October 2007: 1,056,900). A total of 93,800 Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart und Maybach brand vehicles were sold in October (October 2007: 114,600, minus 18 percent).

The Mercedes-Benz brand sold 960,300 passenger vehicles worldwide since the beginning of the year (January-October 2007: 976,600, minus two percent). In October, 82,500 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were delivered to customers (October 2007: 103,900, minus 21 percent).

Sales of smart cars rose by seven percent in October to 11,300 units (October 2007: 10,700). The number of sales of the two-seater worldwide rose by 47 percent since the beginning of the year, to 113,200 units (January-October 2007: 77,100).

Sales in the C-Class segment continued to develop very well in the first ten months of the year, with deliveries rising by 21 percent to 380,300 units (January-October 2007: 315,400). A total of 5,700 customers bought the new station wagon model in October, nearly five times more than in the same month last year (October 2007: 1,200). Customers also continue to be very enthusiastic about the new CLC sports coupé, deliveries of which rose by 56 percent in October to 2,200 units (October 2007: 1,400).

The new GLK Class received a very positive customer response when it was launched in Western Europe on October 18. In Germany, for example, the unveiling of the compact SUV in the showrooms was attended by more than 100,000 existing and potential customers. Numerous test drives were offered to the visitors to enable them to experience first-hand the GLK’s outstanding handling properties both on- and offroad.

Mercedes-Benz started selling its new generation of four-cylinder diesel engines this month. The new engine combines great performance with outstanding efficiency. Beginning in December, it will first become available in the C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition, where it will reduce fuel consumption to 5.2 liters per 100 km. The new four-cylinder diesel engine introduced into the C-Class will subsequently also be introduced into the E-Class, and the new GLK.

Deliveries of Mercedes-Benz brand vehicles in Germany amounted with 255,500 units from January to October at previous years´level (January-October 2007: 255,600). In view of the market downturn, Mercedes-Benz brand delivered 546,400 vehicles to customers in Western Europe in the first ten months of the year (January-October 2007: 569,300, minus four percent). In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz sold 192,300 units since the beginning of the year (January-October 2007: 203,100, minus five percent).

Mercedes-Benz has continued to do well in the important automotive growth markets of China and Russia in the first ten months of the year. In China, brand sales rose 53 percent with 36,000 units (January-October 2007: 23,600) delivered to customers. In Russia, deliveries of Mercedes-Benz vehicles increased by ten percent up to 14,300 units (January-October 2007: 13,000). Growth was also recorded in the Middle East, where deliveries rose by 15 percent to 17,900 passenger vehicles (January-October 2007: 15,500).


Overview of Sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars