Last month, the Mercedes Car Group made enough money to feed all the starving children in Africa.  Well not really, but they did manage to boost worldwide sales by 12%.  Last month, August sales rose to 86,600 vehicles, up from 77,300 in 2004.  This brings the Mercedes Car Group's total 2005 sales to 760,800 vehicles, 500 more than last year at this time.

The Mercedes Car Group performed well throughout the world, including the U.S.  As previously reported, Mercedes-Benz USA recorded its highest ever August sales figures last month with a total of 19,267 vehicles being sold.  Germany and the Asia/Pacific regions also marked substantial gains for the month of August, with increases of 13.8% and 15.5%, respectively.

Mercedes attributes the increased worldwide sales to their new models, including the A-, M- and B-Class, as well as strong performance from their flagship E-Class and SLK-Class lines.  Mercedes expects the increased sales momentum to continue through the end of the year, due to the upcoming releases of the all new R-Class and S-Class models.

For more info on the Mercedes Car Group's sales figures, you can read the full press release below.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes Car Group Boosts Worldwide Sales In August By Twelve Percent


Stuttgart, Sep 06, 2005

Sales of Mercedes Car Group rose in August 2005 by twelve percent to 86,600 units (August 2004: 77,300). Through August the Mercedes Car Group sold 760,800 vehicles, slightly more than in the same period last year (760,300 units). The new S-, R-, M- and B-Class vehicles and the new V6 and V8 engines have therefore enabled Mercedes-Benz to achieve the turnaround as previously announced. The company expects the positive sales trend to continue for the rest of the year.

In August, Mercedes-Benz increased deliveries worldwide by 15 percent to 79,200 vehicles. In Germany, the division’s largest sales market, the rise in demand experienced during the previous month continued in August. As a result, deliveries here amounted to 25,800 vehicles, or 20 percent more than in August 2004. Sales on the German market were especially boosted by the A-Class, with demand rising by 166 percent, as well as by the B-, M-, E- and CLS-Class.

In August, sales also were up again on foreign markets, with 53,400 vehicles sold and an increase of about twelve percent. Sales increases were posted in all triad markets: With deliveries of 19,300 vehicles, Mercedes-Benz USA recorded its highest August sales figure ever. This outstanding result was primarily due to the successful launch of the new M-Class and record sales of the E-Class. Mercedes-Benz also set new records in Italy (up 50 percent) and Spain (up eleven percent). Sales in the Asia/Pacific region rose by 15 percent to 6.700 units.

New models, new momentum; E-Class sedan again market leader

The new models launched so far this year (B- and M-Class) have met with a great market response. In fact, around 19,400 B-Class vehicles have been sold since the new model was introduced to the market in early June. Along with the new models slated for launch later this year — the R-Class and, in particular, the new S-Class — the new vehicles are expected to provide Mercedes-Benz with further momentum for a continuation of the upturn. The S-Class will be celebrating its world premiere at the IAA in Frankfurt on September 12 and will be delivered to dealerships in Western Europe from September 24.

Demand is also increasing for the established models. The E-Class with their new state-of-the-art V6 and V8 engines is doing particularly well. Sales of this model in Germany rose by six percent in August. In the U.S., the model even set a new sales record. With these results, the E-Class sedan became the global market leader in its segment in August. The SL and SLK roadsters also defend their position as market leaders. The SLK has achieved a record result of about 42,000 unit sales for the year to date.

smart: greater market share despite segment’s overall decline

In contrast to the small car segment’s current market decline, smart was able to boost sales substantially in the first eight months of the year, posting an increase of about eleven percent. Worldwide deliveries rose to more than 93,400 vehicles.

In August, sales were primarily driven by the smart fortwo. Boosted by the very positive response to the limited edition smart fortwo ‘purestyle’, incoming orders for this model were already very high within a few weeks after the vehicle’s announcement and before its official presentation at the IAA.

The smart forfour was also able to further increase its share of the stagnating small car market. In Germany, for example, the four-seater expanded its market share of the relevant segment by about two percentage points, clearly demonstrating its competitiveness.


Overview of Mercedes Car Group Sales

* Mercedes-Benz passenger cars