Coming off a slight sales increase at its U.S. division, DaimlerChrysler is reporting today that worldwide sales of the Mercedes Car Group have hit a record number, increasing 8.7 percent to 96,200 new units (compared to 88,600 new units in August 2006).  As a result, year-to-date sales of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands now total 817,600 units, a 0.1 percent decrease when compared to last year's eight month ytd total of 818,200.

Individually, sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles remained strong, with the luxury division noting a 9.1 percent improvement over last year with 89,100 new units sold.  Much of the success can be attributed to the recently-launched C-Class, which managed to double sales in August to 23,900 units (compared to 11,600 units last year.)  Sales of the S-Class also continued to note positive marks, with the luxury sedan increasing its market-leading position by selling 8,400 units, an increase of eight percent.

As for smart, consumers continued to respond positively to the new fortwo, with the compact model doubling sales to 7,100 units (compared to 3,500 units in August 2006).  As a whole, sales at smart increased 3.8 percent to the aforementioned 7,100 units, an impressive feat considering at this time last year three separate smart models were available.

To learn more about how worldwide sales at the Mercedes Car Group fared for the month of August, keep reading for the official press release complete with statistics for each of the company's key markets.

Enjoy.



OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes-Benz Continues to Post Record Results with Nine Percent Sales Growth in August 2007

• Mercedes Car Group achieves record results in August 2007
  
  
• C-Class sedan worldwide market leader in its segment
  
  
• Sales of smart fortwo at all-time high

Stuttgart, Sep 07, 2007
Sales of Mercedes Car Group passenger vehicles rose by nine percent in August 2007 to a record 96,200 units (August 2006: 88,600 units). As a result, sales of Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brand vehicles amount to 817,600 units for the first eight months of the year (January-August 2006: 818,200). The Mercedes-Benz brand also set a new record for the month of August by delivering 89,100 vehicles to customers, which represents a nine percent increase from August 2006 (81,700). At 758,600 units, sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles were also at an all-time high for the first eight months of the year, up three percent from the same period last year (January-August 2006: 739,800).

Following its sales release in all markets, the new C-Class continues on its road to success. In August 2007, 23,900 units of the new sedan were delivered to customers, twice as much as in the same month last year (August 2006: 11,600). Thus, the C-Class sedan is also the market leader in its segment in August. Further sales momentum is expected to be generated by the market launch of the smaller engine versions at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the S-Class continues to expand its clear leading world-market position in the luxury segment. With sales increasing by eight percent to 8,400 units, August has also contributed to making 2007 a record-breaking year for Mercedes-Benz in this segment (August 2006: 7,800).

The new smart fortwo continues to be met with a very positive response as well. With sales in August 2007 rising to twice the figure posted in the same month last year (7,000 units compared to 3,500 in August 2006), the two-seater has achieved an all-time high. All in all, smart sales increased by four percent in August, despite the fact that three models were still available at this time last year.

In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz boosted its sales by two percent in August, to the record figure of 21,000 vehicles (August 2006: 20,600). Record sales were also posted in the Asia/Pacific region last month, with sales jumping by 22 percent to 11,200 units (August 2006: 9,200). During the first eight months of the year, the increase was particularly pronounced in China, where sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles rose by 38 percent to 15,900 units, or about twice as fast as the premium market as a whole.

In Western Europe, the Mercedes Car Group delivered 52,700 vehicles to customers in August, an increase of four percent on the figure for the same month last year (August 2006: 50,500). As was the case in July, the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands also recorded a sales increase in Germany in August, with customer deliveries rising by nine percent to 28,300 units (August 2006: 26,000).

Overview of Mercedes Car Group Sales