As we continue our efforts to catch up on the backlog of stories we were unable to bring you late last week, another story that bears mention is one of a financial nature. More specifically, Daimler AG released the August sales figures for their Mercedes-Benz Cars division, and unfortunately, things looks disappointingly reminiscent of the August figures posted by Mercedes-Benz USA.  In total, passenger car sales at the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands amounted to 84,400 new units, down exactly 12.3 percent when compared to the prior year (August 2007:  96,200).  Despite the decrease, the trio still holds a year-to-date sales increase of 4.9 percent over 2007's eight-month ytd figure, with a total of 857,600 units sold (January - August 2007:  817,600).

Individually, sales at Mercedes-Benz fared even worse, with the luxury brand noting sales of 75,200 new units – a 15.7 percent decline when compared to August 2007.  To date, worldwide sales at Mercedes-Benz now total 767,100 new units, up 1.1 percent over the first eight months of 2007.

Helping offset (at least to some degree) the decrease at Mercedes, sales of smart continued their positive momentum, with the compact fortwo increasing units sold to 9,200 units – up 29.3 percent over August 2007. This figure helped bring smart's ytd sales up to 90,500 units, a 53.4 percent increase over 2007's eight month ytd total.

Before I conclude, it is worth mentioning that this August noted two working days less August 2007.  Taking these two days into account, things aren't quite as bleak as the number imply, although they're not exactly good either.

To read more about worldwide sales of Mercedes-Benz Cars in August and through the first eight months of the year, you can find the full details in the official press release below.

Enjoy ladies and gentlemen.



OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes-Benz Cars Increases Year-to-date Sales by Five Percent to 857,600 Units by New Products

• 84,400 Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach vehicles sold in August
  
  
• Mercedes-Benz brand sells 75,200 vehicles in August
  
  
• smart achieves record sales worldwide at tenth anniversary of production launch
  

Stuttgart – The Mercedes-Benz Cars division has increased sales by five percent since the beginning of the year. A total of 857,600 Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach brand vehicles were delivered to customers in the first eight months of the year (January-August 2007: 817,600 units). In August 2008, which had two working days less than August 2007, 84,400 customers opted to buy passenger vehicles from Daimler (August 2007: 96,200). With the increasing weakness of the Western European automobile markets, a total of 75,200 Mercedes-Benz brand vehicles were sold in August (August 2007: 89,100 vehicles). For the year to date, sales of the car with the star rose by one percent to 767,100 units (January-August 2007: 758,600).

Two days ago, the smart brand achieved a special milestone when the one millionth smart fortwo rolled off the production line at the Hambach plant. “The smart fortwo became especially successful over the years. In fact, the fuel-efficient two-seater is now in greater demand than ever before, and we have delivered more than 90,000 smart fortwos this year, with more than 16,000 of them going to customers in the U.S.,” says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President responsible for Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars. To mark the tenth anniversary of the car’s production launch, smart unveiled the latest generation of the smart fortwo electric drive, which is equipped with a lithium-ion battery and which will be produced from the end of 2009 in a small series.

In August, demand was once again particularly high for the new models from Mercedes-Benz. For example, 1,500 customers picked up their new CLC sports coupes at their local dealerships. This represents an increase of 60 percent on the 900 vehicles sold in August 2007. The SLK-Class roadster also continues to be very popular with customers. In August, Mercedes-Benz sold 1,800 units of the compact roadster, nine percent more than in the same month of 2007 (1,700 units). As a result, Mercedes-Benz delivered 30,900 units of all models in the C-Class segment reaching a sales level slightly above the already high level of August 2007 (30,800 units).

Strong growth was also posted by the SL-Class, which now features an even sportier design. Sales of the luxury roadster increased by 31 percent in August, to 1,100 vehicles (August 2007: 800).

In the first eight months of the year, developments were very positive for Mercedes-Benz in the Asia-Pacific growth region. In all, the brand sold 99,400 vehicles there during this time period, representing an increase of 14 percent on the 87,300 units sold between January and August 2007. Sales growth was particularly strong for Mercedes-Benz in China. Since the beginning of the year, sales there rose by 58 percent to 25,100 passenger vehicles (January-August 2007: 15,900).

In Germany, deliveries of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles have risen slightly during the year to date, to 199,400 units (January-August 2007: 198,800). The brand recorded a sales increase of one percent in the U.S. between January and August, with sales there totaling 158,500 vehicles (January-August 2007: 157,800).

Overview of Sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars