BRIC Countries Help Mercedes-Benz Achieve Record Sales

May 2011 was the most successful May in Mercedes-Benz history, after the company chalked up 108,766 worldwide sales

May 2011 was the most successful May in Mercedes-Benz history, after the company chalked up 108,766 worldwide sales thanks in part to continued growth in Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The sales figures for May 2011 marked a 7.3 per cent rise on 2010’s figure of 443,394. Total sales for 2011, which stand at 490,021, are up 10.5 per cent on 2010’s figure of 443,394 for the same period.

In a statement, the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars, Joachim Schmidt, said: “The upswing we’ve experienced in recent months continued in May with a new sales record. Once again, growth was in particular driven by the BRIC countries”.

“We achieved high growth rates in all of them. The strong demand for our new C-Class generation is also contributing to our dynamic development. This will also be the case with the new C-Class coupe, which hit dealerships last Saturday and has already met with an outstanding customer response.”

The Mercedes C-Class Coupe has already won the hearts of motorists the world over who love to speed along in a top-of-the-range prestige vehicle with a sporty edge. The model’s sleek curves and ultra-modern stylings come complete with the AMG Sports Package that includes 18″ alloy wheel trims.

The C-Class was launched earlier this year and Mercedes-Benz gave their customers no less than five different engine options. Three petrol engines and two diesel engines are available with the C-Class, with the most economical being the C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, which comes equipped with the flagship ECO start/stop function and a manual six-speed transmission.

Following the significant boost provided by the C-Class, Mercedes will look to capitalise on the launch of the M-Class, which launched this week. The luxury 4×4 is expected to rival Range Rover in the market and poses a significant threat, with its spacious interior and impressive arsenal of gadgets.

The M-Class has launched with three different engine options; a four-cylinder diesel, a heavily-revised petrol V6 and a diesel V6. An eco-friendly hybrid diesel version is expected to follow, further expanding the M-Class’ reach into the 4×4 market and opening up the possibility of car insurance incentives for eco-friendly drivers.

The fact that Mercedes-Benz cited the BRIC nations as a significant contributor to their record sales figures speaks volumes about the current state of the motoring industry – and its future. For a number of years, motoring industry analysts have been pointing to Brazil, Russia, India and China as the way forward for car sales, given the lower levels of debt in those countries and the smaller proportion of cars that are bought on credit.

Indeed, China is now the world’s biggest auto market, after overtaking the USA in 2009. Car sales in China grew by 6.5 per cent between March 2010 and March 2011, signalling that the region remains a fertile ground for manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz.

A Look at Car Insurance for Younger Drivers

It's been reported that young drivers could be fitted with a 'black box' that maximises the amount of hours they can spend on the road

Surely car insurance does not have to cost so much

If you are a driver, you may have noticed that there are a lot less student drivers on our roads and those you do see tend to be a bit older than in the past. This is mainly due to the fact that when a young driver now passes their test, irrespective of whether they have their own policy or are a named driver on someone else’s, you will need at least a couple of thousand pounds to be insured for a year.

There has been a huge outcry about this of late, and also the increase in the policy prices for drivers across the board. The simple fact is that as a nation, we are making so many claims on our car insurance that the costs are simply going up and up. It’s not exactly complimentary to hear that the rest of Europe refers to us as the whiplash capital, due the sheer volume of claims for this injury, even after the most minor of bumps.

As this is a hard injury for an expert to dispute, and with the symptoms readily available online for anyone to read, it can be an impossible task for any doctor to dispute the claim, thus the insurance company has to pay out. All the money for these claims have to come from someone, and this is invariably our pockets when the renewal notices drop the through the door or ping into our email inboxes.

The domestic driver is being hard enough hit by the increasing cost of car insurance, but those who have the likes of van insurance are being hit even harder. This already carries a higher premium due to the size of the vehicle, the miles it travels etc., and with the ever increasing cost of petrol too those who are self employed as a man with a van are really feeling the bite.

So what can be done to stop this trend and make car insurance more affordable? Well, it has been reported that young drivers could be fitted with a ‘black box’ type piece of technology that maximises the amount of hours they can spend on the road, with the theory being that the less they drive, the less accidents they will have. This does nothing, however, to stem the flow of insurance claims for non-existent injuries.

The sad fact is that we have become a nation that has gone claim crazy. A few years ago if we had a little bump we would shrug it off and get on with life, now, if a passenger hurts their finger they are carried off to hospital weeping and wailing with acting skills akin to a premiership footballer. It hurts everywhere they yell, and 99% of these will leave the hospital with a diagnosis of whiplash and bang in a claim within the hour.

There is no disputing that those who have received a serious injury should make a claim, that’s part of what your cover is for after all, but to stop prices shooting up people have to start being honest with themselves, and stop putting in claims just to make a few quid, as they will not only lose their own no claims bonus, but will also see their own premiums go sky high, costing them more in the long run than that claim was worth in the first place.

Protect Your Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid

Time will tell whether Mercedes buyers value various levels of mileage & whether hybrids prove more attractive than oil burners

Mercedes-Benz is well-known for its diesels. Back in 1936 it introduced the 260D, the world’s first passenger car powered by a diesel engine. However it also boasts an impressive reputation for advance technology. At the New York Auto Show in April 2009 it unveiled its latest hybrid project, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid. It is the latest expansion in its ML sport utility line, and it makes the ML the first vehicle in the world to offer gasoline, diesel, and hybrid alternatives.

Unlike Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Honda, Mercedes-Benz uses hybrid technology to improve the mileage of its largest, heaviest vehicles. It recognises the changing environment that comes hand-in-hand with the current fuel crisis, and continues to offer choice to its customers.

The ML 450 is an all-wheel-drive with an electrically assisted V-6 that generates V-8-like power but with a better fuel economy. Combining a 275-hp, 3.5-litre V-6 with two electric motors in the two-mode hybrid transmission – which was co-developed with BMW and General Motors when Mercedes was married to Chrysler – the powertrain delivers a total output of 335 hp and 381 lb-ft of torque. A 288-volt nickel-metal hydride battery under the rear cargo floor provides the current for the motors, with the resulting bump in efficiency bringing fuel economy to 21 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, up from the all-wheel-drive ML 350’s 15/20 rating and the 13/18 figure for the V-8-powered ML 550.

Reviewers of the Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid say its performance should be exemplary, but with a vehicle packed with so much technology, potential owners will need to find a specialized mechanic and be willing to pay a higher price for using one. If you do choose to buy the model, you will also want to protect your prized possession with quality car insurance that covers this type of car.

Staveley Head Van Insurance and Car Insurance specialists can help you see the UK’s best deals at a glance.

Only time will tell whether Mercedes-Benz buyers value various levels of mileage, whether hybrids prove more attractive than oil burners and, most importantly, at what price points.

AMG High Performance Vehicle Insurance from Mercedes-Benz Bank in Germany

The Mercedes-Benz Bank offers attractive insurance quotes for all AMG high-performance cars in Germany

The new AMG tailored car insurance not only offers cheap premiums and deductibles, but also a unique price protection. Offerings also include insurance for potential damage if the customer’s vehicle is in  driver training with the AMG Driving Academy. The new AMG car insurance is for all AMG models on offer, from the C 63 AMG to the SLS AMG.

The unique advantage of the new AMG car insurance is the additional price protection: a total loss is not the only case of re-reimbursed replacement value, but the original purchase price in full. The purchase price protection applies to new and used vehicles and covers up to a maximum term of 48 months after completion. No other German insurance company comparable to offer.

A look at the sample calculation shows the attractive offer: If a purchase price of € 100,000 and a total loss, adopted in 2012, the customer would get from a conventional insurance AMG only the replacement value of the estimated 50,000 € replaced. The gap of 50.000 € for the initial purchase price can be the client now with the new AMG car insurance close of the – and without major financial losses his new AMG so desired model order.

Other exclusive benefits of AMG car insurance: The premium offered is independent of personal claims bonus of the insured, as is the current classification in the insurance case is not affected.

Participate in driver training also covered the AMG Driving Academy

Unlike many insurance claim is a possible protected if the AMG customer with his vehicle in a driver training The AMG Driving Academy participates. This is true even if it is a professional circuit training concerns, such as the PRO-training or at the Masters Sports Trophy.

Overview: Premiums for selected AMG models

  • Model: C 63 AMG – Premium *: € 1950 / 2150 **
  • Model: E 63 AMG – Premium *: € 2050 / 2250 **
  • Model: ML 63 AMG – Premium *: € 2050 / 2250 **
  • Model: SL 63 AMG – Premium *: € 2250 / 2500 **
  • Model: SLS AMG – Premium *: € 2690/2890 **
  • Model: S 65 AMG – Premium *: € 3450 / 3700 **

* A year including 19% insurance applies, for liability, partial coverage with 500 € and 1,000 € Comprehensive deductible;

** With / without participating in driver training courses at the AMG Driving Academy.

If you have AMG model with the radar-based adaptive cruise control DISTRONIC PLUS (optional on select vehicles) ordered, will receive a discount of 15 percent on all premiums.