Mercedes-Benz USA is reporting that for the month of June, sales dropped to 15,155 new units – a decrease of 22.6 percent when compared to June 2008. As a result of this figure, MBUSA’s sales total 85,088 new units through the first half of the year, down 28.7 percent when compared to 2008’s six-month YTD total of 119,279 new units.
As for the models making headlines, a single Mercedes managed to achieve a sales gain for the month. That model, surprisingly, is the R-Class, which noted a sales increase of 18.1 percent with 680 vehicles sold. The volume leader for the month was the C-Class, which noted sales of 4,583 units (-23.3 percent compared to June 2008), while the E-Class noted the second highest sales volume with 2,781 new units sold (-36.2 percent compared to June 2008).
The sales figures for the month of May 2009 are in, and Mercedes-Benz USA is reporting that for the month, sales dropped a total of 30.5 percent to 15,134 new units. As a result, sales at MBUSA now total 69,933 new units, down 29.9 percent when compared to 2008’s five-month year-to-date total.
As for the models making headlines, all of MBUSA’s model sales were in the red for the month, save for the GLK-Class, of which 2,598 were sold. Then again, the GLK wasn’t on sale last year, so it’s not really a fair comparison. Looking at the models that were on sale, the month’s biggest loser award goes to the CL-Class, with sales of the coupe dropping 77.1 percent to just 68 units. Sales of the CLS-, R-, S-, and M-Class were all down significantly as well, with the group dropping 64.8 percent, 59.4 percent, 54.9 percent and 47.5 percent, respectively.
The best of the worst award surprisingly falls on the CLK-Class, with the soon-to-be-extinct model noting sales of 1,067 new units – down 12.1 percent over last year.
In April 2009, sales at Mercedes-Benz USA mimicked those noted by the majority of other automakers, with MBUSA noting yet another double digit decline of 28.1 percent. In total, April sales amounted to 14,565 new units, compared to 20,271 new units in April of 2008. As a result of the figures, year-to-date sales at Mercedes-Benz USA now amount to 54,799 new units (compared to 77,918 new units in April 2008), or in percentages, a 29.7 drop compared to the prior year.
Volume leaders for the month were the C-Class, GLK-Class and M-Class with sales of 4,274 units, 1,869 units, and 1,838 units, respectively, while taking top honors for the month’s most horrific performance is the R-Class, with sales of the half-minivan, half-SUV dropping a remarkable 73.9 percent to 192 new units.
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported March sales of 15,602 vehicles, a decline of 25 percent. The volume leaders for the month were the C, E, and GLK-Class with sales of 5,008, 1,978, and 2,598 units, respectively. On a year-to-date basis, the company has sold 40,234 new vehicles, a decrease of 30.2 percent over the comparable period last year.
Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,614 vehicles in March; a 29.4 percent increase compared to March 2008 sales of 5,110 vehicles. Year-to-date sales for the MBCPO program are 19,162, a 44.6 percent increase over 2008 year-to-date sales (13,252 vehicles) during the same timeframe.
As for how Mercedes-Benz USA’s competitors fared for the month, here’s a quick rundown:
1) BMW USA
March 2009: 17,520 units (-24.2%)
YTD 2009: 42,731 units (-26.8%)
2) Audi USA
March 2009: 6,433 units (-19.4%)
YTD 2009: 15,808 units (-23.1%)
3) Lexus USA
March 2009: 14,239 units (-40.6%)
YTD 2009: 42,069 units (-35.9%)
Look at the bright side MBUSA: thanks to seemingly endless amount of advertising you’ve been running through the first quarter of this year, you’ve managed to note only the third worst sales declines in the luxury market segment. Hooray for that.
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported February sales of 14,199 vehicles. While sales for the month were down from last year, the company’s February volume put it ahead of its mainstream competitors for the month.
A key contributor to February performance was the all-new 2010 GLK350, MBUSA’s versatile, compact SUV, which made a strong showing during its first full month on the market with sales of 1,918. The GLK’s February sales made it one of the company’s top-selling models behind the C-Class (3,990) and E-Class (2,104).
Sales gains were made by the iconic Mercedes-Benz SL and popular CLK models. Sales for the SL-Class increased 26.6 percent for the month with sales of 462 new vehicles (versus 365 vehicles in February 2008). The CLK-Class recorded sales of 1,134 new vehicles, a 15.4 percent increase over the same period last year (983 new vehicles).
Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,795 vehicles in February; a 28.3 percent increase compared to February 2008 sales of 4,517 vehicles. Year-to-date sales for the MBCPO program are 12,548, a 54.1 percent increase over 2008 year-to-date sales (8,141 vehicles) during the same timeframe.
Mercedes-Benz USA February 2009 Sales Overview
| Model | Feb. ’09 | Feb. ’08 | Monthly % | YTD 2009 | YTD 2008 | Yearly % |
| C-CLASS | 3,990 | 5,781 | -31.0% | 7,022 | 10,428 | -32.7% |
| E-CLASS | 2,104 | 2,547 | -17.4% | 3,872 | 5,527 | -29.9% |
| S-CLASS | 985 | 1,533 | -35.7% | 1,501 | 3,174 | -52.7% |
| CL-CLASS | 232 | 248 | -6.5% | 332 | 501 | -33.7% |
| SL-CLASS | 462 | 365 | 26.6% | 595 | 754 | -21.1% |
| CLK-CLASS | 1,134 | 983 | 15.4% | 1,735 | 2,206 | -21.4% |
| SLK-CLASS | 282 | 504 | -44.0% | 454 | 984 | -53.9% |
| CLS-CLASS | 455 | 542 | -16.1% | 661 | 1,037 | -36.3% |
| R-CLASS | 305 | 928 | -67.1% | 547 | 1,933 | -71.7% |
| M-CLASS | 1,353 | 3,081 | -56.1% | 2,708 | 6,318 | -57.1% |
| G-CLASS | 39 | 94 | -58.5% | 97 | 204 | -52.5% |
| GL-CLASS | 940 | 1,958 | -52.0% | 1,890 | 3,773 | -49.9% |
| GLK-CLASS | 1,918 | – | – | 3,218 | – | – |
| GRAND TOTAL | 14,199 | 18,564 | -23.5% | 24,632 | 36,839 | -33.1% |
Mercedes-Benz USA has announced today that they’ll be launching a new exclusive hotel and resorts program known as Destinations – one that will allow Mercedes-Benz owners staying at select properties exclusive benefits, including complimentary use of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, welcome gifts and room upgrades. Destinations available in the program include Calistoga Ranch, CA; Encantado, NM; The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, SC; The Montage Beverly Hills, CA; Rancho Valencia, CA; Stowe Mountain Lodge, VT; The St. Regis Aspen, CO; and Winvian, CT; and Trump International Hotel & Tower, IL.
According to Lisa Holladay, manager of Mercedes-Benz brand experience marketing: “Our customers choose Mercedes-Benz vehicles because they want an exceptional and luxurious experience when they travel by car. Our new Destinations program extends that luxury experience by offering exclusive customer benefits through select, hand-picked properties that are quite extraordinary.”
Like the herd of possessed swine cast off the cliff by Jesus Himself, so too went the way of Mercedes-Benz USA’s sales in January. They went down. Down, down, down. Specifically, the U.S. division of the luxury brand managed to achieve what some would have before considered impossible – shipping exactly 42.9 percent fewer vehicles than they did only a year ago. In total, MBUSA delivered 10,433, compared to 18,275 units in January 2008.
What makes the decline even more interesting is that this January marked the beginning of a U.S. advertising blitz for the new GLK-Class, with television spots and print ads for the new SUV popping up on a nearly daily basis. Even with the new ad bombardment, a quick scan of the other top luxury automakers January figures reveals that MBUSA outdid them all, with Lexus being the only brand coming close to Mercedes-Benz USA’s catastrophic decline (-37.7 percent).
So what does this mean for Mercedes-Benz USA’s marketing department? It means that what they’re doing isn’t working, and to be honest, we can’t say we’re surprised. I won’t go into specifics today, but I will say that last year, we sent Mercedes a proposal that would have been far more effective than any of MBUSA’s current marketing attempts. Call it a vision into the future, if you will – one that we had the opportunity to sit down and present to the company a few months ago, and one that they blatantly and unfortunately dismissed. Now, kicking off a new year, Mercedes-Benz USA is at the forefront of the luxury automotive segment, not as the industry leader, but rather as the brand holding title as the month’s most substantial loser.
It’s a difficult economic environment, but at the same time, it’s at times like these that the true measure of a company’s ingenuity and character can be seen. The truth is that there’s more to selling cars than airing a few unimaginative television and print ads, but until MBUSA becomes receptive to this fact, I expect little to change in the company’s position amidst the luxury segment.
For more info regarding Mercedes-Benz USA’s January sales figures, keep reading for the official press release.
Mercedes-Benz USA announced today that they have become an official patron of the PGA of America – a collaboration that will last through 2013. Under the venture, MBUSA will serve as The Official Vehicle of The PGA of America, the Official Patron and Official Vehicle of the PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship, and a Proud Supporter of the 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cup.
According to Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA: “The PGA of America continues to make golf accessible to a wider audience and we see an opportunity to support and benefit from the game’s future growth. The three-pointed star has a long-standing history with golf and this new partnership strengthens our existing ties with the game while also extending our presence within one of the world’s largest sports organizations.”
In addition to the aforementioned titles, part of Mercedes-Benz USA’s duties include providing vehicles at the PGA Championships, Senior PGA Championship and the 2012 Ryder Cup. Furthermore, the company will be involved in a number of additional sponsorship activities, including being a Presenting Sponsor of the PGA Professional National Championship and Senior PGA Professional National Championship; the PGA Play Golf America Days Fan Experience at the Senior PGA Championship, PGA Championship and 2012 Ryder Cup; and the Loyalty Lots at the Senior PGA Championships, PGA Championships and the 2012 Ryder Cup.
For more info detailing Mercedes-Benz USA’s partnership with the PGA of America, you can find the full details in the official press release below.
Capping off a horrendous past several months, Mercedes-Benz USA continued their year-end downward spiral in December, with sales at MBUSA totaling 18,507 new units – a decrease of 32.1 percent when compared to December of 2007. As a result, Mercedes-Benz USA’s 2008 sales amounted to a grand total of 225,128 new units – a decrease of 11.2 percent when compared to the prior year.
And while normally this is the part where I’d tell you what models performed best last month, to be honest, there weren’t any that did perform well. Every model in the Mercedes lineup noted a double digit sales decrease in December, save one: the G-Glass. With sales of 128 units (ten less than December 2007), it noted a sales decrease of only 7.2 percent. The second model performing slightly less than terribly was the C-Class, with sales dropping 11.7 percent – far better than the R-Class’ 59.8 percent drop.
All-in-all, it was another horrible month at MBUSA.
For more info pertaining to Mercedes-Benz USA’s December 2008 sales figures complete with individual mode statistics, keep reading for the official press release.