Mercedes-Benz Cars sold 503,500 units, an increase of 3% in Q1 of 2023, despite economic headwinds, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainty. The sales growth was driven by the Top-End and Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) segments, which rose 18% and 89%, respectively. BEV sales accounted for 10% of the company’s overall sales, compared to 6% in the previous year, with almost every fifth vehicle sold being electric, including hybrids. Sales in the Top-End segment increased by 18%, with the G-Class, Mercedes-AMG, and Mercedes-Maybach posting strong sales figures.

In the Core segment, sales reached 248,400 units, a decrease of 11%, due to the model changeovers for the top-selling GLC and E-Class. The Entry segment grew by 27%, driven by the GLB and GLA. Europe saw sales rise significantly in Q1 to 163,900 units, an increase of 8%, with strong demand for Top-End vehicles and BEVs. In Asia, sales reached 247,700 units, an increase of 3%, with China being slightly above the prior-year level. BEV sales in China rose by 109%, driven by EQA, EQB, and EQE.

Mercedes-Benz’s CEO, Britta Seeger, credited the strong sales performance to customer demand for Top-End products and BEVs. She also highlighted the success of the company’s direct sales model in the UK and the upcoming world premiere of the first all-electric Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV.

Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ (combined electrical consumption (provisional, WLTP): 23.2–20.3 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions (WLTP): 0 g/km; Electrical range (provisional, WLTP): 444–518 km); exterior: MANUFAKTUR graphite grey magno (matte); interior: AMG nappa leather black/space grey;Combined electrical consumption (provisional, WLTP): 23.2–20.3 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions (WLTP): 0 g/km; Electrical range (provisional, WLTP): 444–518 km*

Mercedes-Maybach S 580 e (preliminary values, fuel consumption combined, weighted: 1.0-0.8 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined, weighted: 23-18 g/km, electricity consumption combined, weighted: 25.0-22.9 kWh/100 km);preliminary values, fuel consumption combined, weighted: 1.0-0.8 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined, weighted: 23-18 g/km, electricity consumption combined, weighted: 25.0-22.9 kWh/100 km*

EQE 350 4MATIC SUV (WLTP: Combined electric energy consumption: 22.5-18.6 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km); Exterior: AMG Line, obsidian black metallic; Interior: AMG Line, Leather black/space grey;WLTP: Combined electric energy consumption: 22.5-18.6 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km*

Press Release
Apr 12, 2023 – Stuttgart (Germany)

Mercedes-Benz Cars sales reached 503,500 units (+3%) in the first quarter with Top-End and battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales up 18% and 89% respectively. Despite ongoing supply-chain disruptions, economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainty, G-Class, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach and Entry segment* electric vehicles posted strong sales figures.

Battery electric vehicle sales rose to 51,600 units (+89%) in the first quarter, reaching 10% of overall sales, up from 6% in the year-earlier period. Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars (excl. smart) BEV sales more than doubled in the first three months (+119%). Entry segment electric vehicles proved popular with EQB sales up 189% and EQA sales rising by 64%, while EQS SUV sales reached 5,500 units. Battery electric vehicle sales surged by 327% in the United States and 41% in Europe. The EQE SUV was launched in the U.S. market ahead of the model’s launch in Europe and China in the second quarter. Including hybrids, almost every fifth vehicle sold in the first quarter was electric.

”Our customers’ desire for our Top-End products and battery electric vehicles is the driving force behind our sales result in the first quarter. Beyond this, we successfully introduced our direct sales model in the UK, while Germany and two more markets will follow in 2023. Looking forward, I am already excited about the upcoming world premiere of the first all-electric Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV [1] next week.”
Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales

Top-End segment
Sales in the Top-End segment rose to 91,800 units (+18%). Mercedes-AMG sales increased by 44% to 40,300 units, based on new vehicle launches and a strong performance in the SUV segment. Demand for the G-Class remains consistently high with sales up 23% to 10,200 units in the first quarter. Mercedes-Maybach saw 6,700 units sold (+8%) driven mainly by Mercedes-Maybach GLS (+46%). With the introduction of the Mercedes‑Maybach S 580 e[2], the Mercedes-Maybach brand is moving toward higher levels of electrification. The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV will be the first fully electric model of the brand and will celebrate its world premiere next week at Auto Shanghai. Overall GLS sales rose by 11% to 15,900 units and the all-electric EQS SUV had a promising market launch with 5,500 units sold. The Top-End segment will remain fresh throughout 2023 and beyond. An upgraded GLS family with a fully electrified engine portfolio will hit dealerships in the second half of the year.

Core segment
Sales in the Core segment reached 248,400 units (-11%) impacted by model changeovers for the top-selling GLC and E-Class. The new GLC SUV launched in Europe and will be gradually introduced in other regions in the upcoming months alongside the new GLC Coupé. The new E-Class will be unveiled at the digital world premiere in two weeks and will be introduced in the second half of the year. Sales of the C-Class rose by one third to 80,800 units (+34%), while the E-Class reached 73,300 units (-6%). The fully electric EQE Sedan attracted 9,400 new customers in Q1. Sales of the GLE amounted to 48,800 units (-5%). The refreshed GLE SUV and Coupé are now available to order.

Entry segment
Sales in the Entry segment grew by 27% to 163,300 units in the first quarter. This development was driven by the GLB, which saw sales reach 37,500 (+52%), the GLA with 34,500 units (+25%) and 11,200 units of the all-electric versions EQB (+189%) as well as the EQA, which sold 10,800 units (+64%). The GLA, GLB and CLA recently underwent model updates and will be available for sale in the second quarter.

Sales by regions and markets
In Europe, sales of Mercedes-Benz Cars increased significantly in Q1 to 163,900 units (+8%) thanks to strong demand for Top-End vehicles (+46%). Battery electric vehicles rose by 41% and accounted for 17% of total Mercedes-Benz Cars sales in Europe in the first three months. Overall sales in Germany were up 21% with strong results in all segments, especially Top-End (+55%). BEV sales in Germany grew 29% supported by EQA (+104%) and EQB (+99%). In Belgium, sales increased 17%, lifted by strong demand for battery electric vehicles (+186%). And sales in Italy (+22%) and Spain (+28%) also saw strong growth, particularly in the Top-End segment.

In Asia, sales reached 247,700 units (+3%) with China slightly above prior-year level (+3%). Top-End sales in China stayed high, reaching a new record with 20,500 units (+1%) sold in the first quarter. This result was boosted by robust demand for the GLS, which saw sales increase 17% to 4,500 units, as well as the G-Class with sales up by 71% to 1,600 units. The E-Class was the top-selling vehicle in China in the first quarter with 48,700 units sold (+11%), followed by the C-Class (+37%). BEV sales in China rose by 109% driven by EQA, EQB and EQE. The new EQS SUV and the locally produced EQE SUV will launch in China in the second quarter. In Korea and Japan, sales of battery electric vehicles grew by 288% and 379% following further market launches. Furthermore, in India, one of the fastest growing markets for Mercedes-Benz, sales increased by 17% in the first three months, while sales in Malaysia were up by 53%.

Sales in North America stayed at the prior-year level (+1%). In the U.S. market BEV sales (+327%) more than quadrupled in the first three months. Battery electric vehicles now account for 14% of Mercedes-Benz Cars sales following the market introduction of the EQB, EQE, EQE SUV and EQS SUV. Moreover, sales in the Top-End segment rose significantly to 27,900 units (+29%), representing a share of 43% of Mercedes-Benz Cars unit sales in the U.S. market. The strong performance was driven by AMG sales (+69%) and the G-Class (+46%). Additionally, sales of Mercedes-Maybach tripled in Q1 (+232%). Overall sales in the U.S. remained at the level of Q1 2022 mainly due to the model change of the GLC. Its successor will be introduced to the U.S. market in the second quarter.

Sales in the rest of world were influenced by Mercedes-Benz’s decision to stop its business activities in Russia from March 2022 onwards.

*Top-End: Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, G-Class, S-Class, GLS, EQS and EQS SUV

*Core: All derivatives from C- and E-Class, incl. EQC, EQE and EQE SUV

*Entry: All derivatives from A- and B-Class incl. EQA, EQB and smart

** Europe: European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway

*** North America: USA, Canada and Mexico

All figures rounded.

Preliminary figures subject to change pending final reports.

Starting from Q1 2023 the sales figures communicated correspond to group sales consistent with financial reporting and the Mercedes-Benz Group outlook.

Fuel consumption and emissions data1:

1 Data on electrical consumption and range are provisional and were determined internally in accordance with the “WLTP test procedure” certification method. So far there are no confirmed figures from an officially approved testing organisation, nor any EC type approval or certificate of conformity with official figures. Differences between the stated figures and the official figures are possible.

[1] Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV (provisional figures: combined power consumption: 24.4-22.5 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions: 0 g/km)

[2] Mercedes-Maybach S 580 e (provisional figures, fuel consumption combined, weighted: 1.0-0.8 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined, weighted: 23-18 g/km, electricity consumption combined, weighted: 25.0-22.9 kWh/100 km)

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA)  reported record January sales of 24,664, topping last January’s record volume of 24,619 units sold. Adding 1,899 units for Vans and 399 units for smart, MBUSA achieved its highest January to date with a grand total of 26,962 vehicles, up 1.3% from a year ago.

“On the heels of our highest volume sales year in MBUSA’s history, January is continuing the momentum into 2016,” said Dietmar Exler, president and CEO of MBUSA. “Our new product offerings, including the new E-Class will continue to bring our customers the best in experience and innovation.”

Mercedes-Benz volume leaders in January included the C-Class, GLE and CLA model lines. The C-Class took the lead at 5,079, followed by the new GLE sales of 3,515. The CLA rounded out the top three with an increase of 27.2% to 3,168 units sold.

Mercedes-Benz AMG high-performance models sold 1,904 units in January, up 141% from last year (790), while the brand’s BlueTEC diesel lineup finished the month at 334.

Separately, Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) models recorded their best January ever with sales of 9,934, up 5.1% from the 9,456 units sold the same month last year.

Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG Sedan and Mercedes-Benz GLE450 AMG Coupe

Mercedes-Benz delivered more cars to customers in 2015 than ever before in one year. The Stuttgart-based premium brand with the three-pointed star sold a total of 1,871,511 vehicles (+13.4%), posting its fifth record year in a row. Furthermore, the year 2015 ended for Mercedes-Benz with its strongest-selling December (178,017 units, +9.1%) and best quarter (495.159 units, +8.8%).

Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Last year, we sold more cars than ever before. We were able to increase our unit sales in all three core regions – Europe, NAFTA and Asia-Pacific. And with 373,459 units sold, China developed into our biggest individual market worldwide in 2015. With growth there of 32.6%, Mercedes-Benz grew significantly faster than the overall automobile market.”

Growth drivers in 2015 were the SUVs and the compact cars. For the first time, more than half a million units were sold in each segment. “We anticipate additional sales impetus in 2016 from the new E-Class, the world’s most intelligent business saloon. And our new dream cars such as the S-Class Cabrio, the C-Class Coupé and the new generations of the SL and SLK will further boost the fascination of the Mercedes-Benz brand,” stated Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales.

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sales Overview

Consequent hybridization

Consequent hybridization is a concrete component of the Mercedes-Benz drivetrain strategy. Last year alone, the brand presented four new Plug-In Hybrid models: the C 350 e as a Saloon and Estate, the GLE 500 e 4MATIC, and the GLC 350 e 4MATIC. Meanwhile, Plug-In Hybrids account for a growing share of the unit sales of Mercedes-Benz. In 2017, a total of ten Mercedes-Benz Plug-In Hybrid models will be on the market. On average, a new Plug-In Hybrid is launched every four months.

Europe: double-digit growth in nearly all markets

In Europe, Mercedes-Benz sold more cars in 2015 than ever before in one year: A total of 798,852 customers decided in favour of a car with the three-pointed star (+10.5%). In the highly competitive German market, Mercedes-Benz once again maintained its market leadership amongst the premium manufacturers in 2015. Unit sales in Germany increased by 4.7% in 2015. In Great Britain, the second-largest European market, another sales record was set in 2015 with a total of 144,474 vehicles handed over to customers (+17.0%). The brand achieved double-digit growth in unit sales in nearly all of the region’s markets, with particularly high rates in Italy (+13.8%), Spain (+27.3%), Turkey (+30.9%), Switzerland (+21.6%) and Netherlands (+30.7%). In Portugal, Mercedes-Benz was the premium brand with the most new registrations in 2015.

Strongest growth in the Asia-Pacific region

In the Asia-Pacific region, demand for Mercedes-Benz models has never been as strong as in December and in the full year. Sales there grew last year by a quarter to 615,325 units. The biggest growth market was China, where Mercedes-Benz launched more than 15 new or updated models and expanded the dealer network to approximately 500 dealerships last year. Local production capacities were also expanded. In addition to the C- and E-Class, the two SUV models GLA and GLC started to be produced in China last year. For the first time, China is the biggest sales market for Mercedes-Benz. With 373,459 vehicles sold, an increase of 32.6%, unit sales in 2015 were significantly higher than ever before. Growth in the Asia-Pacific region was boosted in 2015 also by sales in South Korea (+26.8%), India (+32.4%) and Malaysia (+56.5%), where new records were set. In Japan, the region’s second-largest market, more cars were sold than ever before (64,989 units, +7.1%). In 2015, Mercedes-Benz was the premium brand with the most new registrations in Japan, Australia and Taiwan.

Sales records in the NAFTA region

In the NAFTA region, new sales records were set in December and in the full year as a result of the best-ever unit sales in the USA, Canada and Mexico. 38,557 cars were handed over to customers in the last month of the year (+2.1%), and sales in the full year increased to 392,843 units (+5.2%). From January to December, sales in the USA grew to 343,088 units (+3.8%). And in Canada, Mercedes-Benz was the market leader amongst the premium manufacturers in 2015.

Ongoing successful path for new compact cars: more than half a million units sold

The compact cars, comprising the A- and B-Class, the CLA, the CLA Shooting Brake and the GLA, achieved new best figures in both December and the full year. A total of 582,531 customers decided in favour of a Mercedes-Benz compact car in 2015, which is 25.8% more than in the previous year. The models are particularly popular in the home market of Mercedes-Benz. Nearly every fifth compact car went to customers in Germany last year.

Continuation of C-Class as the best-selling model

The full availability of the C-Class Saloon and Estate models in all core markets and of further motorizations created additional sales impetus in 2015, so that unit sales surpassed the prior-year number by 40.1% (443,909 units). More C-Class vehicles were delivered to customers than ever before in one year. Growth in the C-Class segment will be further boosted in 2016 by the new C-Class Coupé, which has been on the market since December.

E-Class long-wheelbase version especially popular

A total of 232,453 units of the E-Class Saloon and Estate were sold in 2015. The long-wheelbase version of the E-Class was particularly popular in China, where sales of this model increased to the new record of 58,286 units. The new E-Class will have its world premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in a few days’ time. With the world’s most intelligent business saloon car, Mercedes-Benz is taking a further important step along the path to accident-free and autonomous driving.

S-Class once again the world’s best-selling luxury saloon

With six versions of the new-generation S-Class now presented, Mercedes-Benz continued its product offensive in the luxury segment in 2015. Last year, the S-Class was once again the world’s best-selling luxury saloon. About a third of all S-Class vehicles were sold in China in 2015. Approximately 500 units of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which was launched in February, were delivered to customers each month in China alone.

Successful “Year of the SUVs”

In the “Year of the SUVs,” the Mercedes-Benz brand launched four new or updated models, thus renewing nearly its entire range of sport utility vehicles. Unit sales of SUVs in 2015 surpassed the prior-year figure by 26.6% and rose to the record number of 525,866 vehicles. The top sellers were the GLC and the GLA, with unit sales almost doubling. The successor to the GL, the new GLS model, will be at dealerships as of March 2016.

V-Class: double-digit growth in first full year of sales

The V-Class – a car for up to eight people – has redefined the segment of multipurpose vehicles. In its first full year on the market, unit sales increased by 26.2% to 31,499 units. With new equipment possibilities available since last year, Mercedes-Benz is offering its customers even more flexibility for the individual configuration of their V-Class.

Record year for Mercedes-AMG

Mercedes-AMG can look back on a record year 2015: With 68,875 units sold (+44.6%), the sports-car and high-performance brand of Mercedes-Benz reached a new peak last year. This means that its unit sales have more than doubled in the past two years. In addition to the new AMG sports models launched in 2015, the growth drivers include the high-performance models of the C-Class and the compact cars. The new and independently developed Mercedes-AMG GT was also very popular with customers. The strongest sales markets for AMG automobiles were the USA, Germany and China.

New smart generation available in all core markets

119,398 smart vehicles were sold in the past twelve months (+32.9%). The fortwo and forfour models were especially popular in smart’s two biggest European markets, Germany and Italy. Furthermore, unit sales doubled in Great Britain, France, Spain and Switzerland. Now that the new generation has been available in the important markets of China and the USA since last summer, the smart brand will launch more models of the small city car than ever before in 2016: Customers can look forward to the new smart fortwo cabrio this spring. In summer, the new sporty BRABUS models of the fortwo and forfour with more powerful engines will be in the showrooms. And they will be followed at the end of the year by fully electric versions of the two-seater and four-seater and of the smart fortwo cabrio.

The compact two-seater has proven its attractiveness also at car2go. With more than 14,000 smart fortwo vehicles, car2go is the world’s biggest car-sharing-company and the market leader in the segment of station-independent car sharing. Meanwhile, a car2go rental begins every 1.4 seconds at one of the 31 locations in Europe and North America. The changeover of the car2go fleet to the new smart generation started in the first locations in the fourth quarter of last year.

“Best Customer Experience” – opening of additional Mercedes me Stores and start of “She’s Mercedes”

With its “Best Customer Experience” marketing and sales strategy, Mercedes-Benz has been focusing directly on its customer wishes since 2013, and addresses people in their own life situations with specially tailored offers. In this context, the brand is increasingly applying digitalization in its sales formats. The Mercedes me Stores are a significant component of the strategy. They have an urban format with numerous digital features and a modern catering and event concept that appeals to young and new target groups. In 2015, four more Mercedes me Stores opened in Milan, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Munich.

“Best Customer Experience” is an important element of the “Mercedes-Benz 2020” strategy, which is continually being expanded with new concepts for addressing customers on an individual basis. In 2015, the Stuttgart-based brand with the three-pointed star began an initiative to focus more than previously on women’s needs and wishes. The goal is to establish Mercedes-Benz by 2020 as the most attractive luxury automobile brand also for women, and to significantly increase the proportion of female customers. This initiative includes the new “She’s Mercedes” community and inspiration platform (www.mercedes.me/she), as well as networking events for women, special training for sales employees and more female sales staff. In parallel with “She’s Mercedes,” Mercedes-Benz has developed the completely new lifestyle configurator as a supplement to the existing configurator. This allows customers to specify their individual preferences for furniture, holiday destinations, types of sport etc., and then suggests a car for them on that basis.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported best April sales to-date with 29,329 units sold across the Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart model lines, rising 12.1% from the 26,157 retails in April 2013. Mercedes-Benz alone totaled 25,887 vehicles for the month, an increase of 9.5%, while year-to-date volumes for the brand reached 98,501, up 6.1% from the same period last year. Adding year-to-date sales of 7,018 for Sprinter Vans and 3,285 units at smart, MBUSA posted a year-to-date grand total of 108,804, marking the best second quarter start in its history.

April sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand were led by the C-, E- and M-Class model lines. The E-Class took the lead with 6,056 units, an increase of 36.7% from April 2013, followed by the C-Class at 5,114. The M-Class, volume leader in the Mercedes-Benz SUV lineup, rounded out the top three at 3,831, up 16.8% from the same month last year. At the high end, the flagship S-Class achieved its seventh month of double-digit year-over-year sales gains with 1,909 units sold in April, up 73.1%.

Both the Sprinter and smart model lines delivered double-digit growth in April. The newly redesigned Sprinter lineup posted April volumes of 2,394, rising 29.1% from the 1,855 units sold in April 2013. Monthly retails on the smart side hit an all-time high of 1,048, climbing 57.1% over the same month last year.

The company’s AMG high-performance models finished the month up 75.3% at 1,006, with year-to-date volumes jumping 74.6% to 3,836. Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC diesel models delivered April sales of 1,533, increasing 30.9%, and 5,456 year-to-date, up 6.6% when compared to the 5,116 diesel units sold during the same period last year.

Separately, Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) recorded sales volumes of 9,705 vehicles in April, an increase of 10.9% compared to the 8,748 units sold during the same month last year. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 37,755 units, up 14% from the 33,118 vehicles sold through April 2013.

Mercedes-Benz posted the best-selling month in the company’s history in March and has handed over 158,523 vehicles to customers (+13.3%). With sales of 374,276 cars since the beginning of the year, the company has also posted the strongest first quarter to date (+15.2%).

“We are continuing the success story of the record year 2013 with additional new products and have posted the best-ever first-quarter sales in the company’s history”, said Ola Källenius, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars responsible for Marketing & Sales. “We have been posting double-digit growth rates for sales in every month since the beginning of the year. We expect added impetus from the new C-Class and the compact SUV GLA, which have been taking over the roads of Europe in the last few weeks.”

The company sold 76,587 vehicles in Europe in March (+7.6%). The main growth driver was the UK (+19.8%). On the German domestic market Mercedes-Benz was again the most registered premium brand in Germany with sales of 25,544 units (+1.0%).

In the USA, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 27,401 vehicles to customers (+11.2%) with record-high sales numbers in its biggest sales market both in March and for the entire first quarter, and particularly high growth rates for the S-Class.

The growth rates achieved by Mercedes-Benz in March were especially high in the Asian markets: In China (incl. Hong Kong), the company is continuing the sustained growth trend of recent months with sales of 24,937 vehicles (+34.0%). The E-Class long version from local production was in particularly high demand.

Mercedes-Benz posted new sales records in Japan as well: Since the beginning of the year, the brand with the star has delivered 17,807 units (+50.3%) and thus continues to be the most registered premium brand in Japan.

The compacts with the star are going forward with their positive development: In March, Mercedes-Benz sold 43,389 vehicles of the A-, B-, CLA- and GLA-Class (+26.4%). The compact SUV, GLA, which has been available at European dealers since mid-March, is winning new customers. The new C-Class also came on the market in March. The two models have proved to be crowd pullers: Alone during the weekend of their premiere, European dealers’ showrooms welcomed 500,000 visitors who tried out the new models in more than 22,000 test drives.

In the first quarter, Mercedes-Benz handed over 62,169 E-Class sedans and estate to customers worldwide (+38.0%). A fourth of the sedans are ordered as a long version. The E-Class coupe and convertible are posting double-digit growth rates at the start of spring.

Sales of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class totalled 24,144 units in the first quarter, or twice the units sold in the previous year’s period. The strong growth is also supported by the high demand in China, where Mercedes-Benz is selling every fourth S-Class.

The demand for the brand’s SUV is also unbroken: Customer deliveries came to 33,690 units in March alone (+9.6%), and a total of 81,397 vehicles were sold since the beginning of the year (+5.4%).

Since January 23,432 customers worldwide have opted for a smart fortwo (PY: 25,632 units). The compact two-seater is very popular mainly in big cities and is therefore also used for the station-independent car sharing service car2go. Since mid-March, 300 white and blue smart fortwo cars are ready and waiting for spur-of-the-minute rentals in Rome as well. car2go is thus now represented in 26 cities in Europe and North America.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

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September was a record month for Mercedes-Benz, the luxury brand sold more vehicles than any other month prior. In total, Mercedes sold 142,994 new cars to customers all around the globe, for a growth of 15.9%.  Since the beginning of 2013, 1,062,638 cars have been sold, an increase of 10.1%. The third quarter was particularly successful for the company in the United States and China which is in part why Mercedes recorded massive growth of 18.0% or 368,201 vehicles sold in the third quarter.

Mercedes-Benz also expanded its market shares in Europe and remains the most-registered premium brand in Germany, Japan and the United States. Much of this growth can be attributed to the compact models and the new E-Class, which was launched to great success. The new S-Class is already leading the way of new vehicle registrations in Germany, and with its launch in the Chinese market in September its global presence and position will be further strengthened.

Mercedes-Benz USA September 2013 Sales

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) also reported the highest September sales in its history with 27,474 units sold across the Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart model lines—an increase of 5.8% from the 25,980 vehicles sold in September 2012.  Retail volumes for the Mercedes-Benz brand rose 6.7% over the same period last year to 24,697, while year-to-date sales hit a benchmark 215,056 units, up 12.2%. Adding year-to-date sales of 14,940 for Sprinter Vans and 6,937 vehicles at smart, MBUSA’s year-to-date total reached 236,933 units, marking a best-ever third quarter for both the Mercedes-Benz brand and MBUSA.

“We’re making history this month and not just in terms of our record sales pace,” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA. “September marked a recalibration moment for Mercedes-Benz as we began delivery of our new gateway, the CLA, to dealerships across the country. After just over a week on the market, this car sold more than 2,300 units. We’re confident the CLA will be a driving point of our success as we head toward another banner sales year.”

September sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand were led by the C-, E- and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class took the top spot at 6,389 units sold, followed by the E-Class with sales of 5,647 vehicles, up 17.0%. MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three at 3,180 units, a 30.4% increase over the same period last year.

In total, sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars climbed 10.9% compared to the first three quarters of 2012, increasing to 138,282 from 124,637. Likewise, the brand’s light truck offerings were up 14.6% from the 66,981 units sold in the first nine months of 2012 to 76,774 in 2013.

The Sprinter model line posted a month-to-date increase of 20.0% to 2,152 units, boosted by sales of the redesigned 2014 lineup which began rolling into dealerships at the beginning of September. Month-to-date volumes at smart reached 625 units.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz’s BlueTEC diesel models were 1,364 in September, up 193.3% from the 465 vehicles sold during the same period last year. The company’s high-performance AMG models finished the month with sales of 675, up 48.4% from September 2012.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,649 vehicles in September. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 72,890 vehicles, up 22.3% over the 59,586 units sold during the comparable period in 2012.

Mercedes-Benz USA has reported the highest second quarter start in its history with record April sales of 26,157, a 4.4 percent increase over April 2012. Mercedes-Benz models saw a 5.8 percent gain in sales volume for a total of 23,635 vehicles sold.  This brings the year-to-date totals for Mercedes-Benz to 92,822 vehicles sold. When you combine these sales with monthly sales from smart (667 vehicles sold) and Sprinter Vans (1,855 vehicles sold), MBUSA saw a year-to-date total of 101,371, a 10.2% increase over the previous year.  That makes this April the earliest month ever to break 100,000 units.

“We’ve entered the second quarter of 2013 at an incredible pace,” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA. “A record first quarter gave us a great start. With our completely redesigned E-Class now in showrooms, I fully expect to see continued momentum in the months ahead.”

Mercedes-Benz April sales were driven by the C-Class, E-Class, and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class – the current gateway to the brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – took the lead, posting sales of 7,338, up 14.2%. The E-Class, which receives a complete redesign for 2014 now available in dealerships, followed with sales of 4,431. MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 3,280. At the high-end, strong performers were the company’s flagship S-Class, which saw 16.4% growth, and the SL-Class, which increased 275.2% over April 2012.

The Sprinter model line saw sales of 1,855 for the month, while smart recorded sales of 667 vehicles.

Sales of the high-performance AMG models were 574 for the month, up 8.5% from the same period last year. Sales of the company’s BlueTEC diesel models finished the month of April at 1,171.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 8,748 vehicles in April, an increase of 37.4% when compared to April 2012 (sales of 6,368 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 33,118 vehicles, an increase of 26.0% over the comparable period (with sales of 26,292 vehicles).

Mercedes-Benz USA has reported their highest first quarter sales volume in MBUSA history.  Also setting a new record were Mercedes-Benz USA’s March sales with a total of 24,646  Mercedes-Benz models sold, a 6.5% increase over March 2012, resulting in year-to-date sales of 69,187, up 12.5%.  Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled 27,104, up 6.3%, and year-to-date up 12.4 % at 75,214.

“We’re coming out of our highest first quarter on record—and that’s before launching a single new product,” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA.  “With completely redesigned E-Class models arriving at dealerships, a next generation S-Class and a new entry point for the brand—the CLA—in the wings, we’re looking at our strongest year on record.”

Mercedes-Benz March sales were driven by the C-, E-, and M-Class model lines.  The sporty C-Class – the current gateway to the brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – took the lead, posting sales of 8,396, up 32.4%.  The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 4,009 and MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 3,501.  At the high-end, strong performers were the company’s flagship S-Class, which saw 24.0% growth, and the SL-Class, which increased 790.5% over March 2012.

On a year-to-date basis, the top performers again were the C-Class with 22,912, the E-Class with 13,689 and the M-Class with 9,162.

The Sprinter model line also continued its record sales streak in March with 1,529 vans sold – up 11.2% over last year and up 22.5% on a year-to-date basis, while the company’s smart brand recorded sales of 929 vehicles.

Sales of the high-performance AMG models were 631 for the month and sales of the company’s BlueTEC diesel models finished the month at 1,640, up 2.4% over the same period last year.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 8,670 vehicles in March; an increase of 24% when compared to March 2012 (sales of 6,994 vehicles).  On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 24,370 vehicles, an increase of 22% over the comparable period (with sales of 19,924 vehicles).

Mercedes-Benz saw sales surge 11 percent in January, giving them the lead over BMW in U.S. luxury auto sales for the year.

In January, Mercedes delivered 22,501 vehicles, its best January to date.  Boosting their sales was the C-Class sedan, which rose 11 percent to 7,214 vehicles sold.

As for BMW, vehicles sales increased 0.7 percent to 16,513 vehicles, boosted mainly by a 56 percent gain for its X5 sport-utility vehicle. Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus rose 32 percent to 16,211, led by the ES sedan, which more than doubled to 5,186 deliveries.

Mercedes-Benz and BMW are both fighting against each other to be the top luxury auto brand in the U.S., less concerned with Lexus after outselling them the past two years. In 2012, Mercedes led in sales at the end of November, but with a late December sales surge, BMW took its second consecutive U.S. luxury crown. Lexus was the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S. for 11 years until natural disasters in Asia curtailed production in 2011.

“We’ve set another record this January and are breaking into 2013 at a strong sales pace,” Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, said in a statement.

The sales results don’t include Daimler’s cargo vans and Smart cars and BMW’s Mini brand, which aren’t luxury vehicles.

Source: Autonews

Mercedes-Benz USA  today reported its highest year on record with 305,072 vehicles sold in 2012, representing a 15.4% increase over the 264,460 vehicles sold during the same period in 2011. The Mercedes-Benz model line alone also recorded a record year with sales of 274,134 for the year, up 11.8%.  Smart and Sprinter model lines both achieved their highest volumes under the MBUSA umbrella with smart sales increasing 92.2% to 10,009 while a record month for Sprinter took the brand to 20,929 for 2012, an increase of 26.3%.

“A strong product offensive backed our retail network’s commitment to providing a world-class ownership experience put the wind at our back and enabled us to outperform the market and take the brand to new heights in the U.S.,” said Steve Cannon, president & CEO of MBUSA. “We’re going to ride that momentum into 2013 with new products across the entire model line from entry point to flagship.”

For December, the Mercedes-Benz product line alone posted sales of 28,145 vehicles (up 9.5% from 25,701 in December 2011) bringing MBUSA sales to a best-ever 31,372, up 12.0% from the 28,006 vehicles sold in December 2011.

Strong sales were recorded across the model line. The sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – recorded its highest year on record with sales of 81,697, up 17.9% over its year-to-date volume in 2011. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 65,171, and the M-Class, MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, rounded out the top three with sales of 38,101.

For December, sales at the high-end increased as well, with combined sales of S-, CL- and SL-Class vehicles increasing 18.9% percent to 17,416 (when compared to the 14,650 vehicles sold in 2011).

Separately, sales of Sprinter Vans increased by 39.9% for the month with sales of 2,231 compared to the 1,595 vehicles sold in December 2011.

Sales of the smart fortwo totaled 996 vehicles in December, up 40.3% for the month (compared to the 710 vehicles sold in December 2011).

Sales of the high-performance AMG models were 6,658 for the year a 27.5% increase of the 5,220 vehicles sold over the same period last year.

Sales of the company’s BlueTEC diesel models were up 7.4% for the year at 15,416 compared to the 14,358 diesels sold in 2011.

Additionally, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,949 vehicles in December; an increase of 13.7% when compared to December 2011 (sales of 6,112 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 80,380 vehicles, an increase of 7.8% over the comparable period (with sales of 74,571 vehicles).

Mercedes-Benz USA again reported a record month for sales in October with a total of 23,978 for its Mercedes-Benz models, up 5.9%, delivering a record year-to-date total of 215,596 new vehicles to customers, up 11.9%. Despite the good news for Mercedes-Benz USA, main competitor, BMW, saw sales last month of 26,451 units, representing a 21 percent increase leaving them behind Merceces-Benz by only 2,748 units for the year.

Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled a record for MBUSA overall with sales of 26,642, up 9.0%, bringing the year-to-date total to 240,973 up 15.8%.

“Despite the challenges of a storm of this magnitude and the incredible hardship in the Northeast, our strongest market, we managed to achieve another record month,” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO, MBUSA. “We’re still optimistic about ending this year with the highest sales in our history.”

Mercedes-Benz sales for the month of October were led by the C-, E- and GLK-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – took the lead with sales of 7,636, up 7.8%. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,265 and MBUSA’s restyled compact SUV, the GLK-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 2,943 up 18.0%. Additionally, the sporty SLK roadster sold 435 vehicles for the month, up 105.2%.

At the high end, the all-new iconic sixth generation 2013 SL roadster – which debuted in showrooms this past spring — posted sales of 574 yielding an increase of 567.4% and the 28 SLS AMG supercars sold this month made for a 115.4% increase over the same period last year.

On a year-to-date basis, top performers were the C-Class with 65,376, the E-Class with 50,061 and the M-Class with 29,966.

Sales of the high-performance AMG models were up 35.5% for the year at 5,512 compared to the 4,069 vehicles sold over the same time last year.

Sales of the company’s BlueTEC diesel models were up 14.2% for the year at 12,142 compared to the 10,630 diesels sold over the same period last year.

The company’s smart brand continued twelve consecutive months of sales increases. October sales of 998, were a 205.2% increase over October 2011 (327), bringing the year-to-date volume to 8,309, up 443.8% when compared to the 1,528 vehicles sold by MBUSA last year. When compared to the combined Penske and MBUSA sales year-to-date last year (4,084), sales are up 103.5%.

On the van side, Sprinter had a strong month with 1,666 vehicles sold in October, up 12.2% over last year and up 22.5% on a year-to-date basis.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,732 vehicles in October; an increase of 20.8% when compared to October 2011 (sales of 5,571 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 66,318 vehicles, an increase of 5.4% over the comparable period (with sales of 62,929 vehicles).

October 2012 Sales Chart

After reporting news that MBUSA was ahead of BMW in U.S. Sales, recent reports from Bloomberg have emerged that Mercedes-Benz is not in the same position on the global market.  In global luxury sales, Mercedes-Benz is falling further behind rivals BMW and Audi because of a disjointed strategy in China, sluggish expansion of entry-level models and an aging S-class sedan, the once-dominant upscale nameplate remains firmly in third place.

The Mercedes sales gap with second-placed Audi has more than doubled within a year, hampering Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche’s pledge to retake the lead.

2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC

“Mercedes’s problems are home-made problems,” said Christian Ludwig, an analyst with Bankhaus Lampe in Dusseldorf. “It’s going to be extremely difficult for Mercedes to reach the No. 1 spot. The others are not sleeping.”

Mercedes delivered 964,900 cars and sport-utility vehicles worldwide through the first nine months of 2012. The 5 percent gain failed to keep pace with rivals, meaning it lagged Audi by 132,600 vehicles, up from 53,900 a year ago. The gap to No. 1 BMW widened 41 percent to 145,000 vehicles, according to data from the carmakers.

In September 2011, Zetsche sought to cap the celebrations for the automaker’s 125th anniversary by setting the goal for Mercedes to become the best-selling and most profitable luxury-car brand by 2020. At the time, he said it was “impossible” for the brand to accept being third.

Profit drop

One year on, Zetsche’s tone was less jubilant. He said on Sept. 20 that earnings before interest and taxes at the Mercedes car division would fall and not match last year’s figure. In response, the manufacturer is planning a savings drive dubbed “Fit for Leadership.” At the Paris auto show last month, Zetsche didn’t reaffirm a Mercedes’s target for 2013 operating profit of 10 percent of sales.

Mercedes has been trailing since losing the top spot in the luxury-car segment to BMW in 2005. The Daimler unit’s sales will have advanced 19 percent through this year, compared with a 31 percent jump by BMW and a 70 percent surge by Audi over the past seven years, according to IHS Automotive estimates.

The failure to keep pace is reflected in the stock. Daimler’s 12 percent increase over the past 12 months trails BMW’s 18 percent gain and Audi parent Volkswagen’s 44 percent surge. Daimler trades at 7.5 times estimated earnings versus 8 times for BMW.

Zetsche is seeking to reverse the trend by adding less-expensive compact models, including a four-door coupe and a sport-utility vehicle, to attract younger buyers and by expanding the range of variants of the S-class flagship, which is in the last year of the current generation.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG

Dealer traffic

The new compact A-class hatchback lured 700,000 people to showrooms when it went on sale last month. The company has about 70,000 orders so far for the car, which starts at almost 24,000 euros ($31,000) compared with about 17,000 euros for the segment-leading VW Golf.

“Daimler is saying that the demand for its new A-Class is great, but these are mostly orders from dealers,” said Hans- Peter Wodniok, analyst at Fairesearch in Kronberg, Germany. “The price of the compact is quite high, and it remains to be seen if the market accepts it.”

Even with the premium price, Daimler is preparing for high demand, signing up Finland’s Valmet Automotive Inc. to produce more than 100,000 A-class cars. The external production is on top of 1.4 billion euros spent to upgrade a small-car factory in Germany and build a new one in Hungary. Daimler plans at least five compact models in the coming years including the newly introduced A- and B-class cars to take on models like the BMW 1-series coupe and the Audi Q3 SUV.

Filling gaps

“We have holes in our portfolio that we are closing successively,” Joachim Schmidt, Mercedes’s sales chief, said in an e-mail response to questions. “When I look into the future, I see that we have excellent prerequisites to be the leading premium manufacturer by the end of the decade.”

To reach that goal, Mercedes will need to boost growth in China, where deliveries edged up 6.7 percent this year, compared with gains of more than 30 percent for BMW and Audi.

“China is definitively a problem area,” said Marc-Rene Tonn, a Hamburg-based analyst with Warburg Research. “They have to take action.”

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4MATIC

For a start, Zetsche is combining two separate sales units — one for imported vehicles and other for locally made cars — into a single entity. Sales chief Schmidt said the goal of the restructuring is to grow “significantly” in China again. Mercedes’s efforts to expand its appeal with new models and re-spark growth in China are expected to bear fruit and offset plans by BMW to add a factory in Brazil and by Audi to expand in Mexico. IHS forecasts Mercedes increasing sales 34 percent between 2012 and 2015, compared with Audi’s 12 percent gain and BMW’s 26 percent rise.

“Globally, the relatively old product range weighs on sales,” said Frank Schwope, an analyst at Norddeutsche Landesbank in Hanover. “The current revamp of the A class and soon of the S class will have a positive effect.”

Mercedes-Benz USA has reported record September sales of 23,156 for its Mercedes-Benz models, up 7%, delivering a record year-to-date total of 191,618 new vehicles to customers, up 12.7%.  Mercedes record month helped extend their lead over BMW by 5,221 units for the year.

Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled a record for MBUSA of 25,980, up 8.7% bringing the year-to-date total to 214,331 up 16.7%.

“We’re on our way to a record year with extraordinary momentum and demand outpacing supply,” stated Steve Cannon, president and CEO, MBUSA.

Mercedes-Benz sales for the month of September were led by the C-, E- and GLK-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – took the lead with sales of 7,872, up 14.7%. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 4,826 and MBUSA’s restyled compact SUV, the GLK-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 3,206 up 65.8%. Additionally, the sporty SLK roadster sold 416 vehicles for the month, up 115.5%.

At the high end, the all-new iconic sixth generation 2013 SL roadster – which debuted in showrooms this past spring – posted sales of 621 yielding an increase of 826.9% and the SLS AMG supercar retailed at 37 for the month, up 48% over the same period last year.

On a year-to-date basis, top performers were the C-Class with 57,740, the E-Class with 44,796 and the M-Class with 27,098.

Sales of the high-performance AMG models were up 37.6% for the year at 5,024 compared to the 3,650 vehicles sold over the same time last year.

Sales of the company’s BlueTEC diesel models were up 28.5% for the year at 11,182 compared to the 8,700 diesels sold over the same period last year.

The company’s smart brand continued eleven consecutive months of sales increases with its highest month ever since MBUSA took over the brand last year. September sales of 1,030, a 119.6% jump for the month (compared to the 469 vehicles sold in September 2011) bring the year-to-date volume to 7,311, up 508.7% when compared to the 1,201 vehicles sold by MBUSA last year. When compared to the combined Penske and MBUSA sales year-to-date last year (3,757), sales are up 95%.

On the van side, Sprinter sold 1,794 vehicles in September, up .8% over last year and up 23.7% on a year-to-date basis.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,727 vehicles in September; an increase of 17.9% when compared to September 2011 (sales of 5,707 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 59,586 vehicles, an increase of 3.9% over the comparable period (with sales of 57,358 vehicles).

Mercedes-Benz USA has reported combined sales of 25,388 vehicles sold with “Best Ever” months for its Mercedes-Benz, smart and Sprinter model lines. The 12.5 percent increase for the month brings the year-to-date total to 142,619, up 20.8 percent and making this MBUSA’s highest first-half on record.

Mercedes-Benz models posted June sales of 22,231, a 7.6 percent improvement over June 2011, delivering a year-to-date total of 128,595 new vehicles to customers, up 15.9 percent.

“This marks a historic milestone for Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. market. Not only did we post all-time record sales across all three business units in June, we achieved our highest half-year sales in our 47-year history,” said Steve Cannon President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA today.

Sales for the month of June were led by the C-, E- and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – took the lead with sales of 6,506. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,589 and MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 2,891.

At the high end, the all-new iconic sixth generation 2013 SL roadster – debuting in showrooms last month – posted sales of 346 yielding an increase of 217.4 percent and the SLS AMG supercar retailed 86 for the month, up 377.8 percent over the same period last year.

On a year-to-date basis, top performers again were the C-Class with 37,686, the E-Class with 30,366 and the M-Class with 20,626.

Monthly sales of the high-performance AMG models were 515, up 75.2 percent versus June 2011 (385) and up 62.4 percent year to date.

Sales of the company’s BlueTEC diesel models were also up 50.3 percent for the year at 8,945 compared to the 5,953 diesels sold over the same time last year.

On the one-year anniversary of the smart brand coming under the MBUSA umbrella, sales of the model line achieved the highest reported volume since August of 2009. June sales of 1,017 vehicles represent a 208 percent jump for the month (compared to the 330 vehicles sold in June 2011), bringing the year-to-date volume to 4,748, up 86 percent.

On the van side, sales of Sprinter vans also saw best-ever sales in June with 2,140 – up 12 percent over last year and up 30.7 percent on a year-to-date basis.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,593 vehicles in June; an increase of 2.9 percent when compared to June 2011 (sales of 6,410 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 39,419 vehicles, a decrease of 1.1 percent over the com0arable period (with sales of 39,855 vehicles).

*Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter Vans are sold and marketed in the U.S. by Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler Vans USA, respectively.

**Numbers reflect MBUSA sales as of 7/1/2011; see release for total smart brand sales

Proving itself as a popular option, sales of Sprinter vans increased an impressive 94 percent for calendar year 2011. In only its second year of operation, Daimler Vans USA and its combined network of both Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter dealers achieved a total of 16,577 vans sold, far surpassing the 2010 result of 8,559. The Mercedes-Benz network alone saw an increase of 172%.

“Our strong, diverse network of 185 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner commercial van dealers spread across the U.S. has enjoyed a banner year of Sprinter van sales. From large fleet operators to small construction businesses and mom-and-pop food trucks, American consumers are discovering the incredible benefits of Sprinter vans,” said Claus Tritt, General Manager of Commercial Vans for Mercedes-Benz USA.

Powered by a fuel-sipping 3.0-liter BlueTEC diesel engine, the Sprinter has best-in-class cargo capacity of up to 547 cubic feet and payload capacity up to 5,358 pounds. With cargo doors that open a full 270 degrees, the Sprinter also boasts a rear door opening that’s 5’2″ wide and six feet tall. Both the Cargo and Passenger Vans feature a side-door opening that’s 4’3″ wide and six feet high. At the same time, their step-in height is only 19.9 inches – lowest in the industry. Interior standing height can be up to 6’6″. All versions are equipped with a number of Mercedes-Benz safety features — ESP stability and rollover control, ABS anti-lock brakes, Brake Assist and traction control. The driver and front passenger seats are equipped with standard multi-stage front air bags, and side curtain and torso air bags are optionally available.

The Sprinter Van Success Story

The highly successful Mercedes-Benz Sprinter made its European debut in 1995, and a new-generation Sprinter was launched globally in 2006. Since 2001, the Sprinter has been sold in the U.S. by Freightliner, the industry’s leading manufacturer of medium and heavyduty trucks in North America. Complete with many Mercedes-Benz safety and convenience features, the U.S. line-up includes the Cargo Van, Passenger Van, MiniBus, Cab Chassis and the new Crew Van. Mercedes-Benz USA began offering the Sprinter line through select Mercedes-Benz dealers in 2010. Both MBUSA and Freightliner are divisions of Daimler AG, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.

BlueTEC Diesel with DEF Injection

All Sprinters are powered by an innovative 3.0-liter BlueTEC diesel engine that attains an impressive 24.9 miles per gallon on the highway. Marking the first-ever use of super-clean BlueTEC technology in the commercial van market, the BlueTEC diesel engine is as clean as a modern gasoline engine. A Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) injection system reduces nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water in a downstream catalytic converter.

Mercedes-Benz’s SUV models are celebrating another milestone. Since the launch of Mercedes-Benz’s first sports utility vehicle – the G-Class – over 30 years ago, more than two million G-Class, M-Class, R-Class, GL-Class and GLK-Class models have been delivered to customers. Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Our entire SUV family is extremely popular among our customers, particularly in the USA and in its second-largest market China. With the launch of our first sports utility vehicle – the G‑Class – more than 30 years ago, we entered a segment in which we are now very successful with a total of five models. The SUVs today are an important pillar of Mercedes-Benz’s growth and have achieved a new sales record in every month since July 2010. The new Mercedes-Benz M-Class, which has enjoyed fantastic customer response to date, will give sales a further boost.”

In November 2011, Mercedes-Benz SUVs achieved another monthly sales record with deliveries of 25,552 models (+23.4%). From January through November, a total of 221,518 sports utility vehicles have been delivered worldwide (+24.3%), more than ever before in this period. The successful run-out of the M-Class was particularly noteworthy, as was the excellent start of its new models in the U.S. A new peak was set by the GLK, whose deliveries are at a record high since the beginning of the year (+25.6%). To meet the strong demand on the Chinese market, the small SUV is being produced locally in China since early December. The other model series have also developed positively in the year to date with significant increases in sales. R-Class sales jumped by 50.3 per cent, the G-Class recorded growth of 30.9 per cent, GL sales climbed by 28.9 per cent, and deliveries of the M-Class were up 15.8% despite the model change. In the coming year, the new GL and the new generations of the GLK and the G-Class will generate additional demand in the SUV segment.

The SUV models account for around one-fifth of global Mercedes-Benz sales. By far the largest market for the SUV family as well as the M-, GLK-, and GL-Class are the United States. The second largest market for the SUVs is China, followed by Germany. The classic sports utility vehicle, the G-Class, is most popular in its domestic market Germany, while the R-Class is most in demand in China.

The latest star of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family is the third generation of the M-Class, which was launched last November. One of its strongest features is its outstanding energy efficiency. As the most fuel-efficient SUV in its segment, the M-Class became the first vehicle in its class to receive the prestigious TÜV (Technical Control Board) environmental certificate – just in time for its launch. The strengths of the permanent 4-wheel-drive premium SUV also include excellent safety features and well-balanced driving comfort with strong driving dynamics both on- and off-road. Thanks to its outstanding safety systems, the M-Class was recognized as the best vehicle in its segment and awarded the top five star rating under the European NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) for excellent occupant protection.

The new M-Class is the top model in its segment when it comes to value retention. Just recently it was recognized by “Focus Online” and “Bähr & Fess Forecast” as one of the best performers in terms of residual values in 2015. The ML 250 BlueTEC can still yield 55 per cent of its new value as a four-year-old used car. The Mercedes-Benz

M-Class was also awarded the “Golden Steering Wheel 2011” by readers of German “Bild am Sonntag” and “Auto Bild”. The other SUV models are also extremely popular among customers. This year, the longest-standing Mercedes-Benz model series, the G-Class, was crowned “SUV of the Year” for the eighth time. This major award is voted by the readers of the German “Off Road” magazine. Meanwhile, the readers of “AutoBild Allrad” gave the G-Class the victory in the “Off-road vehicles and SUVs over €60,000” category, followed by the GL-Class.

Mercedes-Benz USA today reported November sales of 28,255 vehicles, a 55.2% improvement over November 2010 (18,208) and the company’s highest November volume on record. On a year-to-date basis, the 236,415 vehicles sold represent a 20.4% increase over the 196,288 vehicles sold during the same period last year.

The highest volume performers for the month were the C-Class and E-Class model lines. The all-new 2012 sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – led the pack with sales of 8,358, up 112.7% from November 2010. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,095 and the all-new versatile M-Class finished third in volume with monthly sales of 4,796. Additionally, sales of the 2012 CLS-Class posted a 215.8% increase for the month and sales of the new SLK roadster were up 87.3% over November 2010.

Total diesel units sold for November were up 136.1 % with sales of 2,097 (vs. 888 units sold in Nov. 2010).

At the high end, the company sold 169 of its supercar — the SLS AMG, up 369.4% from November 2010 — bringing its year-to-date sales to 636.

Sales of Sprinter Vans also increased by 26.1% for November with sales of 1,045 – bringing a year-to-date total of 14,982 (up 108.7 %).

Sales of the smart fortwo totaled 414 vehicles, up 96% for the month (compared to the 211 vehicles sold in November 2010).

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,530 vehicles in November 2011, a decrease of 12%. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 68,459 vehicles, a decrease of 8% over the comparable period last year.

Mercedes-Benz November 2011 Sales Chart

October sales for Mercedes-Benz USA have been released showing sales of 24,449 vehicles, an astounding 28.2 percent improvement over October 2010 (19,076) and the company’s highest October volume on record. On a year-to-date basis, the 206,632 vehicles sold represent a 12 percent increase over the 184,431 vehicles sold during the same period last year.

The highest volume performers for the month were the C-Class and E-Class model lines. The all-new 2012 sporty C-Class – gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – led the pack with sales of 7,084, up 87.9 percent from October 2010. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 4,516 and the all-new versatile M-Class, finished third in volume with monthly sales of 4,091. Additionally, sales of the 2012 CLS-Class posted a 192.3 percent increase for the month and sales of the new SLK roadster were up 58.2 percent over October 2010.

Total diesel units sold for October were up 110.9% with sales of 1,930 (vs. 915 units sold in Oct. 2010).

At the high end, the company sold 13 of its supercar — the SLS AMG — bringing its year-to-date sales to 467.

Sales of Sprinter Vans also increased by 104.8% for October with sales of 1,485 – bringing a year-to-date total of 13,937 (up 119.4 %).

Sales of the smart fortwo totaled 327 vehicles for the month (compared to the 367 vehicles sold in October 2010).

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,571 vehicles in October 2011, a decrease of 21.8%. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 62,929 vehicles, a decrease of 7.6% over the comparable period last year.

Mercedes-Benz USA is reporting sales of 23,897 vehicles for September 2011, marking a 15.6 percent improvement over September 2010 which recorded sales of 20,666 vehicles. This increase made 2011 the company’s highest September volume on record. On a year-to-date basis, the 182,314 vehicles sold represent a 10.3 percent increase over the 165,355 vehicles sold during the same period last year.

The C-Class and E-Class model lines were the best sellers with combined sales of 11,987 vehicles, nearly half of all vehicles sold. The all-new 2012 C-Class – and gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – led the pack with sales of 6,865, up 32.1% from September 2010. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,122 and the full-sized SUV, the GL-Class, finished third in volume with monthly sales of 2,541. Additionally, sales of the newly launched 2012 CLS-Class posted a 399.3% increase for the month and sales of the new SLK roadster were up 50.8% over September 2010.

At the high end, the company sold 25 of its supercar — the SLS AMG — bringing its year-to-date sales to 454.

Sales of Sprinter Vans also increased by 121.3% for September with sales of 1,779 – bringing a year-to-date total of 12,452 (up 121.3 %).

Sales of the smart fortwo totaled 469 vehicles for the month (compared to the 422 vehicles sold in September 2010).

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,707 vehicles in September 2011, a decrease of -8.6%. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 57,359 vehicles, a decrease of -5.9% over the comparable period last year.

July sales for MBUSA improved by 16.7 percent over July 2010 for a total of 21,065 vehicles sold. This increase for Mercedes-Benz USA made it their highest July volume since 2006. On a year-to-date basis, the 139,086 vehicles sold represent an 11.3% increase.

The highest volume performers for the month were the E- and C-Class model lines. The 9th generation E-Class led the pack with sales of 5,114 and the sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – followed with sales of 4,554. MBUSA’s stylish SUV, the M-Class, finished third in volume with monthly sales of 2,778 up 40.8% over last July. Additionally, sales of the all-new SLK roadster were up 1,758.3% and the all-new 2012 CLS-Class posted a 657% increase over July 2010. Sales of the full-sized GL-Class SUV were up 60.2% for the month as well.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz diesel models were up 134.1% for the month (913 versus 390) and up 120.3 % for the year (6,866 versus 3,117).

At the high end, sales of the S-Class were up 13.9% for the month and the company sold 49 of its supercar — the SLS AMG — bringing its year-to-date sales to 397.

Sales of Sprinter Vans also increased by 154.3% for July with sales of 1,732 – bringing a year-to-date total of 8,827 (up 122.1 %).

Sales of the smart fortwo totaled 327 vehicles for the month.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,895 vehicles in July 2011, a decrease of 14.7%. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 45,750 vehicles, a decrease of 5.1 % over the comparable period last year.

Mercedes-Benz July 2011 Sales Chart