Mercedes-Benz Rings in the New Year with Record Sales |
MBUSA Achieves All-Time Sales Record with Sales of 248,080 for 2006
MONTVALE, N.J., Jan. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- December sales of 28,115 boosted
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) to its 13th year of sales increases and the
highest annual volume in its history. MBUSA sold 248,080 vehicles in 2006,
a 10.5 percent increase over the 224,421 units sold in 2005.
The company introduced six new SUV models in 2006, including the highly
acclaimed GL-Class -- the first European seven-passenger SUV which was
recently voted Motor Trend's SUV of the Year -- and diesel versions of its
ML- Class, R-Class and GL-Class, offering higher gas mileage to luxury SUV
buyers. The Mercedes-Benz SUVs were so well received that the company saw a
67.7 percent jump in sales of its light trucks as a group (ML-, R-, G-, and
GL- Classes) compared to 2005 (69,163 vs. 41,252).
Sales at the high-end were equally impressive. As a group, the S-, SL-
and CL-Classes rose by 48.2 percent compared to last year (40,660 vs.
27,436), boosted by the introduction of the flagship S-Class in February.
Sales of the S-Class model line nearly doubled in 2006 with a 92.6 percent
increase.
Sales of vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz diesel portfolio -- both CDI and
BLUETEC models -- grew from 4,299 units in 2005 to 6,941 units in 2006,
posting a 61.5 percent increase. Known for being a leader in diesel
innovation and engineering, Mercedes-Benz expanded its diesel offerings in
the fourth quarter of 2006 to include SUVs (ML-Class CDI, R-Class CDI, and
GL- Class CDI), and also introduced the cleanest diesel technology
available in a passenger car through the E320 BLUETEC. The company plans to
expand its BLUETEC range to bring 50-state diesels to the U.S. market in
2008.
DECEMBER SALES
MBUSA sold 28,115 vehicles in December 2006, marking the second-highest
sales month in MBUSA history -- second only to December 2005, the best
MBUSA sales month ever.
The top-of-the-line vehicles -- the S-Class sedan and CL-Class coupe --
each recorded impressive gains in sales volume for the month. Sales of the
ninth generation S-Class rose 56.2 percent (2,987 vs. 1,912 units) and the
CL- Class jumped 77 percent (347 vs. 196 units).
The sales volume leader for the month, the E-Class model line, gained
12.3 percent with 7,116 units sold compared to December 2005's 6,334 units.
MERCEDES-BENZ CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED SALES
Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO)
program, MBUSA sold 4,374 vehicles in December, an increase of 19.9 percent
over last December and marking the program's best sales month this year.
This boosted the MBCPO year-end total to 47,737 units, an 8.3 percent
increase over 2005.
ABOUT MERCEDES-BENZ USA
Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., MBUSA is responsible for the sales,
marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States.
More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at
http://www.mbusa.com.
Model Dec '06 Dec '05 Monthly % YTD 2006 YTD 2005 Yearly %
C-CLASS 5,197 9,806 -47.0% 50,187 60,658 -17.3%
E-CLASS 7,116 6,334 12.3% 50,195 50,383 -0.4%
S-CLASS 2,987 1,912 56.2% 30,886 16,036 92.6%
CL-CLASS 347 196 77.0% 1,312 1,320 -0.6%
SL-CLASS 539 1,098 -50.9% 8,462 10,080 -16.1%
CLK-CLASS 1,509 1,748 -13.7% 16,415 18,227 -9.9%
SLK-CLASS 664 976 -32.0% 10,410 11,278 -7.7%
CLS-CLASS 966 1,230 -21.5% 10,763 14,835 -27.4%
R-CLASS 1,546 2,430 -36.4% 18,168 4,959 266.4%
M-CLASS 3,889 5,340 -27.2% 31,632 34,959 -9.5%
G-CLASS 18 122 -85.2% 587 1,334 -56.0%
GL-CLASS 3,337 n/a n/a 18,776 n/a n/a
SLR 141 200 -29.5%
Maybach 146 152 -3.9%
GRAND
TOTAL 28,115 31,192 -9.9% 248,080 224,421 10.5%
SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA
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Darchini, +1-201-573-4734, or Toll-Free, 1-888-MBNEWS-1, all of
Mercedes-Benz USA
