Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported a record March with sales of 23,134 for its Mercedes-Benz models, a 7.7 % improvement over March 2011 leading to the highest first quarter volume on record with sales of 61,513, up 15.3%. Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled 25,508, up 13.1%, and for the year-to-date 66,906, up 19.5 %.“With the combination of strong sales performance in our volume model lines and a whole new generation of Mercedes-Benz products in the pipeline, we are ideally positioned to take advantage of the strengthening market and take the brand to new places,” said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA.
Sales for the month of March 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 6,342 and the 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,570. MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 4,070 up 45.8% compared to March 2011. Other strong performers were the company’s popular new CLS four-door coupe which saw 242.9% growth and the SLK roadster which increased 179.3% over March 2011.
The SLS AMG supercar retailed 123 for the month, up 20.6%.
On a year-to-date basis, top performers again were the C-Class with 18,107 (up 19.2%) the E-Class with 13,873 and the M-Class with 11,480 (up 59.4%).
Amidst rising gas prices, diesel sales increased to 1,601, up 55.6% over the same period last year (1,029) and up 65.4% for the year. On the other end of the spectrum, total AMG sales were 702, up 77.3% versus March 2011 (396) and up 62.2% for the year.
The company’s smart brand continued five consecutive months of sales increases with March sales of 999 vehicles, a 135% jump for the month (compared to the 425 vehicles sold in March 2011). The March volume is the highest on record for smart since MBUSA assumed responsibility in July 2011 and brings the year-to-date volume to 2,264, up 79 percent.
On the van side, sales of Sprinter Vans also saw strong momentum in March with sales of 1,375 – up 29.5% over last year and up 18.1% on a year-to-date basis.
Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,994 vehicles in March; a -3.3% decrease when compared to March 2011 (sales of 7,236 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 19,924 vehicles, an increase of 2.0% over the comparable period (with sales of 19,538).Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
It is no secret the R-Class is a big failure in the United States, the market this car was specifically designed for. Because of ongoing poor figures, MBUSA took the decision to axe the large crossover from the range beginning with the *2013 model year, company's PR manager Christian Bokich confirmed recently.
Released ahead of its time, the W 251 never managed to revolutionize the automotive industry, partly due to its awkward styling, the unappealing combination between an SUV, an estate and an MPV and the inefficient marketing strategy. Sales were sluggish right from the start and the situation became worse as years passed. The mid-cycle facelift from April 2010 didn't bring any ray of hope in the end, as the number of units sold merely rose in the U.S. only to begin dropping once again shortly after. In February 2012, the R-Class appealed to just 163 Stateside clients, which is 8.4% less than in February 2011. On a year-to-date basis, 2012 sales for the R-Class declined by almost 30% compared to the same period of 2011.
On the contrary, in emerging markets such as China, figures for the R-Class experience a constant growth trend. The crossover is also doing well in Canada and Mexico, so production of this model is planned to continue through 2015 at the Tuscaloosa plant, when a new generation is said to come into force.
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Mercedes-Benz models up 16.9%, smart up 58.9%, Sprinter up 16.6%
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported February sales of 19,679 vehicles, a 21.7 % improvement over February 2011 and the highest February volume on record with strong sales across all model lines to brand new customers. On a year-to-date basis, the 41,398 vehicles sold represent a 23.8% increase.
The company reported sales increases over virtually all its model lines from the entry point to the high-end. "With all of our new model launches over the past year bringing new buyers to Mercedes-Benz and prompting our loyal owners to reinvest in the brand, we’re ideally positioned to take advantage of the strengthening market," said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA.
Sales for the month of February were led by the C-, E-, and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class - the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers - took the lead with sales of 5,240 up 17.0% over February 2011. The 9th generation E-Class came in right behind with sales of 4,206 and MBUSA’s top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 3,408, up 77.1% compared to February 2011.
Other strong performers were the company’s flagship S-Class which saw its sales increase by 20.3%, the new CLS up 411.2%, and the SLK roadster which increased 108.8% over February 2011.
Amidst rising gas prices, diesel sales increased to 1,415, up 81.9% over the same period last year (778).
The company’s smart brand continued four consecutive months of sales increases versus last year with February sales of 769 vehicles, a 58.9% jump for the month (compared to the 484 vehicles sold in February 2011). The February volume is the highest on record for smart since MBUSA assumed responsibility in July 2011.
On the van side, sales of Sprinter Vans also saw strong sales in February with sales of 830- up 16.6% over last year.
Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,985 vehicles in February; a 2.2% increase when compared to February 2011 (sales of 5,859 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 12,930 vehicles, an increase of 5.1% over the comparable period (with sales of 12,302).
Credits: Mercedes-Benz USA
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Together with these recent spy pics came the information that Mercedes-Benz plans to auction off the first States-bound unit of the upcoming SL 63 AMG at an official barter held during the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance in Florida, USA, on the 25th February 2012.
This news update also suggests the sports roadster tweaked in Affalterbach isn't very far away, meaning the first photos and details could be released during the following weeks. Also, by looking at the latest scoops, it's easy to see the new SL 63 AMG is almost finished and readied for the public unveiling, set to take place most likely at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The 5.5-litre V8 unit lies under the hood of this performance model and is capable of delivering a staggering 571 hp peak output and approximately 800 to 900 Nm of maximum torque. These extreme numbers are completed by the AMG styling enhancements which includes, among other appointments, a modified front bumper, a new grille, bigger air intakes all over the body, 20-inch forged wheels with ventilated brake discs, quad exhausts, full leather interior, aluminium and carbon fiber trims.
Image Credits: Motor Authority
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Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) and parent company Daimler AG will showcase vehicle technology of today, tomorrow and the future at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas from Jan. 10-13. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, will deliver a keynote address to discuss the true meaning of the connected vehicle - both what it is and what it isn't - at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 10, at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater.
Reporters are also invited to visit the MBUSA booth (#530 in the North Hall), where the company will demonstrate innovations including:
- mbrace2 - Mercedes-Benz's pioneering communications platform, offering the most comprehensive cloud-based system to date, accelerating the process of empowering drivers to customize their vehicle ownership experience to fit ever-changing needs. The mbrace2 system enables an incredible range of features and services related to safety, information, entertainment, personal assistance and vehicle care. These include cloud-based apps, traffic and navigation assistance, speech recognition, Internet browsing and searching, concierge services, automatic crash notifications, and more. The new platform is being shown as it will appear inside the re-designed MY2013 Mercedes-Benz SL, the first of many vehicles which comes standard this year.
- The mbrace2 smartphone app - Allows drivers to communicate and send information to their vehicle before getting inside. Drivers can use the app to find their vehicle, lock or unlock it, set valet parking protection, receive geo-fence alerts and Send2Benz, allowing drivers to socially connect with their friends and navigate to them.
- Mercedes-Benz Latest Suite of Advanced Driver Assistance System - The most comprehensive active safety system which keeps drivers safe by preventing accidents before they happen.
- The DriveStyle iPhone App - Coming later this year, Mercedes-Benz will offer the DriveStyle iPhone App, which allows drivers to interact with the vehicle rather than the phone, minimizing driver distraction. This technology will be demonstrated in the brand-new Mercedes-Benz C 350 Coupe.
- F 125! Research Vehicle - As a highlight marking 125 years of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz is presenting a visionary outlook on future technical developments in the luxury segment. The F125! research vehicle anticipates future trends and paves the way for innovative large and luxurious automobiles. The vehicle provides emission-free driving with a range of 621 miles.
- DICE, "Dynamic & Intuitive Control Experience" simulator - Take a seat into the future and wave your hands to take control of the vehicle of the future.
Credits: Mercedes-Benz USA
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
