The global recession has left car manufacturers around the world with poor sales results for 2008. GM, Ford, and Chrysler have all been well documented victims, but Mercedes-Benz, a premium German manufacturer, has also been slammed by the rough economic times.
Mercedes-Benz cars which includes the Mercedes-Benz, SMART, and Maybach brands saw sales decline 2.3% in 2008. SMART was the lone brand to achieve sales growth while Mercedes-Benz and Maybach brands both saw sales decline compared to 2007.
The flagship Mercedes-Benz brand of cars saw sales decline a sharp 5.4% compared to 2007. The decline is attributed to Mercedes-Benz's large dependence on the dismal U.S. market.
In the month of December, the Mercedes-Benz brand took a painful 18% drop in sales bringing global sales for the brand down to 1.12 million vehicles which takes Mercedes-Benz closer and closer to Volkswagen's flagship unit, Audi, in terms of sales. Audi sold 1,003,600 vehicles in 2008 an increase of 4.1% globally compared to 2007.
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