Mercedes Benz Posts a 10.5% Rise in 2006 Sales

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 M-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 (M-, 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 (M-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.

MercBasher - 1/4/2007 3:47:43 PM

-1 Boost

Look folks Mercedes sales collapsed in December 2006 compared to December 2005. Considering the give-away lease deals that Mercedes had on the C, E, CLK, R and ML the decline is stunning. Also remember that Lexus (with far fewer lease subsidies) and BMW both managed significant increases in December 2006.

We are starting to see the unraveling of MB's strategy of product proliferation in the US. Sales of the ML, SLK, SL, R and even the CLS are collapsing. For example versus December of 2005, the 2006 results show the SL was down 50%, and the CLS was down about 20%.

Of course the C class sales are down because of a new model, so the fact that lease deals on these were cheap in December wasn't enough to stop sales declining by almost half.

MB's profitability is being held up by a good S Class, a revised and well-received E Class and a GL class which meets a previously untapped [by MB] market need.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/5/2007 1:19:02 AM

+2 Boost

May I ask why you'd pick the 7 Series?

The A8 drives better, looks better and has a nicer interior.

The S-Class drives better, looks better and has a nicer interior.

Seems like blind brand loyalty to me.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/5/2007 1:21:21 AM

+2 Boost

Oh and, for clarification that the S-Class is the top dog, I had one family friend with an A8L and another with a 745Li. The two families were very close, always going on vacations together and such. The 7 Series people traded their Li for an S550 in Spring of 2006, I believe. About six months later, the A8L family followed suit, but with an S550 4Matic. Both are immensely satisfied with their decisions, though the former 7 Series owners feel that they've made a more meaningful step up than the former A8 owners.

BMW4me4ever - 1/5/2007 12:24:45 PM

+1 Boost

S4 ... the A8L drives better according to whom. In the comparison test, I do believe the BMW was faster, went thru the slalom quicker and the braking was about a dead heat. I work for BMW have have driven both on a track, due to my brother being a top mechanic for audi. The A8L drives nice but it is no way a comparison to the 750Li in regards to driving characteristics.