Mercedes Expects Solid U.S. Sales in 2007

DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz brand is set for another solid year of U.S. sales in 2007 even if the world's biggest economy weakens, Mercedes Car Group sales and marketing chief Klaus Maier said on Monday.

The advent of the revamped C-Class car in August will help complement good demand for other relatively new products in the Mercedes-Benz lineup that helped 2006 U.S. sales rise 11 percent to 248,000 vehicles, he told Reuters.

"If you go with the right products at the right time there is enough purchasing power to get the volume we want to have in the U.S. market," he said at the North American International Auto Show.

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Bill - 1/10/2007 8:51:17 AM

0 Boost

In other news...

"
Not only is Mercedes doing great in the US but it seems that they are slowly penetrating the Chinese market as well. Sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand in China rose to 21,200 passenger cars in 2006, an increase of 32% on the year, Ulrich Walker said Sunday. Even the Chrysler group had a good year, with sales for the company increasing in China by 26% last year compared with 2005."

Link: http://benzinsider.com/2007/01/mercedes-2006-china-sales-rise-32/

A good year ahead indeed.

MercBasher - 1/10/2007 11:35:50 PM

+3 Boost

MB can expect anything it likes, however I expect 2007 to be the beginning of the great unraveling of MB's strategy. Here's why:
(a.) December 2006 brought MB dismal sales results despite average incentives estimated at up to $5,000 per vehicle.
(b.) There are too many different MB vehicles and I think consumers are confused.
(c.) Brand icons such as the SL and CLS are almost in freefall sales declines at present
(d.) The S Class sales have probably peaked now that Lexus has the new LS460 in the marketplace
(e.) Audi and BMW want to grow sales in the US, and buyers of German cars do a lot of cross-shopping - MB's customer retention continues to slide in the US

Anyway time will tell - but I'll be watching MB's monthly sales in the US closely, every time they are released.

JUGNU - 1/11/2007 3:14:31 AM

+3 Boost

Ok Mercbasher u explained why Merc will not be HAVING SOLID START IN 2007.I agree with u.

BTW I am here to throw some light on Audi.First of all i am not an Audi basher/hater. Just stating my honest OPINIONS (Which i feel,btw anybody have the right to oppose me) on how the future 2007 NA Car market will shape up.

I can see Audi remaining constant sales wise in US in 2007.

The negatives:

(1)The A4 is outdated, needs a complete make-over. Although the sales were not down but can happen in the next year.

(2)S6 and S8 can't match their competitors like BMW M5 and Mercedes E, CLS and S 63 AMGs.Therefore will not do fine.Afterall they never had a shooting start.

(3)RS4 from the beginning itself enjoyed the top spot and sales, now got a competitor from Lexus (IS-F) and shortly BMW will join too. The new M3.
Therefore a loss in sales.

(4)Audi A8 (even BMW 7 series) looks nowhere near to match the sales of MB' new S class and Lexus's LS.
Therefore a sales decline can be seen in future.

(5)Audi initially anticipated the US would be the biggest market for their new SUV Q7.But it never came out as planned. It shows that they r not meeting the sales expectation.

The positives.

Generally The New models/products always have big sales. So Audi will be no exception.

(1)Audi R8
(2)Audi TT
(3)Upcoming A5.

JUGNU----->THE CARMAN

JUGNU - 1/11/2007 3:23:07 AM

+3 Boost

BTW i know this a Mercedes blog.I am not kind of person to talk off the topic things.But this is just a reponse to Merc basher.

I just want to add what he started.

Because before Spies especially Agent 001 use to put up a blog saying your predictions for the New year.And in december 2006 it didn't came up.

So here is a chance for all of u guys to state your predictions about the new year.

JUGNU

So i thought

JUGNU - 1/11/2007 3:34:50 AM

+3 Boost

'so i thought' is miss type.

JUGNU