Mercedes-Benz USA Records Best January Sales Ever

MBUSA Sells 17,069 Units, an Increase of 37 Percent Over Last January

MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Coming off its thirteenth year
of consecutive sales increases, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported
sales of 17,069 new vehicles for January 2007, up 36.9 percent from last
January making this the best January sales in the company's history.
In 2006, Mercedes-Benz significantly enhanced its competitive presence
in the luxury light truck market with the launch of the full-sized luxury
SUV: the GL-Class, which sold 1,815 units in January. The popularity of the
M-Class model line continued to build with a 19.8 percent increase compared
to last January (2,351 vs. 1,962). As a group, sales for Mercedes-Benz
vehicles in the luxury light truck segment continue to gain momentum with
an 82.8 percent increase over January 2005.

Other highlights for MBUSA sales in January include a 24 percent
increase in its portfolio of passenger cars (12,058 vs. 9,728). Volume for
the month was led by the C-Class with 3,928 units sold, a 26.8 percent
increase over last January's 3,098 units. Sales for the E-Class family of
sedans and wagons, including those with the new clean diesel technology
called BlueTec, grew by 36.9 percent with 3,375 models sold.

As a group, model lines at the high-end of the Mercedes-Benz portfolio
-- S-, SL-, and CL-Classes -- rose 78.1 percent (2,705 vs. 1,519 units) in
January. Contributing to this was the popularity of the top-of-the-line CL
coupe which was introduced in December (up 279.4 percent) and the continued
demand for the ninth generation S-Class (up 125.1 percent).

Separately, the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned vehicle program
reported sales of 3,609 units, an increase of 17.7 percent comp
ared to last January.

Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is
responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and
Maybach products in the United States. In 2006, MBUSA achieved an all-time
sales record of 248,080 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever
in its history and achieving 13 consecutive years of sales growth.

Rupert - 2/1/2007 4:26:31 PM

+7 Boost

only 7 people bought a g class this month!

MercBasher - 2/1/2007 4:16:02 PM

0 Boost

So MB is up about 30% and Lexus 8% . . . but Audi lovers say that January was a weak month for the luxury market.

Congrats to MB, I'd never have guessed that they'd have such a good start to the year. . . but even at 17,000 sales MB is still a little behind Lexus at about 22,000 sales for the month.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/1/2007 7:31:32 PM

0 Boost

Why do you hate Audi so much? I just don't get it.

No, this wasn't a "weak" month for the luxury market. January wasn't the best month for Audi. But you continue to evade that they actually DID gain sales.

MercBasher - 2/1/2007 10:11:57 PM

+1 Boost

S4 you're missing the point. Audi has decent products and does well in other markets. So one or more of the following is to blame:
i.) Dealers
ii.) Marketing
iii.) Pricing
iv.) Reliability
v) Image
vi.) Products
As mentioned the products do well elsewhere, Audi dealers aren't great but not so bad that total Audi sales should be less than typical monthly sales for the Acura TL.

So what I'm getting at is why doesn't VW Audi fire all the executives for Audi of America and start afresh?

JUGNU - 2/1/2007 4:33:15 PM

-3 Boost

Lexus UP
MB UP
And even possibly BMW UP too.

Who is lagging behind ?

AUDI.

And they want the leadership till 2015 ?

Hardwork? Start from today AUDI.

JUGNU

S4cabriofoxone - 2/1/2007 7:32:18 PM

+3 Boost

THANK YOU.

Finally, a Lexus fan/Audi-basher speaks up!

S4cabriofoxone - 2/1/2007 7:33:39 PM

+1 Boost

Oh and, JUGNU, why don't we take a look at world sales when they're released?

Then, we'll see who's "lagging behind". Heheheh...

BTW, Audi meant leadership in the world, not the American market. I doubt they'd need the American market to get to be #2 (at least), at the rate China is growing.

Bill - 2/1/2007 4:42:19 PM

+4 Boost

Impressive. I can't wait for the new C class to hit our shores. It looks like a fun little car and I hear the prices aren't going to rise that drastically.

1970toyotamarc - 2/1/2007 4:43:10 PM

+2 Boost

How does that mediocre C continue to sell in those quantities? The E sales I get, people like the quintessential Benz, and the S is still new, but the C? With so many better options out there??? Well, a buddy of mine traded in his current gen C for a new current gen C (in the same color and engine), just to have a new one. I guess Benz fans, whoever they are, are just as obsessed and ridiculous as the rest of us.

Willis - 2/1/2007 4:48:38 PM

+4 Boost

The revised C-Class wasn't bad at all. I own one, a C230 V6 and it is a superior choice to any car in this class. It's comfortable, very sport, looks great and has a quality interior too among others. I testdrove the Saab 9-3, BMW 325i and the Lexus IS250 before testdriving the C230 and the C230 struck me as the best balanced. So I bought it and I love it. Sure, the price is expensive but you get a great car for the money and my C230 has been flawless.

I am also really interesed in the new C-Class. Maybe I'll upgrade to a C300 if I like the car. So far from the pictures, the new C-Class looks stunning.

Willis - 2/1/2007 4:53:52 PM

+4 Boost

Wait a minute, is it C280 or C300?

S4cabriofoxone - 2/1/2007 8:35:07 PM

-3 Boost

Willis, you didn't drive the A4. You'd be more impressed with the A4 than the IS or 9-3, and it would compare favorably with the other two Germans.

Anyhow, it's pretty big to call the C-Class the absolute best. I don't really agree- but that's the point of free speech. It's a good car, I'd just rather have an A4 or 3. And if you're talking C350, I'd also rather have the IS350 (just not the IS250 over the C230).

Willis - 2/2/2007 2:03:42 PM

+1 Boost

S4cabriofoxone,

I drove an Audi A4 1.8T before the Benz and it was a great car, but let's face it, people don't really give the facelifted C class credit when they should. I'm not saying it is the best in class, but I drove it and I drove the competitors and I liked this car the best.

The reason I didn't stop by my Audi dealer was because I was kind of "sick" of Audi's. Prior to the C230 I owned the aforementioned 1.8T A4 and prior to that, I owned an A6 2.7T (C5). Good cars, but I needed a break from Audi and I am one of those guys who likes to try different cars from different brands.

So, tested the Saab 9-3 (great little machine), BMW 325i (very sporty, poor comfort) and Lexus IS250 (underpowered and uncomfortable) and then the C class. I drove two C classes: the C230 and the C350. The C350 was good, but I didn't think I'd need all that power so I opted for the cheaper C230. The C class struck me as the best balanced from this list. It is comfortable and sporty enough to satisfy kean drivers and the power delivery is great from the. 2.5 V6. I suppose the BMW was the 2nd choice, but the hard suspension just turned me away. FOR ME, THE C230 WAS THE CAR TO GET, to put it simply.

Now I drive the Benz C230 V6 and it is a wonderful car. I am a demanding driver and this car can cope with my style, easily. My only complaint is that the 6-speed manual is complete rubbish compared to BMW, Audi etc. Mercedes might make good automatics, but their manuals are horrible. Either way, beats an automatic and I guess the transmission isn't that bad. It's the smoothness I don't like: the shifts are rubbery and not precise.

EL34i - 2/1/2007 5:11:23 PM

+1 Boost

I'm glad to see that the luxury automobile market, as a whole, is improving. I wonder how Cadillac and Lincoln are performing.

BMWRocks - 2/1/2007 5:25:09 PM

+2 Boost

Ok, I think its time to stop bashing Audi. If everyone bought a car you had then it would not be that unique. I rather have a luxury car not many people have than buying a car even a high school drop out can buy.

Back to the point, good sales, so good job MB. I wander if the sales numbers include pre-owned.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/1/2007 7:34:48 PM

-1 Boost

Yeah, and Audi went up, too.

So the Q7 lead their sales for this month; Lexus fans, that's no excuse to say that they went down as a whole.

jt716 - 2/1/2007 7:16:07 PM

+3 Boost

Willis ur right the outgoing C-Class is great! The materials are high quality and is balanced a friend of mine just got it for a cheap price from Puerto Rico (I'm from SXM) And i was impressed! It looks great its black inside and out with a spoiler an i think 18 inch rims

Willis - 2/2/2007 1:54:56 PM

+2 Boost

Thanks.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/1/2007 7:35:42 PM

+1 Boost

Go Benz! They had increases across the board. I'm surprised at how well the new CL is doing; it's quite beautiful, but I've only seen three or four.

Anthony - 2/1/2007 7:59:18 PM

-1 Boost

Let's not kid ourselves. The outgoing C-Class is in dire need of the new-generation; hopefully the materials in the new one are not as disappointing as they look in photos. That aside, the C-Class is still the volume-leader for the brand. It is essentially the Toyota Corolla of the brand.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/1/2007 8:36:30 PM

+1 Boost

I was sure that the E-Class was the best-seller. At least in the world market.

Anthony - 2/1/2007 8:56:29 PM

-1 Boost

E-Class is Benz's Camry.

chewy - 2/1/2007 8:26:23 PM

-6 Boost

Nope MB had a horrible month with 5 models down on sales, with up to 92.5% down. Haha.




Sarcasm off.

JUGNU - 2/2/2007 7:13:28 AM

-1 Boost

S4cabriofoxone and Will check the blog on spies saying.

'Audi US sales surprisingly weak in january - A3,A6,A8 in trouble'

I were talking about the Audi's US sales in January versus all rivals's.

U r just twisiting it and ignoring the facts.Ignorant.
And look at your statement about Audi not caring about US.They very much do.

JUGNU

Rupert - 2/2/2007 10:13:07 AM

+2 Boost

audi increased its sales from last january to thius january, dumbass.

you're the one twisting it!