Mercedes Benz Sales Jump 11.6% For July Sales Period

    Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported sales of 20,733 new vehicles for July 2008, a 12 percent increase over last July. This brings the year-to-date sales total for MBUSA to 140,012 units, marking the best year-to-date sales for the period in the company's history. The most significant gains for the month were in the C-Class and E-Class passenger cars (45 percent and 38 percent respectively), while year-to-date growth was achieved in the M-Class and GL-Class line-up of SUVs (12 percent and 1 percent respectively).

    Sales for the smart fortwo remain strong with deliveries totaling 2,559 for the month of July. This brings the year-to-date total to an incredible 13,958 units in a little more than six months of being offered in the US market. The vehicle is attracting an overwhelming number of buyers who want a solution to high gas prices, a reduced environmental footprint and increased urban mobility on congested city streets -- all in a package that's fun to drive. The fortwo offers a powerful combination of outstanding fuel efficiency, innovative safety, environmental friendliness and low cost of ownership. There are currently 69 smart centers open in 31 states.


   Mercedes-Benz Cars Division in the U.S. Sales Summary Through July 2008

                             Month Sales      %         Sales CYTD         %
                          Curr Yr   Pr Yr   Change   Curr Yr    Pr Yr   Change

    Mercedes-Benz USA     20,733   18,586    11.6    140,012   136,826    2.3

    smart USA              2,559      n/a*    n/a*    13,958       n/a*   n/a*

    Mercedes-Benz USA /
     smart USA combined   23,292   18,586*   25.3*   153,970   136,826*  12.5*

    * smart sales in the U.S. started in mid January 2008

HSCenterconsole - 8/1/2008 12:03:19 PM

+7 Boost

Wow, that's really impressive given the market conditions.

enthusiastx11 - 8/3/2008 6:41:54 PM

0 Boost

um, so did everyone else. and their sales are tanking. haven't you seen all the TV, print and billboards for the lexus things called "the event"?

so the fact is that mercedes is doing better.

Hantra - 8/1/2008 12:06:01 PM

+6 Boost

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 11.6% . . . I was wondering where the 116% number came from in the headline.

Agent009 - 8/1/2008 12:18:07 PM

+6 Boost

My the difference a decimal point makes in a headline. I just corrected it.

steve27t - 8/1/2008 12:10:39 PM

-6 Boost

It would be nice if the people writing these articles check them before they put them up.

Agent009 - 8/1/2008 12:18:36 PM

+12 Boost

Hey mistakes happen. If it was easy you would be doing it.

silver1 - 8/1/2008 12:19:21 PM

-10 Boost

Wow....Well we know that the Mercedes Smart is to account for most of those....

It seems like the rich is getting richer.....And the poor is getting poor........

Rich guys buying Mercedes, Poor guys buying SMart....

enthusiastx11 - 8/3/2008 6:44:07 PM

0 Boost

can you read?

E-class up 38%
C-class up 45%

even the SUVs are up:

ML-class up 12%
GL-class up 1%

silver1 - 8/1/2008 12:25:17 PM

-7 Boost

I wonder what kind of sales or specials Mercedes was having to move those cars?

w209w114 - 8/1/2008 2:12:32 PM

+4 Boost

Check their summer event. They have one every year its nothing significant, drastic, and cetainly not desperate

enthusiastx11 - 8/3/2008 6:44:59 PM

-1 Boost

well, lexus is having a MASSIVE summer sales event and their sales are down 30%.

so apparently people really want a mercedes.

SHOoff92 - 8/1/2008 1:05:49 PM

+4 Boost

Mercedes is in the middle of their summer love event.

enthusiastx11 - 8/3/2008 6:45:50 PM

0 Boost

yes, and they run that event EVERY summer.

these are INCREASES over the same period last year.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 8/1/2008 1:12:20 PM

-8 Boost

wait, so that combined sales number of 140,012 units also has smart cars? if thats the case, then lets face it, thats not truly fair.

we might has well combine toyota and lexus sales then. :rollseyes:

diesotto - 8/1/2008 1:31:39 PM

+8 Boost

the numbers for mb and smart are separated...look again :rolls eyes

BMW4me4ever - 8/1/2008 2:24:44 PM

+3 Boost

lexuskindofguy - it states in the figures that the 140k + units does NOT include the smart cars. If you add the smart cars, then the total combined sales is over 153k+ ...

Also, Mercedes has had some Huge incentives. Big money incentives on all their cars. $1000 to $1500 on the C-class , $4000 to $5000 on the E-class, $6000 on the S-class, $4000 on the CL, $2000 on the M-class, $2000 on the CLK ... Then top it off with 1.9% up to 72 months on the E-class, 3.9% on the C350, 1.9% to 72 on the CLK, 3.9% on the ML, and so on. Those are alot bigger incentives than anything BMW or Lexus has and it has helped them alot.

diesotto - 8/1/2008 1:33:19 PM

+7 Boost

Mercedes is showing the difference between an innovative, true luxury brand and the posers.

diesotto - 8/1/2008 1:35:31 PM

+6 Boost

MB up over 11%
Lexus down almost 25%

for those not adept at simple math, that's a whopping 36% gap.

silver1 - 8/1/2008 2:02:31 PM

-10 Boost

And Mrecedes and BMW still lags when compared to Lexus because Lexus still Profit more than both, so, who's the dummy?

aarononymous - 8/1/2008 3:43:31 PM

+4 Boost

You're not very good at math either, they are percentages of different numbers.

enthusiastx11 - 8/3/2008 6:47:31 PM

+1 Boost

again silver.

we DON'T HAVE ANY PROFIT NUMBERS FOR LEXUS.

toyota never has disclosed these, so you're just talking out of your ass.

VISO - 8/1/2008 2:17:26 PM

+6 Boost

Good numbers, but the incentives are quite large. But good going MB.

diesotto - 8/1/2008 2:18:10 PM

+1 Boost

so they charge you more money per unit for less of a car...and you're happy about that???

vtandon - 8/1/2008 2:43:43 PM

+5 Boost

Silver1 the only dummy is you. You have no idea what you are talking about. How do you know Lexus is making more profit than both Mercedes and BMW. Toyota doesn't even release financials on Lexus. Lexus numbers are part of Toyota's. Show me some proof moron.

diesotto - 8/1/2008 4:18:29 PM

+7 Boost

So you are saying that these numbers for MB "USA" are inflated by A Class and C Class 4 cylinder engines. I must be ignorant but maybe you could enlighten me...

1. Where can I buy a new A class in the US?
2. Where can I buy a new C class in the US with a 4 cylinder engine in the US?
3. Why do Lexophiles cry and make excuses for poor performance instead of push their daddy Toyota to be more innovative and freshen their line-up?

audirevolution - 8/1/2008 6:04:21 PM

+5 Boost

Michael, the cheapest C-Klasse (which is the cheapest Benz one can guy in the U.S.A) has 228 HP. The cheapest Lexus IS has 204.

audirevolution - 8/1/2008 6:04:57 PM

+3 Boost

Typo correction:

"guy"=buy.

Agent63 - 8/1/2008 7:08:28 PM

+6 Boost

MichaelTaylor

Just shut up. When Mercedes sales are down you mention quality issues that aren't much of an issue in the line up the past few years. Now that Mercedes are up you use the line "Oh it has to be the A & B class making most of the sales". Those are some lame attacks on MB.

If Lexus dropped 25% and Mercedes gained 11.6% that's still 13.4% that is elsewhere. You're a lame duck so shut up. Don't make me bring up the prestige factor, something Lexus lacks in all aspects. Mercedes is the marquee brand when you think of a luxury car. It has been innovative over the years and they make great engines. You're just too blind to see. You drive a Toyota Camry you wouldn't know anything about luxury.

enthusiastx11 - 8/3/2008 6:48:46 PM

0 Boost

well, lexus is actually abandoning niche markets.

i.e. SC discontinued.

diesotto - 8/1/2008 4:11:09 PM

+1 Boost

to aarononymous,

If i made my point using the raw unit numbers then that would be a skewed view, but looking at the percentages based on last years sales is really how you look at the difference in performance--good or bad.

aarononymous - 8/1/2008 8:58:17 PM

+1 Boost

The 36% gap doesn't exist, you just added the numbers.

Threepoint1415926 - 8/1/2008 6:57:07 PM

+6 Boost

Yup, operating profits slipping from $12+ billion to $11+ billion. Bankruptcy must have a whole new meaning in the land of huu...

enthusiastx11 - 8/3/2008 6:52:21 PM

0 Boost

yes, bmw has taken charges against earnings recently.
but they are still MASSIVELY profitable.
get to know your numbers.

got any profit numbers for lexus? oh right, they don't disclose them because the brand probably doesn't make a profit.

vtandon - 8/2/2008 12:47:37 AM

+3 Boost

Where the hell are people like Mike Talyor and Silver 1 getting their info? Who are these guys? The numbers speak for themselves. I have no idea where these morons are claiming that most numbers accounted for are coming from the A class. Shows you how much they know about cars when the A class is not even sold here. Complete idiots

BMW4me4ever - 8/2/2008 12:23:13 PM

+3 Boost

How much money has Toyota lost this year, huu? Arent they down about 18% year to date and expected to take about a 2 billion loss also.

enthusiastx11 - 8/3/2008 6:55:13 PM

0 Boost

toyota as a whole doesn't compete in the same segment as bmw.

so comparing toyota corp to bmw ag is like comparing sales at neiman marcus to sales at sears. irrelevant.

let us know when toyota has the balls to release ANY lexus financials.

enthusiastx11 - 8/4/2008 9:43:54 PM

+1 Boost

we should all chip in and buy you a muzzle.

c36amg - 8/2/2008 3:27:27 PM

+3 Boost

another victory for mercedes... great man! i can hear bmw crying....

the SL black is going to spearhead their name like nothing else has ever done.

C63AMG - 8/2/2008 9:45:20 PM

+2 Boost

I agree but you are wasting your breath on these Toyota morons.

trenchwarfare - 8/3/2008 6:03:34 AM

+1 Boost

Who really needs a new car, most cars on the roads in the West are under 10 years old and are safe, fairly economical and cost less to the enviro to run than they would to make (a new one).

xj13 - 8/3/2008 8:27:28 AM

+1 Boost

BENZ UP , LEX DOWN, NO SUPRISE HERE.
THE CREAM ALWAYS RISES TO THE TOP.

enthusiastx11 - 8/3/2008 6:39:14 PM

+1 Boost

talk about bucking the trend!

even ML and GL are up while every other SUV brand is tanking.

when the economy is soft, it really pays to have the most affluent customer base.

enthusiastx11 - 8/4/2008 9:51:38 PM

+1 Boost

all the data is a year over year comparison. so mercedes gains this year are over the same period last year when the sales event was also running.

likewise, lexus sales are compared to the same period last year when no sales event was running. and lexus is down 30% in that comparison. uh oh.

enthusiastx11 - 8/4/2008 9:49:12 PM

+1 Boost

"Truly affluent customers don't need incentives."

i don't think you have a clue about the affluent. people of means are not fools. people of means often drive the hardest bargain because they don't want to be taken.

furthermore, people of means are willing to pay for what they perceive as desirable. that's why they'll happily pay $100,000+ for the average S550 vs. $70k for the typical LS.

BenzMan - 8/4/2008 1:45:23 PM

+1 Boost

Looks like most if the increase is in the lower-end models. I'd be afraid of the brand getting diluted.

enthusiastx11 - 8/4/2008 9:46:16 PM

0 Boost

many of us are tiring of the constant reference to lexus' profitability.

in fact, toyota has never disclosed any financials for lexus so we have no idea IF THEY ARE PROFITABLE.

considering that most corporations disclose any good news to pump up the street, it's a wonder toyota hasn't ever spoken to lexus profitability. hmmm...perhaps because there is no good news.