Mercedes-Benz Sales Leap Forward 21.3% In October

"Clearly we're very pleased with this month's result and we believe that we will be able to parlay this into a strong fourth quarter and continued increases in our market share," said Ernst Lieb, President & CEO of MBUSA. "This is validation of the 'back to basics' approach we have undertaken in partnership with our retail network, utilizing the current economic environment to strengthen the customer experience and promote the value inherent in our product line." Lieb said the sales gains for the month were also influenced by a more stabile economic environment relative to last year and to the momentum of the company's new products -- the compact SUV GLK-Class and the new 9th generation E-Class -- as well as volume leaders like its C- and M-Class model lines.

The GLK-Class, introduced in January 2009, has outsold every vehicle in its class on a year-to-date basis. The all-new, 9th generation E-Class, launched in late June, recorded sales of 6,071 for October 2009, up 189.4% over October 2008. The other volume leaders for the month were the C-Class and M-Class with sales of 4,122, and 2,370 respectively.

On a year-to-date basis, the company sold 153,606 new vehicles, trailing the comparable period last year by 20.1%.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,433 vehicles in October; a 13 percent increase compared to October 2008 sales of 4,807 vehicles. Year-to-date sales for the MBCPO program are 62,161, a 17.8 percent increase over 2008 year-to-date sales (52,753 vehicles).


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kpaxx - 11/3/2009 1:06:33 PM

+2 Boost

I am surprise the c-class took a sales hit. I have seen a ton of these on the road!

Lexurious - 11/3/2009 6:26:37 PM

+2 Boost

Lexus is basically an American Japanese brand!, OBVIOUSLY they will be on top.

GermanNut - 11/3/2009 2:20:42 PM

+1 Boost

Despite a strong performance for October, Mercedes-Benz continues to see awful sales results in the United States for 2009 as a whole as evidenced by the 20.1% sales decline on the year.

By comparison Audi has seen its U.S. sales fall just 8.7% for 2009.

Given that Mercedes-Benz outsells Audi by more than 2 to 1 in the U.S. market, Mercedes-Benz should see a smaller percentage sales decline when compared to Audi, but is instead experiencing a more than double percentage decline in sales.

david999 - 11/3/2009 2:22:29 PM

+3 Boost

The E-Class brought them back from the brink.

Yonder7 - 11/3/2009 2:29:32 PM

+1 Boost

At least they are in a better position than BMW which even with the new 7 series is selling less (if you do not count the mini sales). 7 Series will have to be redesigned very soon cause the sales are not going to improve if they do not change that ugly style.

GermanNut - 11/3/2009 2:35:09 PM

+2 Boost

Yonder7, be careful, bmwdrvr will respond and say buh....buh...but WAIT for the 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, and 760Li models to be launched in order to do a valid comparison between all the Mercedes-Benz S-class models (S550, S63 AMG, S600, S65 AMG) and all the BMW 7-series models (750i, 750Li, 750i Xdrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li) that are available.

The 3 new 7-series models still won't make up for the nearly 400 unit lead that Mercedes-Benz's S-class currently enjoys.

Yonder7 - 11/3/2009 2:38:38 PM

+2 Boost

Just in case you want to compare the sales of BMW:

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091103-713734.html

more than 1000 sales in difference and if you take in consideration that most of MB are more expensive than the Bimmers..I think they are doing very well in the current economic status.

GermanNut - 11/3/2009 2:54:08 PM

0 Boost

Good find Yonder7.

MB S-Class Sales YTD: 8,920
BMW 7-Series Sales YTD: 7,159

This means the Mercedes-Benz S-class leads by 1,761 units.

The BMW fans think the 750i/750Li models with xDrive and the 760Li will make up for the 1,761 unit deficit....keep dreaming. The 760Li sells all of like 100 units per year and the 750i/750Li models with xDrive won't be able to make up 1,600 units if they re-designed the damn car today.

The 4-year-old MORE expensive Mercedes-Benz S-class outsells the BRAND NEW BMW 7-series by 1,200 units per year. The new Audi A8 is just around the corner.

Clearly The New BMW 7-series = FAILURE

Yonder7 - 11/3/2009 2:54:42 PM

+1 Boost

GermanNut: Thats true man but that's why I post the link so they won't deny the fact. I like Bimmers but facts are facts. Audi is doing great and MB I thing are doing better than BMW cause they are making so many ugly and expensive cars..that in short and long term they will pay for those mistakes. I still do not understand the cancellation of the CS and the production of the 5GT, I am not marketing expert, but I am sure CS could do a great contender for A7 and CLS which means also better sales than the 5GT....

GermanNut - 11/3/2009 3:07:11 PM

0 Boost

I completely agree with you, Yonder7, about BMW's awful current sales and dismal future outlook.

Look at BMW barely posting a $100 million profit for all of 2009, meanwhile Audi posts a $515 million profit just for the third-quarter alone and greater than $1.52 billion profit for 2009 on the whole.

Clearly, Audi is making A LOT MORE $$$ than BMW right now.

Don't even get me started on the sales declines. BMW is down 25.6% in the U.S. YTD, while Audi is down just 8.7% YTD in the U.S.

Globally BMW is still falling at double the rate of Audi.

Significantly more $$ for Audi to work with, combined with MUCH better-managed sales declines both for the U.S. and globally = DISASTER FOR BMW regardless of their new models like the 5GT and 3GT which we all know will be SALES DISASTERS.

agent507 - 11/4/2009 4:18:47 AM

+1 Boost

Here is the math:

Lexus sold:
- Calendar year to date 2008: 220.502
- Calendar year to date 2009: 168.910
That is a 23,4 % Decrease (51.592 cars less)

BMW sold:
- Calendar year to date 2008: 215.836
- Calendar year to date 2009: 160.666
That is a 25,6 % Decrease (55.170 cars less)

Mercedes sold:
- Calendar year to date 2008: 192.294
- Calendar year to date 2009: 153.606
That is a 20,1 % Decrease (38.688 cars less)

So I think it is fair to come to the following conclusions:
1. All 3 are seeing a twenty something decrease, year to date
2. Mercedes the least, Lexus in the middle, BMW the most
3. Mercedes is narrowing the gap

fatandsassy - 11/4/2009 8:44:17 AM

+1 Boost

HEllO new E class.... THe GLK also helps since it is new. I still love the MD brand more than Lexus and BMW. I will say that AUDI is looking so sexy lately. I new A5 drove by me in gold and I almost drueled. What a sexy car.

GermanNut - 11/4/2009 11:00:36 AM

+1 Boost

The BMW brand outsold Audi by approximately 200,000 units globally in 2008.

BMW's lead over Audi is now down to less than 74,000 units globally through the first 9 months of 2009 and likely to shrink even further given that Audi has always achieved its highest monthly sales results during the last quarter of each year. Audi is also on track to record a $1.52 billion + profit for 2009 as a whole whereas BMW is trying to achieve a 2009 full-year profit of just $165 million.

We clearly see that Audi is the premium brand with the strongest momentum coming out of this financial and auto market crisis.

This should create a very interesting battle in the next 3-5 years for the title of world's best selling premium brand.