Mercedes-Benz USA sales inch up in January

Coming off its twelfth year of consecutive sales increases, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported sales of 12,469 new vehicles for January 2006, up three percent from last January.

Volume for the month was lead by the C-Class with 3,098 units, closely followed by the E-Class with 2,465 new vehicle sales. The new generation M-Class made the highest gains with 1,962 new vehicle sales, a 100 percent increase over January 2005.

In 2005, Mercedes-Benz significantly enhanced its competitive presence in the luxury light truck market with the launch of an all-new design of its popular M-Class model line and took advantage of the opportunity to create a new segment with the introduction of its R-Class, Grand Sports Tourer. Sales for Mercedes vehicles in the luxury light truck segment continue to gain momentum with a 156.6 % increase over January 2005. In 2006, the company plans to continue to expand its presence in the luxury light truck segment with the introduction of the GL-Class.

In February, the flagship 2007 S-Class, which has shaped the upper echelon of the luxury market for five decades, arrives in Mercedes dealerships across the company.

Separately, the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned vehicle program reported sales of 3,066 units, a 12.9 percent decrease versus the previous January.

TybeeZ4 - 2/2/2006 9:57:20 PM

+1 Boost

BMW sells more cars than Mercedes, but they are selling to a different group of folks... those who want a sports sedan but will never, for the most part, drive the car anywhere near it capabilities. Mercedes, on the other hand, sells to those who a comfortable, well-engineered (despite some electronic supplier problems in the recent past) touring sedan with a certain degree of class. I own one of each, a Z4 and a CLS 500. Both are excellent cars (did have a speaker blow on the Z though) but very different animals. MB surely would like higher sales of all their cars, but that isn't the end all for them.

MercBasher - 2/3/2006 1:51:22 AM

+1 Boost

Look folks only AutoSpies would say that things are on track for MB in the US. The total market in the US was up about 7%, so at 3% I'm sorry to say MB is losing share. Even Lexus sold more cars than MB (not even having to include sales of SUVs) in January. This would have been unthinkable only a year or two ago.

Remember this year Lexus will have a new ES and LS while MB just gets the new S class. Lexus will also give an engine overall for its biggest seller the RX SUV. Meanwhile BWM is thriving and gaining share along with Lexus.

The gap between Lexus and BMW (who sell similar numbers in the US) and MB is growing larger all the time.

Note also MB decline in certified sales - surely a continuing acknowledgement that MB reliability sux