Mercedes-Benz's March 2014 Sales Rise 11.2% - YTD Sales Rise 5.0% - Maintains Narrow Lead Over BMW

Mercedes-Benz's March 2014 Sales Rise 11.2% - YTD Sales Rise 5.0% - Maintains Narrow Lead Over BMW
MONTVALE, N.J., April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported the highest first quarter sales in its history with 30,091 vehicles sold across the Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart model lines, up 11% from the 27,104 units sold over the same period last year. The Mercedes-Benz brand alone hit a new benchmark for the month with sales of 27,401, an increase of 11.2%, while year-to-date volumes climbed to 72,614 units, up 5% from March 2013. Adding year-to-date sales of 4,624 for Sprinter Vans and 2,237 units at smart, MBUSA delivered a year-to-date grand total of 79,475.

"Thanks to a best-ever March, we've hit a new first quarter sales record in 2014," said Steve Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA. "Our CLA is making strong headway in the entry luxury arena with sales of more than 20,000 units after just six months on the market. With another knockout series of products waiting in the wings, we expect even higher growth this year and beyond."

March sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand were led by the C-, E- and M-Class model lines. The E-Class took the top spot with 6,335 units, increasing 58% from the same month last year, followed by the C-Class at 5,660. The M-Class, perennial best-seller on the SUV side, rounded out the top three at 4,052, up 15.7% from March 2013. At the high end, the flagship S-Class continued to post strong gains with volumes of 2,299 for the month, up 89.1%, while sales of the CLS-Class four-door coupe rose 7.3%.
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Car4LifeCar4Life - 4/1/2014 3:04:16 PM
+2 Boost
S Class figure is crazy good, CLA still awaiting more inventory & 4matic variant, E Class best seller, C Class hanging on to a solid second with a New C Class due in Fall.

Strong SUV sales, M class nearly deadlocked with all new X5, GL & GLK maintain solid figures


Yonder7Yonder7 - 4/1/2014 4:01:55 PM
+1 Boost
CLA does not impress me but S Class....wow . also how can be possible that they have more S class available than CLA? MB is my favorite brand but lets face it , CLA is not selling the amount that the were expecting.



Benzes1Benzes1 - 4/1/2014 4:32:57 PM
+2 Boost
It is happening because the CLA/A/B and the upcoming GLA are selling beyond capacity. The S-Class sells much less so they can easily handle that. You have to look at the worldwide picture. The CLA is selling far beyond predictions and MBUSA was warned last year that CLA supplies would be low until mid-year. They just added another shift at the plant that build all the Mercedes compacts.


Yonder7Yonder7 - 4/1/2014 4:38:31 PM
+1 Boost
May be...I'll wait till July to see whats happens cause in theory , that car should be the top seller of MB in USA.


Car4LifeCar4Life - 4/1/2014 4:41:17 PM
+2 Boost
Seriously, there are waiting list for certain colors and specs in the US. The first 3 months of sales nearly depleted inventory projections for US dealers prompting the letter to dealers from MBUSA.

Summer should see a replenished inventory, and Fall should see buyers who can't quite squeeze the all new C Class in the budget, hop in the more affordable CLA


cidflekkencidflekken - 4/1/2014 5:23:58 PM
+1 Boost
Yonder, understand the product and the entire situation before you make such comments. First, the CLA, at only 27 in of rear legroom, isn't your "typical" entry-level luxury sedan. It's a niche product in the same spirit as the CLS is in the mid-size category. The CLA's direction price competition (ILX, Verano, A3) all have 34-35 inches of rear legroom.

Also Mercedes recently had to INCREASE production of the CLA in order to meet demand. Obviously one of the reasons is that the car is popular and selling more than expected? Why is that? Because it's considered essentially a "niche" product, Mercedes didn't forecast its sales to be so high. So, no, you wouldn't expect this car, despite its price point, to be the "best seller" in the lineup.


Benzes1Benzes1 - 4/1/2014 5:31:08 PM
+1 Boost
No it shouldn't be. Low price is one thing, but the impractical back seat and lack of engine choices will keep it from being the bestseller. The C-Class will have a sedan, coupe and a convertible by 2016 so it will continue as the best seller. Mercedes buyers aren't value shoppers like that so the CLA will not because their best seller because of price. Now if they flushed out the line with a diesel or a small coupe version or something else, it might become the best seller. As it stands now, it will never be.


GermanNutGermanNut - 4/1/2014 5:04:11 PM
0 Boost
It will be very interesting to see how the Audi A3 Sedan eats into sales of the Mercedes-Benz CLA and if the sales decline in the CLA is enough for BMW to take the top spot away from Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. market.


Car4LifeCar4Life - 4/1/2014 5:10:56 PM
+2 Boost
I'm even more interested to see just how Bimmer and Audi plan to recover in the midsize and flagship markets as the E and S show no signs of letting up


cidflekkencidflekken - 4/1/2014 5:18:47 PM
+1 Boost
It will be more interesting to see if you can stop saying the same thing ad nauseam.


Yonder7Yonder7 - 4/1/2014 7:14:37 PM
+1 Boost
Easy pals ....the time will say who's right.


RunamukkRunamukk - 4/1/2014 10:21:50 PM
+3 Boost
I sell Mercedes in Houston and can tell you all that the CLA250 is a phenomenal success. The problem lies with lack of inventory. We only have one demo at our dealership which we wont sell and everything coming in for the next 6 months is reserved. Every now and then when someone backs out we sell it within an hour as all salespeople make a mad dash to call prospective buyers. Honestly all the salespeople at my store hate this car since with no inventory and most people not willing to order and wait 6 months it takes up a lot of our time with no reward.


GermanNutGermanNut - 4/2/2014 10:09:04 AM
0 Boost
It was a big oversight on Mercedes-Benz's part to misjudge the CLA's demand by such a large margin. While the car maybe selling well, production can't meet demand and by the time it will the competition will already have its offering on the market in the form of the Audi A3 Sedan.

If Audi matches its production forecast much more accurately with the market's demand, it could pose a serious issue for Mercedes-Benz as potential CLA buyers get an A3 Sedan on the lot instead of waiting 5 months for a CLA ordered exactly to their specifications.


Yonder7Yonder7 - 4/3/2014 2:00:34 PM
+1 Boost
GermanNut : I do not like your comment but you are 100% right.
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