Following the best start to the year in company history, with record sales in January 2015 (+13.6%), Mercedes-Benz Cars is pushing forward at full speed with its product offensive. At the Geneva Motor Show, the brand with the three-pointed star is presenting a full programme of new models and innovations. The spectrum ranges from the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 – a racing machine for the very highest levels of customer sport – to the highly exclusive Mercedes-Maybach Pullman limousine, embodying the automotive luxury class in the very best Maybach tradition. Further Mercedes highlights at this high-profile springtime motor show in Geneva are the Mercedes-Benz C 350 e with plug-in hybrid drive, which is as dynamic as it is efficient, the avant-garde CLA Shooting Brake and the Concept V-ision e, based on the successful V‑Class and likewise equipped with plug-in hybrid technology. The ‘star-studded’ SUV offensive continues with the GLE Coupé and the spectacular G 500 4x4^2.

The resounding start signal for this year’s Geneva Motor Show was fired up bright and early at eight in the morning on the Mercedes-Benz stand. The latest race car from the brand with the three-pointed star rolled onto the stage with a rich V8 sound. “The new Mercedes-AMG GT3 is the perfect vehicle for customers who prefer to get their adrenalin kicks on the race track,” said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “That’s why we are starting 2015 not only as reigning double Formula 1 champions, but are also continuing our battle for supremacy in the hard-fought customer sport sector. Motorsport is a major part of our DNA.”

Following a record year for Mercedes-Benz in 2014 in terms of sales figures, turnover and profit, the company has already set a new sales record in 2015. Mercedes-Benz enjoyed a magnificent start to the year, with an increase of 13.6 percent. “We will use this powerful momentum for dynamic growth throughout the year,” continued Dr. Zetsche. “Playing a major role in this is our product offensive, which we are pursuing at full speed with a total of eight new models in 2015. The first highlight in the Mercedes-Benz ‘Year of the SUV’ is the new GLE Coupé. It will attract new customers with its sporty design and agile handling characteristics.”

C 350 e continues the hybrid offensive

The same applies to the new C 350 e. It is already the second hybrid model in the new C-Class and the second after the S 500 e to appear with Mercedes-Benz’s highly advanced plug-in hybrid technology. The company is applying full force to its offensive with this forward-looking technology, “We will bring ten new plug-in hybrid models to market by 2017,” said Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and responsible for Group Research and Mercedes‑Benz Cars Development. “In Europe, our fleet emissions are already less than 130 grams of CO2 per kilometre. The new models based on our scalable hybrid platform will make a significant contribution to the continued reduction of CO2 emissions.”

The C 350 e makes a compelling case as a saloon and as an estate car with its exceptional dynamics and efficiency, enabling 31 kilometres of electric-only, zero-emissions driving. The drive delivers a system output of 205 kW (279 hp) and system torque of 600 Nm. This means that the new C 350 e achieves the performance of a sports car, yet has a certified consumption as saloon and estate of just 2.1 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. This equates to CO2 emissions of merely 48 grams (estate: 49 grams) per kilometre.

V-Class Concept V-ision e – more performance with fewer CO2 emissions

A plug-in hybrid with a four-cylinder engine and system output of 245 kW (333 hp) also drives the concept V-ision e. “This concept vehicle shows the potential offered by the Mercedes of MPVs to address customer and market needs even more individually and exclusively in future,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes‑Benz Vans. “With pioneering Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid technology, we are able to increase the output of the most powerful V-Class currently available by a further 105 kW, while lowering consumption to that of a compact car. That’s what I call a forward-looking performance increase.” Inside, the Concept V-ision e offers a unique ambience of wellbeing with a modern loft-like character, Executive seats that can be controlled by app and the biggest panoramic roof in the segment.

Mercedes-Maybach Pullman – automotive high-end luxury

The new Mercedes-Maybach Pullman guarantees the very finest on-board accommodation. “The second model from Mercedes-Maybach takes over the role at the absolute pinnacle – as a state limousine with a classic face-to-face seat configuration in the rear,” said Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales. “The length of 6.50 metres and the wheelbase of 4.42 metres deliver an incredibly spacious interior and first-class comfort. It goes without saying that the new Mercedes-Maybach Pullman also embodies the very best in exclusivity.” This is further enhanced by the uncompromising sound quality and perfect musical enjoyment supplied by the exclusive Burmester® High-End 3D Surround-Sound system – the most expensive surround-sound system in an automobile.
















Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2015, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Since the beginning of the year, Mercedes-Benz has handed over 783,520 vehicles to customers (+12.8%) and can thus count on the best unit sales result in any half year in the company’s history to date. In the month of June the company delivered 142,136 passenger cars (+8.0%).

“The first half of the year was extremely successful for us”, said Ola Källenius, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars responsible for Marketing & Sales. “With the unit sales of our vehicles, we are on track to make 2014 into yet another record year.”

In the first six months of the year, Mercedes-Benz increased its sales on the European market to 352,198 vehicles (+7.4%) and gained additional market shares in almost all markets. Sales in the UK (+17.8%) and Switzerland (+7.7%) also showed very strong growth. In the strongly competitive home market of Germany, Mercedes-Benz continues to be the most registered premium brand with 125,215 vehicles sold (+0.7%).

In its biggest sales market, the USA, the company has delivered 151,624 vehicles since the beginning of the year. The new C-Class, which is the volume model in the North American market, will be launched here in September. Sales of the brand are also developing very well in South Africa: unit sales have risen by 10.3% to 11,388 units since the beginning of the year, and the brand posted an increase of 30.1% in June.

In China (incl. Hong Kong), the Stuttgart-based manufacturer continued on its strong course and has pushed sales up to 135,972 units since the beginning of the year (+37.5%). The new C-Class sedan will come on the Chinese market in September. In Japan, Mercedes-Benz sold 27,306 vehicles (+13.0%) and thus continues to be the most registered premium brand.

In the first half of the year, 215,205 customers opted for an A-, B-, CLA- or GLA-Class vehicle (+24.1%). At the end of the year, Mercedes-Benz will be presenting the fifth member of its compact car family: the CLA Shooting Brake, which will be produced in the Hungarian Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemét and will come onto the market in the first half of 2015.

The models of the E-Class family proved to be growth drivers in the last six months: the sedan and the estate alone sold 130,464 units (+27.4%). The E-Class coupe and convertible were also very popular with customers: Here, Mercedes-Benz posted growth of 25% since the beginning of the year. Both models are segment leaders in their classes.

Since the beginning of the year, 49,262 units of the S-Class have been handed over to customers – twice as many as in the same period of the previous year. Just about a year after the production start of the new S-Class, the 100,000th S-Class sedan model series 222 recently rolled off the production line in the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen. The flagship of the brand with the star is leading worldwide in the luxury class and is considered the benchmark of automotive progress with its numerous innovations. In addition to the S-Class with its short and long wheelbase and the S-Class coupe, Mercedes-Benz will be supplementing its luxury segment with three more models in the coming years.

The SUVs with the star are also continuing their strong growth with customer deliveries of 166,730 vehicles in the last six months (+6.8%).

The smart fortwo was sold 46,816 times since the beginning of the year (-9.7%). The official world premiere of the new generation of the smart will take place on July 16 in Berlin.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars


Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2014, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

This October, Mercedes-Benz shipped 126,421 vehicles to customers (+15.3%), more than in any previous October. Since the beginning of this year, Mercedes-Benz has also achieved another record by selling a total of 1,189,059 passenger cars (+10.7%). Growth was particularly strong in the NAFTA region, Turkey and Japan. In Europe, Mercedes-Benz recorded a 6.9% rise in October, increasing its market share in almost every market. In Germany, Japan and the United States, Mercedes-Benz remains the most-registered premium brand. There was particularly high demand for the new E-Class models in October, but the new Mercedes-Benz compacts and SUVs also showed another significant increase.

“Our record sales in October have provided us with a strong start to the fourth quarter, and we have further increased our market share,” said Ola Källenius, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars responsible for Marketing & Sales. “In October we increased our sales in every key region. Since our goal is to achieve a new record for 2013 overall, we will continue to rigorously pursue our path of growth as we head towards the end of the year.”

In Europe, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 55,235 vehicles in October (+6.9%), increasing its unit sales in almost every European market. The Stuttgart based premium brand showed particularly strong growth in the UK (+28.2%), Turkey (+63.1%) and Russia (+14.8%). In the German market Mercedes-Benz was able to almost match the previous year’s level with 22,758 units sold (py. 23,270 units). With a market share of 9.5% per October, the brand with the star remains the market leader among premium brands in its home market.

In the United States, Mercedes-Benz handed over 30,069 vehicles to customers (+25.4%) last month. With these record sales the company was once again the leading premium brand. In the growth market of Brazil Mercedes-Benz has recorded increases of over 40% since the start of the year. Daimler AG is investing in a first step around €170 million in a new Mercedes-Benz assembly plant, which will start production of passenger cars for the local market in 2016.

In the Asia/Pacific region the growth of Mercedes-Benz sales was driven primarily by new records in Japan. Since the beginning of the year, the brand has handed over 42,580 vehicles to customers there, about a third more than in the same period of the previous year. On the Indian market Mercedes-Benz has also increased its sales by a third. Also in China (incl. Hong Kong) the positive trend of the previous months continues: In October, Mercedes-Benz has raised the number of units sold in China by 9.1% to 17,348 vehicles. The most recent proof of Mercedes-Benz’ positive development in China is the result of J.D. Power Asia Pacific’s recently released Initial Quality Study 2013, which ranks Mercedes-Benz as the brand with the highest initial quality among 65 international and domestic automakers in China. The locally produced long-wheelbase E-Class and C-Class as well as the imported S-Class come out top in their respective segment.

The new Mercedes-Benz compacts are still selling very strongly: 36,132 customers bought an A-Class, B-Class or CLA-Class model last month, raising the brand’s compact vehicle sales by 72.7%.

Sales of the new E-Class model segment rose strongly in October. A total of 21,996 customers opted for the sedan and estate models in October (+21.5%), while sales of the new coupe and cabrio increased by a third.

There continues to be strong demand for Mercedes-Benz SUVs. Since January more than a quarter of a million SUVs have been delivered, an increase of 16.1% on the same period of the previous year. The GLK alone has already sold more than 100,000 units this year (+18%) and the M-Class, also totalling 100,000 units since the start of the year, is the top-selling vehicle in its segment worldwide.

Last month, 5,240 S-Class sedans were delivered to customers worldwide (+6.1%). Since mid-October the new S-Class has been available in all key markets. In Europe and in the United States it is already topping registration lists in the premium segment. Mercedes-Benz has introduced its flagship model into the top three S-Class markets in less than twelve weeks.

Since the beginning of 2013, customers have taken delivery of 82,449 units of the compact two-seater smart (p.y. 87,961 units). Last month, the smart fortwo was extremely popular in China (+9.7%). car2go had a special cause for celebration in October: It was the fifth anniversary of the successful car-sharing scheme which also achieved two significant milestones: 500,000 customers around the world are using the more than 9,000 blue and white smart fortwos, which had been rented more than a million times until now.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.