- smart with its best month of sales in the history of the brand
- Mercedes-Benz sales up eight percent in Germany
- New A-Class off to an excellent start: Sales up 21 percent in October
Powered by the high demand for the smart forfour, sales of smart brand vehicles are up 44 percent in October, to 15,200 units. smart thus had its best month of sales in the brand’s history. At 113,400 vehicles, deliveries during the first ten months of 2004 exceeded the previous year’s result by 22 percent, despite sharply declining sales overall in the subcompact segment. The new smart forfour model series, which has been fully available in all markets since the introduction of the right-hand drive version in October, contributed some 31,000 units to the brand’s sales increase. Demand for the smart in Germany was particularly strong: Despite difficult overall economic conditions, sales in October 2004 nearly doubled to 6,200 units. A total of 40,000 smart models were sold in Germany through October, an increase of 19 percent.
Sales of Mercedes-Benz brand vehicles totaled 90,000 passenger cars worldwide in October, a two-percent decline from October 2003. In the first ten months of the year, 864,300 customers around the world opted to purchase a Mercedes model (Jan. to Oct. 2003: 920,400). Following a model-cycle-related drop in sales in the first three quarters of the year in Germany — the largest sales market — an anticipated upward sales trend is now becoming apparent for the fourth quarter: A total of 32,600 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were delivered to German customers last month, up eight percent on the figure for October 2003 (30,200).
Following its successful launch, the new A-Class will play a key role in the expected sales increase at Mercedes-Benz in the coming months. Sales of the compact model series were up 21 percent in October, to 15,700 units. This increase was largely the result of developments in the two biggest sales markets for the vehicle: Demand for the A-Class in both Germany and Italy was higher in October than ever before in the two countries. Additional sales potential will be generated by the introduction of the right-hand drive version in the UK and Japanese high-volume markets, as well as the launch of a variant with automatic transmission at the beginning of 2005.
Customer response to the new SLK roadster and the new generation of the C Class has also been very good: Within a very short time, both vehicles assumed the leading market position in their respective segments worldwide. Sales of the SLK totaled 41,900 units worldwide through October double the figure for the same period in 2003. At 28,600 units, demand for the new generation of the C-Class last month was up four percent from October 2003. Production of the vehicle is therefore now at full capacity, and sales for the year as a whole are expected to surpass the figure for 2003.
The E-Class meanwhile remains the worldwide leader in the upper-range segment, with sales of 235,200 passenger cars through October 2004. The station wagon model, which achieved record sales of 44,700 vehicles through October, made the major contribution to this positive result. With global market shares of about 37 percent for the station wagon and 33 percent for the sedan, the two E Class variants clearly dominate their respective market segments.
The success of the CLS-Class will also help Mercedes further extend its market leadership in the premium segment: A total of 2,100 units of the four-door coupe have already been delivered since the vehicle’s sales launch on October 2. In the luxury segment, the S Class maintained its top position worldwide by selling 70,600 units through October and achieving a market share of 36 percent.
Demand for Mercedes-Benz brand passenger cars in the U.S. reached 18,300 units in October 2004, five percent below the record figure posted in October 2003. A total of 175,900 vehicles were delivered through October to customers in North America (Jan. to Oct. 2003: 178,900 units). Mercedes-Benz’ sustained success in the region is primarily due to record demand for the C- and E-Class and the unique market position occupied by the SL roadster.
In the Asia/Pacific region, DaimlerChrysler delivered 72.200 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars through October 2004. Record sales in China (7,200 units; up 15 percent) and India (1,600 units, up nine percent) in particular provide a solid basis for further growth in the Asian markets of the future.
Overview of Mercedes Car Group Sales
| Oct. 2004 | Change in % | Through Oct. 2004 | Change in % | |
| Mercedes Car Group worldwide | 105,200 | + 2.7 | 977,700 | -3.5 |
| of which Mercedes-Benz | 90,000 | - 2.0 | 864,300 | - 6.1 |
| smart | 15,200 | + 43.8 | 113,400 | + 21.6 |
| Mercedes Car Group | ||||
| of which Western Europe (excl. Germany) | 33,600 | - 4.4 | 343,800 | - 3.0 |
| Germany | 38,800 | + 15.5 | 311,700 | - 5.0 |
| United States* | 18,300 | - 4.9 | 175,900 | - 1.6 |
| Asia/Pacific | 6,700 | + 0.7 | 75,100 | - 5.7 |
* Mercedes-Benz passenger cars
