July 2004 Mercedes Global Sales Fall

FRANKFURT, Aug 5, 2004; Reuters reported that global sales at DaimlerChrysler's prestigious Mercedes Car Group fell 9.4 percent in July to 98,100 units, the carmaker said on Thursday, led by a drop in its flagship Mercedes brand.

Turnover of Mercedes brand vehicles declined 12.3 percent versus the year-earlier month, it said, citing one fewer work day, the impact of strikes at two German plants and retooling for its new A-class model.

The Mercedes group includes Mercedes-Benz, the "smart" range of compact vehicles and its super-luxury Maybach limousine. The division's global sales had risen in June for the first year-on-year gain since December.

Sales fell 4.3 percent in the first seven months of 2004 to 682,900 units, the German-American group added.

"We are still on course for the full year with the current sales figures for all Mercedes-Benz model series," Joachim Schmidt, the division's head of sales and marketing, said in a statement.

Sales of the tiny "smart" cars rose 14.5 percent to 13,600 last month, helping take up the slack from the Mercedes-Benz line, where sales were 84,500 units in July.

Daimler has said that the relaunch of Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans, SLK roadsters and the new four-door "smart" compact should boost performance later this year at its most lucrative business.

Its goal is to improve overall sales at the division this year thanks to the "smart" brand, while Mercedes-Benz aims to match 2003 sales levels during a year of transition to newer models.