Mercedes-Benz and smart: Highest Value Stability among German Vehicles

* Mercedes-Benz and smart take first place in six of ten segments in the EurotaxSchwacke Automobile Index

* SLK-Class achieves top results: Lowest forecast depreciation of all passenger cars in Germany

* Top scores for C-, E- and S-Classes in three-year residual value comparison

Stuttgart, Nov 04, 2004 In the latest analysis by the international market research firm EurotaxSchwacke, six Mercedes-Benz and smart models ranked first in the ten passenger car segments in which they were represented. Mercedes-Benz also took second place in three additional segments. The analysis results show that the vehicles from Mercedes-Benz and smart have a higher level of value stability than any other automotive brands in Germany. The basis for evaluating all vehicles was the forecast car dealers’ asking price for a new vehicle registered in September 2004, following a three-year retention period.

The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class has the lowest value depreciation of all vehicles registered in Germany. After three years, the roadster retains approximately 72 percent of its original purchase price, winning the overall top ranking in the EurotaxSchwacke study.

According to the findings of the leading European provider of residual value services, Mercedes-Benz also dominated against its competitors from the mid-range to the luxury segments by a clear margin. Both the C-Class sedan and the station wagon are considerably more stable in value than their competitors in the mid-range segment, and this lead was further extended in the course of the model upgrade. Meanwhile, the E-Class significantly increased its lead over its competitors in the upper mid-range segment. Even more remarkable is the value stability displayed by Mercedes-Benz in the luxury segment: Here, in the sixth year of its lifecycle, the S Class easily defended its top ranking against its much more recent competitors.

In the lower mid-range passenger car segment, the value stability of the new A-Class ranked second, very close on the heels of the first-place vehicle, and scored a further improvement in comparison to the predecessor model. After a three-year retention period, the A-Class maintains about 63 percent of its original purchase price, ranking considerably higher than the 58-percent average achieved by its competitors.

As in previous years, the smart fortwo clearly defended its top position as Germany’s micro compact car with the highest value stability by a wide margin. According to EurotaxSchwacke, the smart fortwo is still valued at 60 percent of its original purchase price after three years, demonstrating the lowest value depreciation in an intensely competitive segment. The average value for micro compact cars after tree years is approximately 55 percent.