Mercedes-Benz USA Reports 2006 Best March Sales Ever

MONTVALE, N.J., April 3 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported its highest March on record with sales of 21,417 new vehicles, an increase of 17.9 percent over last March, bringing year-to-date total sales to 51,242 new vehicles, a 17.1 percent increase compared to the first quarter of 2005.

Passenger car sales of 16,756 units, showed an increase of six percent (955 units) over March 2005. Highlights include E-Class sedan and wagon sales of 3,884, an increase of 7.6 percent over last March, and CLK-Class coupe and convertible sales of 2,551, a 33.8 percent increase from March 2005, making this the model line's best March ever.

As a group, sales for Mercedes vehicles in the luxury light truck segment -- M-, R- and G-Classes -- had a significant 96 percent increase over March 2005. In May, Mercedes will continue to expand its presence in the luxury light truck segment with the introduction of the GL-Class, the first European full-sized luxury SUV.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned program, MBUSA sold 3,926 vehicles in March, bringing annual sales for the year to a total of 10,451 units.

In 2005, MBUSA achieved its twelfth consecutive year of sales growth by setting the highest sales volume in its history with 224,421 new vehicle sales. Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., MBUSA is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com/.

                         March    March   Monthly    YTD      YTD    Yearly
   Model                  '06      '05       %       2006     2005      %

  C-CLASS                3,906    4,901   -20.3%    9,980   12,469   -20.0%

  E-CLASS                3,884    3,608     7.6%    8,659    8,929    -3.0%

  S-CLASS                3,335    1,384   141.0%    7,618    3,476   119.2%

  CL-CLASS                  43       99   -56.6%      156      361   -56.8%

  SL-CLASS                 771      940   -18.0%    1,841    2,452   -24.9%

  CLK-CLASS              2,551    1,906    33.8%    5,588    4,590    21.7%

  SLK-CLASS              1,122    1,170    -4.1%    2,442    3,113   -21.6%

  CLS-CLASS              1,111    1,759   -36.8%    2,844    3,895   -27.0%

  R-CLASS                1,915      n/a      n/a    5,070      n/a      n/a

  M-CLASS                2,740    2,283    20.0%    6,857    4,207    63.0%

  G-CLASS                   39      112   -65.2%      187      284   -34.2%

  GRAND TOTAL           21,417   18,162    17.9%   51,242   43,776    17.1%