Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Best 2006 May Sales Ever

MONTVALE, N.J., June 1 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported its highest May on record with sales of 21,621 new vehicles, an increase of 21.4 percent over last May, bringing year-to-date sales to 94,133 new vehicles, a 17.1 percent increase compared to the first five months of 2005.

Passenger car sales of 15,282 units showed an increase of 6.4 percent over May 2005. The strongest increase for the month (and for the year-to-date) was the flagship 2007 S-Class with sales of 2,526 units, an increase of 84.5 percent over last May. Other strong performers include the SL-Class and SLK- Class roadsters with combined sales of 2,283, a 37.1 percent increase over May 2005 and E-Class sedan and wagon sales of 4,070, a 14 percent increase over May 2005.

Sales for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the luxury light truck segment -- M- Class, R-Class, GL-Class and G-Class -- continue to gain momentum as a group with an 84 percent increase over May 2005 and a 105.3 percent increase over year-to-date 2005 (23,257 v. 11,328). In this group, the all-new 2007 GL- Class, the first European full-sized luxury SUV, recorded sales of 2,545 for its first full month on the market.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned program, MBUSA sold 4,150 vehicles in May, bringing annual sales for the year to a total of 18,656 units, an increase of 7.8 percent over May 2005.

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 www.mbusa.com. 0601030

                            MERCEDES-BENZ USA
                            Sales -- May 2006

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

  C-CLASS                     4,329   4,359   -0.7%  18,346  21,324  -14.0%

  E-CLASS                     4,070   3,569   14.0%  16,507  16,229    1.7%

  S-CLASS                     2,526   1,369   84.5%  13,177   6,302  109.1%

  CL-CLASS                       46     117  -60.7%     266     589  -54.8%

  SL-CLASS                    1,056     851   24.1%   4,009   4,213   -4.8%

  CLK-CLASS                   1,127   1,736  -35.1%   8,917   8,258    8.0%

  SLK-CLASS                   1,227     814   50.7%   4,871   4,899   -0.6%

  CLS-CLASS                     901   1,550  -41.9%   4,783   7,250  -34.0%

  R-CLASS                     1,485     n/a     n/a   8,227     n/a     n/a

  M-CLASS                     2,278   3,319  -31.4%  11,725  10,774    8.8%

  GL-CLASS                    2,545     n/a     n/a   3,044     n/a     n/a

  G-CLASS                        31     127  -75.6%     261     554  -52.9%

  GRAND TOTAL                21,621  17,811   21.4%  94,133  80,392   17.1%