1996 Mercedes-Benz Sales better than Expected

12/31/96

The Associated Press reported that Mercedes-Benz AG group says its sales rose from $48 billion last year to a preliminary $51 billion in 1996. The figure exceeds the $50 billion forecast Mercedes made for the year back in October. The German carmaker says it also expects to post gains in unit sales, revenues and earnings for 1997.

According to the preliminary figures, Mercedes' passenger car sales rose from $26.9 billion in 1995 to nearly $30.7 billion this year, while revenues for its truck division stayed nearly flat, dropping from $21.1 billion last year to $20.7 billion this year.

Company chairman Helmut Werner indicated that earnings were up from last year despite high investment spending, although he gave no specifics.

Mercedes claimed a 12 percent hike in domestic sales this year, which rang in at about 266,000 units, compared to 238,300 units the year before. The company says its 1996 exports of passenger cars rose to over 640,000 units, up about 10 percent over the 580,000 units it shipped in 1995.

Mercedes posted a net profit of $1.52 billion for 1995, up from $1.23 billion in 1994.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel