Record Year for Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars

            *  Mercedes-Benz sales up 5 percent to all-time record
   *  Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars and smart revenue up 13 percent in 2000

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., and STUTTGART, Germany, Jan. 8 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and smart sales were 1.15 million units for the
year 2000.  This is a 6 percent increase compared to 1999 (1.08 million).
Revenue for the business unit is up over 13 percent to more than 43 billion
Euro, another significant increase from 1999's record year.
    For the calendar year 2000, Mercedes-Benz passenger cars worldwide sales
were 1.052 million vehicles, 5 percent more than in the previous year.  "The
past year, we set an all-time record for Mercedes-Benz, with a sales record
every month," said Prof. Juergen Hubbert, Head of Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars
and smart.

    Number One Luxury Brand in North America
    The Mercedes-Benz business unit was particularly successful in the United
States and in Germany.
    In Germany, Mercedes-Benz increased its market-share to almost 12 percent
in a declining market.  The brand has set a new sales record, up 4 percent to
392,500 units.
    In North America, Mercedes-Benz is the number one luxury brand with sales
records in the U.S. and in Canada.  In the United States, retail sales were
beyond the threshold of 200,000 units for the first time: Mercedes-Benz sold
more than 205,600 units.  This is an increase of more than 200 percent since
1993.  "We are very proud that the year 2000 was a record year for Mercedes-
Benz in North America," said Prof. Juergen Hubbert.
    Also the markets in Latin America (+21 percent), and Asia Pacific
(+7 percent) showed a strong improvement.

    S-Class Benchmark in Luxury Segment
    The Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars are not only the flagship products of the
company but also benchmark in the luxury segment.  Sales were up 10 percent to
107,650 sedans, coupes and roadsters in 2000 with tremendous success in all
markets, particularly in the United States.
    The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is also in great shape with almost 200,000
sedans sold in 2000 and with an all-time high for the E-Class wagon (48,000
units).
    The "new C" represents the hottest Mercedes-Benz C-Class family to date.
Its growth is created through its great variety and innovative vehicles like
the all-new C-Class wagon revealed today at the North American International
Auto Show in Detroit.  The new C-Class sedan, introduced in spring 2000, has
already received enormous acceptance worldwide.  In its first year, 148,000
cars have been delivered to customers.
    Sales of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class rose 16 percent to almost 104,500
vehicles.  80,000 units were produced at the plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and
the remainder in Graz, Austria.  In the United States, the largest single
market for the M-Class, sales were up almost 17 percent.  The M-Class is the
top-selling Mercedes-Benz vehicle in the U.S.
    Europe is getting smart: sales of the smart car were up 28 percent.  With
more than 102,000 vehicles sold in 2000, the smart has clearly outperformed
the internal goal of 100,000 units.

    New Mercedes-Benz Tech Center
    A very important basis for all these sales records is the new Mercedes-
Benz Tech Center in Sindelfingen, Germany.  Similar to the Tech Center of the
Chrysler Group in Auburn Hills, Michigan, all the important functions like
design and development, pre-production and production-planning worldwide have
been integrated at one site.  One of the most impressive results was the
reduction of the ramp-up time by 50 percent at the launch of the new C-Class.
    Mercedes-Benz, a story of passion: It started with the invention of the
automobile by Karl Benz in 1886, and, 100 years ago, with the creation of the
brand Mercedes.  And it lives on based on the enthusiasm of our customers for
our products, as well as on the capabilities and the commitment of our
employees.