Mercedes-Benz USA Records Sales of 15,217 for February

                 February 2001 Sales Second-Best of All Time;
                    Best February for the All-New C-Class

    MONTVALE, N.J., March 1 Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc. (MBUSA)
reported sales of 15,217 new vehicles during the month of February 2001, a
modest decrease of 2 percent over last year's February 2000 sales record of
15,546.  This represents the second-best February of all time, following
MBUSA's second-best January sales month (with new 12,690 new vehicles).
Year-to-date sales of 27,907 dropped marginally for the first two months of
2001, a decrease of 4.4 percent over the 29,193 vehicles sold during the same
period last year.

    Sales for the month were led by the all-new C-Class which recorded sales
of 3,831, a remarkable 76 percent increase over February 2000 sales of
2,182 vehicles.  February 2001 represents the best February for the C-Class
family and the second all-time best C-Class sales month (behind December 2000
with 4,082 vehicles sold).  Since its debut in September 2000, the all-new
C-Class has shown phenomenal demand with month-over-month sales gains.

    Following the C-Class, M-Class posted sales of 3,292, a decrease of
28 percent from 4,605 vehicles sold during the same month last year.  E-Class
sales recorded 3,014 units, a 15 percent decrease from 3,550 in 2000.  The
S-Class, MBUSA's flagship model line, hit an all-time high for February sales
with an 11 percent to 2,196 (vs. 1,978).  The all-new CL-Class also recorded
its best February ever with sales of 351 coupes, increasing 168 percent
(vs. 131).  The SL-Class finished the month with 218 units sold, a decrease of
50 percent (vs. 433).

    The CLK family of coupes and cabriolets achieved its second-best February
ever, despite a decrease of 7 percent (1,592 vs. 1,710).  February SLK sales
of 723 units reflect a 24.5 percent decrease (vs. 957).

    MBUSA's high-performance model line, AMG, continues its stellar
performance with February sales totaling 529 vehicles, representing the best
February ever for the AMG brand.  AMG February sales increased by 34 percent
compared to last year and the company expects this trend to continue with the
upcoming debut of the SLK32 AMG and C32 AMG.

    Paul Halata, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, reiterated the
company's plans to surpass the record-setting volume of 205,614 achieved in
2000.  "Our February sales are up 20 percent relative to January and we intend
to keep that momentum going.  We're expecting some very strong numbers as we
enter the spring selling season and we expect additional sales growth in the
fall when we launch our new C-Class sport coupe and wagon."

    On a year-to-date basis, the M-Class accounted for the largest volume with
6,570 vehicles sold, down 22 percent (vs. 8,452).  Trailing closely behind the
M-Class, C-Class sales increased 52 percent to 6,176 (vs. 4,065).  S-Class
sales increased 4.2 percent to 4,028 (vs. 3,866).  The CL-Class jumped
153 percent to 494 vehicles (vs. 195).  The CLK model line sold 2,963 units, a
decrease of 7 percent (vs. 3,189).  Sales of the SL-Class posted a decrease of
45 percent to 461 (vs. 836).  The SLK showed a decrease 8 percent to 1,315
(vs. 1,426).

    Separately, through its Starmark pre-owned vehicle program, MBUSA recorded
sales of 2,696, an increase of 14 percent compared to February 2000 sales of
2,362 vehicles, which represents the third-highest month ever for the Starmark
program.  On a year-to-date basis, Starmark sales increased 18 percent to
5,257 (versus 4,463 in February 2000).