Mercedes-Benz USA Records Sales of 19,166 For March 2001

    Best March Ever For Mercedes-Benz and Second-Best Month Ever For MBUSA

    MONTVALE, N.J., April 3 Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc. (MBUSA)
reported sales of 19,166 new vehicles during the month of March 2001, a 3.1
percent increase over last year's March 2000 sales record of 18,595.  March
represents the highest March sales volume ever by MBUSA, the second all-time
best month ever for MBUSA.  Year-to-date sales dropped marginally for the
first quarter of 2001, a decrease of 1.5 percent to 47,073 versus the 47,788
vehicles sold during the first quarter last year.
    Sales for the month were led by the all-new C-Class, which recorded its
best sales month ever with 4,822 vehicles sold, up 79.5 percent (vs. 2,687).
Following the C-Class, the E-Class posted sales of 4,384, a decrease of 6.1
percent from 4,667 vehicles sold during the same month last year.  M-Class
sales recorded 3,911 units, a 14.2 percent decrease from 4,556 in 2000.  The
S-Class, MBUSA's flagship model line, recorded a decrease of 7.6 percent in
March sales with 2,594 units sold versus the 2,806 sold last March.  The all-
new CL-Class recorded its best March ever with sales of 401 coupes, a 95.6
percent increase (vs. 205).  The SL-Class finished the month with 209 units
sold, a decrease of 66.8 percent (vs. 630).
    The CLK family of coupes and cabriolets came in at 1,819 units, a 1.8
percent decrease (vs. 1,853).  The SLK showed a decrease of 13.9 percent to
1,026 (vs. 1,191).
    MBUSA's high-performance line, AMG, continues its momentum with AMG March
sales totaling 638 vehicles, which represents the best March ever for AMG
vehicles.  Model leaders were the S55 AMG (189 units sold) and the ML55 AMG
(141 units sold).
    On a year-to-date basis, the C-Class accounted for the largest volume with
10,998 vehicles sold, up 62.9 percent (vs. 6,752).  Trailing closely behind
the C-Class, M-Class sales recorded 10,481 units (vs. 13,008).  The E-Class
reported 10,284 units sold (vs. 11,831).  Year-to-date S-Class sales decreased
slightly to 6,622 (vs. 6,672).  The CL-Class jumped 123 percent to 895
vehicles (vs. 400).  The CLK model line sold 4,782 units, a decrease of 5.2
percent (vs. 5,042).  Sales of the SL-Class posted a decrease of 54.3 percent
to 670 (vs. 1,466).  The SLK showed a decrease of 10.5 percent to 2,341 (vs.
2,617).
    Separately, through its Starmark pre-owned vehicle program, MBUSA recorded
sales of 3,231, an increase of 15.1 percent compared to March 2000 sales of
2,806 vehicles.  On a year-to-date basis, Starmark sales increased 16.8
percent to 8,488 units sold, setting the highest month ever (vs. 7,269 in
March 2000).