Mercedes-Benz USA Records Sales for April 2001

    MONTVALE, N.J., May 1 Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported
sales of 16,546 new vehicles during the month of April -- the second-best
April sales volume ever by MBUSA -- and an eight percent decrease over last
year's sales record of 17,889.  Year-to-date sales are down three percent
(63,619 versus the 65,677 vehicles sold during the same period last year).

    According to Ken Enders, vice president of marketing for MBUSA, "The total
volume of 63,619 for the first four months, while trailing last year (65,676)
by 3.1 percent, represents the second-highest year-to-date period in the
company's history.  We're expecting sales momentum to increase as summer
approaches with the launch of our all-new C-Class Coupe, which will bring a
whole new incremental buyer group to the Mercedes-Benz family."

    Sales for the month were led by the E-Class, which recorded 3,944 vehicles
sold, down 10 percent (vs. 4,390).  Following the E-Class, the all-new C-Class
posted an April sales record of 3,931 vehicles, an increase of 54 percent from
2,551 vehicles sold during the same month last year.  M-Class sales recorded
3,162 units, a 26.2 percent decrease from 4,283 in 2000.  The S-Class recorded
a decrease of 31.4 percent in April with 2,074 units sold versus the 3,025
sold last April.  The top-of-the-line CL-Class recorded its best April ever
with sales of 372 coupes, a 69.1 percent increase (vs. 220).  The SL-Class
finished the month with 459 units sold, a decrease of 13 percent (vs. 528).

    The CLK family of coupes and cabriolets came in at 1,552 units, a
14.2 percent decrease (vs. 1,808).  The SLK showed a decrease of three percent
to 1,052 (vs. 1,084).

    MBUSA's high-performance AMG models continue their momentum with April
sales totaling 532 vehicles, which represents the best April ever for AMG
vehicles.  Model leaders were the S55 AMG (155 units sold) and the ML55 AMG
(123 units sold).

    On a year-to-date basis, the C-Class accounted for the largest volume with
14,929 vehicles sold, up 60.4 percent (vs. 9,303).  Trailing closely behind
the C-Class, E-Class sales recorded 14,228 units (vs. 16,221).  The M-Class
reported 13,643 units sold (vs. 17,291).  Year-to-date S-Class sales decreased
to 8,696 (vs. 9,697).  The CL-Class jumped 104 percent to 1,267 vehicles
(vs. 620).  The CLK model line sold 6,334 units, a decrease of 7.5 percent
(vs. 6,850).  Sales of the SL-Class posted a decrease of 43.3 percent to
1,129 (vs. 1,994).  The SLK showed a decrease of 8.3 percent to 3,393 (vs.
3,701).

    Separately, through its Starmark pre-owned vehicle program, MBUSA recorded
sales of 3,014, an increase of 15.7 percent compared to April 2000 sales of
2,605 vehicles.  April 2001 sales represents the second-highest month ever for
the Starmark program.  On a year-to-date basis, Starmark sales increased
16.5 percent to 11,502 units sold (vs. 9,874 in April 2000).