Mercedes-Benz USA Records Sales of 19,275 for May 2001

Best May Sales Ever and Second-Highest Sales Month for MBUSA

MONTVALE, N.J., June 1 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported sales of 19,275 new vehicles during the month of May -- the best May sales volume ever by MBUSA -- and the second-highest monthly sales record of all time for MBUSA. Month-to-date sales increased 15 percent over May 2000 (19,275 vs. 16,803). Year-to-date sales also increased by .5 percent (82,894 versus the 82,480 vehicles sold during the same period last year). Sales for the month were led by the E-Class, which recorded 4,485 vehicles sold, up 3.4 percent (vs. 4,338). Following the E-Class, the C-Class posted a May sales record of 4,416 vehicles, which is the second-highest C-Class sales ever for MBUSA and an increase of 89.7 percent from 2,328 vehicles sold during the same month last year. M-Class sales recorded 4,259 units, a .7 percent increase from 4,228 in 2000. The best-selling model for MBUSA in May was the ML320, which 3,518 vehicles were sold. The S-Class recorded an increase of 23.9 percent in May with 2,245 units sold versus the 1,812 sold last May. The top-of-the-line CL-Class recorded its best May ever with sales of 333 coupes, a 95.9 percent increase (vs. 170). The SL-Class finished the month with 741 units sold, an increase of 38 percent (vs. 537). The CLK family of coupes and cabriolets came in at 1,621 units, a 14.8 percent decrease (vs. 1,902). The SLK showed a decrease of 21 percent to 1,175 (vs. 1,488). On a year-to-date basis, the C-Class accounted for the largest volume with 19,345 vehicles sold, up 66.3 percent (vs. 11,631). Trailing closely behind the C-Class, E-Class sales recorded 18,713 units (vs. 20,559). The M-Class reported 17,902 units sold (vs. 21,519). Year-to-date S-Class sales decreased to 10,941 (vs. 11,509). The CL-Class jumped 102.5 percent to 1,600 vehicles (vs. 790). The CLK model line sold 7,955 units, a decrease of 9.1 percent (vs. 8,752). Sales of the SL-Class posted a decrease of 26.1 percent to 1,870 (vs. 2,531). The SLK showed a decrease of 12 percent to 4,568 (vs. 5,189). Separately, through its Starmark pre-owned vehicle program, MBUSA recorded sales of 3,428, an increase of 33.2 percent compared to May 2000 sales of 2,573 vehicles. May 2001 sales represents the highest month ever for the Starmark program. On a year-to-date basis, Starmark sales increased 20 percent to 14,930 units sold (vs. 12,446 in May 2000).