Mercedes-Benz USA Reports All-Time Best January on Record With Sales of 15,650 New Vehicles

    MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 3 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today
reported its highest January volume on record with sales of 15,650 new
vehicles, a 3.7 percent increase over last year.
    Volume for the month was led by the C-Class which recorded its best
January on record with 4,613 units sold, a 1.7 percent increase over last
year.  Following closely in volume, E-Class sales posted 4,513 units sold,
surpassing last year's E-Class sales by 42.2 percent.
    Several models posted all-time highs for January, most notably the
top-of-the-line CL-Class's 6.2 percent increase over January 2002.  Other
highlights in the high-end model include a substantial 45.2 percent increase
in S-Class sales and a significant jump in sales of SL-Class models.  Overall,
the high-end model lines (S-, CL- and SL-Classes) saw a sales increase of
55.3 percent for the month compared to last January.
    Separately, MBUSA recorded its best January on record through its Starmark
certified pre-owned vehicle program with sales of 3,655 units, an increase of
6.1 percent over last January.
    Heading into 2003, over half of MBUSA's lineup consists of new or updated
models. With the 2003 debut of the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system in its
C-Class and S-Class lines, MBUSA is anticipating an emerging trend in the
luxury car market.  With the introduction of the 2004 E-Class wagon later this
year, MBUSA will be offering all-wheel-drive versions of all its sedans and
wagons for the first time ever.


                        January   January   Monthly      YTD      YTD   Yearly
    Model                  '03       '02       %        2003     2002      %

    C-Class Total         4,613     4,534     1.7%     4,613    4,534     1.7%

    E-Class Total         4,513     3,173    42.2%     4,513    3,173    42.2%

    S-Class Total         1,824     1,256    45.2%     1,824    1,256    45.2%

    CL-Class Total          324       305     6.2%       324      305     6.2%

    SL-Class Total          604       211   186.3%       604      211   186.3%

    CLK-Class Total       1,012     1,767  - 42.7%     1,012    1,767   -42.7%

    SLK-Class Total         360       490  - 26.5%       360      490   -26.5%

    M-Class Total         2,275     3,175   -28.3%     2,275    3,175   -28.3%

    G-Class Total           125       187   -33.2%       125      187   -33.2%

    GRAND TOTAL          15,650    15,098     3.7%    15,650   15,098     3.7%