Mercedes-Benz Sales Down Slightly

FRANKFURT, June 5, 2003; Reuters repported that DaimlerChrysler said on Thursday it sold almost one percent fewer luxury Mercedes-Benz cars in May from a year ago, hit by further weakness in its home market.

The world's fifth-biggest car company said sales of Mercedes-Benz cars dropped to 96,900 units in May from 97,800 a year ago.

"In most of its key European markets, Mercedes-Benz resisted the general trend during the first five months of the year and improved on its market shares," the company said in a statement, noting that its strongest performances had been in the UK, Italy and Spain.

Overall in the January-May period, Mercedes-Benz sold 460,700 cars, down from 463,300 a year ago.

But in Germany demand remained weak, and Mercedes brand sales were down about six percent in the same period.

DaimlerChrysler is counting on a solid performance from Mercedes this year as it grapples with further problems at its U.S. Chrysler unit.

The company also said sales for the Mercedes car group, which includes its small Smart cars, rose to 108,400 from 108,100 a year ago.

It sold 11,500 Smart cars in May, up 13 percent, helped by strong sales in western Europe excluding Germany.