Mercedes-Benz USA Records 17,484 New Vehicle Sales in June 2004

MONTVALE, N.J., July 1 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported sales of 17,484 new vehicles in June, an increase of 1.5 percent compared to last June.

Sales volume for the month was led by the C-Class with 5,851 vehicles sold, an increase of 1.4 percent over the 5,769 sold during June 2003. Sales of the highly acclaimed E-Class model line grew 2.7 percent to 4,343 units in June 2004 versus 4,230 in June of last year. With an impressive 90.3 percent increase over last June, sales of the CLK-Class almost doubled.

June sales brought the company's year-to-date total to 103,168 units, a 2.6 percent decrease over the first half of 2003. The C-Class model line of coupes, sedans and wagons paved the way as volume leader for year-to-date sales, posting 33,233 units, and E-Class sales jumped 4.9 percent compared to the first half of last year. The popularity of coupes and convertibles was demonstrated with increases in both the CLK-Class which increased 8.3 percent and the classic SLK roadster which rose 22.5 percent.

The new 2005 Mercedes-Benz models are beginning to arrive at dealerships nationwide, led by the fuel-efficient E320 CDI's arrival in March and more recently, the special edition of its M-Class sport utility vehicle and a newly redesigned C-Class model line. Over the remainder of the year, the company will introduce the 617-hp SLR McLaren supercar, a new-generation SLK roadster, the G55 Kompressor sport utility vehicle, and two more high-performance AMG models -- the SL65 and the CL65. The company expects the new 2005 models will help boost MBUSA's annual sales volume to an all-time record high for 2004.

Separately, MBUSA recorded 4,551 units sold for its Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned program, boosting its certified pre-owned sales for the first half of the year to 29,138 -- an increase of 14.2 percent over the first six months of 2003.

In 2003, MBUSA achieved its tenth consecutive year of sales growth by setting the highest sales volume in its history with 218,717 new vehicle sales. Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com/ .

                            MERCEDES-BENZ USA
                            Sales -- June 2004

  Model         June '04  June '03  Monthly%   YTD 2004  YTD 2003   Yearly%

  C-CLASS          5,851     5,769      1.4%     33,233    33,576     -1.0%

  E-CLASS          4,343     4,230      2.7%     27,244    25,977      4.9%

  S-CLASS          1,562     1,621     -3.6%      8,975    10,902    -17.7%

  CL-CLASS           167       276    -39.5%      1,240     1,961    -36.8%

  SL-CLASS           722       973    -25.8%      7,019     5,732     22.5%

  CLK-CLASS        2,226     1,170     90.3%     10,561     9,752      8.3%

  SLK-CLASS          324       617    -47.5%      2,118     3,173    -33.2%

  M-CLASS          2,213     2,411     -8.2%     12,070    13,921    -13.3%

  G-CLASS             76       166    -54.2%        708       894    -20.8%

  GRAND TOTAL     17,484    17,233      1.5%    103,168   105,888     -2.6%

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