Mercedes-Benz USA Sales Up 1.2 Percent for September

MBUSA Sales Reach 157,559 Units Sold for 2004 to Date

MONTVALE, N.J., Oct. 1 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported a 1.2 percent increase in sales for September sales, recording 17,445 new vehicles sold, pushing the company's volume for the first three quarters of the year to 157,559.

Sales volume for the month was led by the C-Class with 4,876 vehicles sold. E-Class sales following closely behind with 4,655 units sold. Sales for September were boosted by the popularity of Mercedes's coupes and convertibles

-- the new generation SLK350 roadster which launched this month increased SLK sales 16.4 percent, and the CLK-Class grew an impressive 42.9 percent over last September. The top-of-the-line CL-Class luxury coupe also contributed significant gains with a 10.3 percent sales increase for the month.

On pace to set another record year, MBUSA year-to-date sales were boosted by the volume-leading C-Class model line with 49,336 units sold in the first three quarters. The E-Class line of sedans and wagons, including the new E320 CDI diesel model, jumped 6.2 percent for year-to-date. In addition, the CLK-Class line of coupes and convertibles posted an 18.6 percent increase (16,873 vs. 14,229 units), and the high-end SL-Class roadster posted a 10.6 percent sales increase (9,835 vs. 8,891 units) on a year-to-date basis.

The company expects the new 2005 models will boost its annual sales volume to an all-time record high for 2004. New vehicle launches this year have included, among others, the fuel-efficient E320 CDI, a new-generation SLK roadster, and two more high-performance AMG models: the SL65 and the CL65.

Separately, MBUSA recorded 4,704 units for its Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned program in September, marking an 8 percent increase over last September. This brings its certified pre-owned sales for the first three quarters to 43,471 units sold, up 9.9 percent over the same period last year.

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 -- September 2004

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

  C-CLASS      4,876      4,885       -0.2%     49,336     50,546      -2.4%

  E-CLASS      4,655      4,623        0.7%     41,442     39,037       6.2%

  S-CLASS      1,781      2,025      -12.0%     14,616     15,981      -8.5%

  CL-CLASS       235        213       10.3%      1,958      2,597     -24.6%

  SL-CLASS       872      1,062      -17.9%      9,835      8,891      10.6%

  CLK-CLASS   2,007       1,404       42.9%     16,873     14,229      18.6%

  SLK-CLASS     616         529       16.4%      3,361      4,863     -30.9%

  M-CLASS     2,249       2,324       -3.2%     19,100     21,942     -13.0%

  G-CLASS       154         169       -8.9%      1,038      1,361     -23.7%

  GRAND
   TOTAL     17,445      17,234        1.2%    157,559    159,447      -1.2%