Daimler AG Reports a 11 Percent Increase for Mercedes-Benz and smart Vehicles in the U.S. for March 2011

Knowledge Base: Mercedes--Benz Buyer's Guide

- Mercedes-Benz USA Records March Sales of 22,546 Vehicles - an Improvement of 12.6 Percent over March 2010 and a 10.7 Percent Increase on a Year-to-Date Basis

- smart USA Records 425 Sales in March 2011

NEW YORK--April 1, 2011: Daimler AG (stock exchange abbreviation DAI) today reported U.S. sales of 22,971 Mercedes-Benz and smart vehicles, an improvement of 11 Percent compared to March 2010. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported March sales of 22,546 vehicles, a 12.6% improvement over March 2010 and the company's highest March volume and first quarter on record. 21,484 passenger cars, light truck vehicles and 1,062 Sprinter vans are included in this total.

On a year-to-date basis, the 55,995 vehicles sold represent a 10.7% increase.

The highest volume performers for the month were the C- and E-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class--the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers -- led the pack with sales of 6,542, up 8.9% over March 2010. The 9th generation E-Class continued its strong momentum with sales of 6,107, up 21.1% over last year. MBUSA's versatile SUV, the M-Class, finished third in volume with sales of 2,792, up 29.6% compared to March 2010.

The R-Class crossover also made gains with sales up 76.7% year-to-date, followed by the commanding G-Class, up 59.7% over March 2010. The company also sold 102 of its supercar -- the SLS AMG -- bringing its year-to-date sales to 255.

Sales of Sprinter Vans increased by 175.1% for the month, with sales of 1,062 - bringing a year-to-date total of 2,649 - up 98.1%.

smart USA recorded 425 sales in March 2011. Retail sales increased nearly 50 percent month-over-month from February 2011 as a result of higher consumer demand for fuel efficient vehicles due to rising fuel prices.

In March, smart USA delivered 20 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles to the Automobile Club of Southern California part of a research project to test the utility and benefits of electric cars in the Auto Club's activities. It is the nation's largest private fleet of smart fortwo electric drive vehicles to date. The smart fortwo electric drive will make its first New York Auto Show appearance in April.

Detailed vehicle sales information for MBUSA will be announced in a separate press release issued by Mercedes-Benz USA.