New Car, Van And Truck Registrations Rise Across The Board In May 2012

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – June 11, 2012: Figures released today by the SMMT show that Mercedes-Benz UK’s new vehicle registrations recorded increases across the board in May 2012. As well as the best May in the company’s history, the YTD car results are higher than ever-before. Market share of 4.5 per cent is also the highest it has ever been for the first five months of the year.

New car registrations grew more for Mercedes-Benz than any other major premium brand in May 2012, with an increase of 18.2 per cent for the month – to 7144 new cars – and a 14.8 per cent increase YTD – with 39,138 vehicles registered.

It was a strong month for AMG vehicles; registrations were boosted by attractive tactical finance packages meaning a threefold increase in May 2012 - to 209 high-powered registrations. YTD, some 800 new AMGs have taken the road, including over 500 C 63 AMGs, making it the most successful period in the company’s UK history.

Private buyers bought more E-Class Saloons (up 35.3 per cent in May 2012; 19.7 per cent YTD); and E-Class Estates (59.8 per cent in May; 58.9 per cent YTD) than before.

Retail success was reflected in strong C-Class results – up 14 per cent YTD for Saloons, 10.6 per cent for Estates. The C-Class range is now in the total UK industry’s top 10 bestsellers’ list YTD.

Overall fleet registrations have increased 20.3 per cent YTD to 15,969 new cars.

Commercial vehicles
Success in CVs was spread throughout the range, with van registrations increasing 21.9 per cent – to 1994 registrations - in May 2012, against an overall market decline of nine per cent.

YTD, two-axle rigid volumes are up 57.5 per cent, and artics have increased 17.2 per cent. The New Actros, launched last month, helped overall Actros registrations recorded a rise of 64.4 per cent in May 2012 to 143 trucks, and 66.5 per cent YTD (814 tractor units).

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO Mercedes-Benz UK, commented: “It’s great to see such strong results for our high-performance division, AMG. These are very exclusive cars, still all with personally-signed hand-made engines, and the results show that offering these bespoke cars with tailor-made finance packages does attract customers. The relative position given tough market conditions, especially in these segments, isn’t something we take for granted – we’re committed to fighting for and winning more private and fleet business like this throughout the rest of the year.

“Success in our core market – affordable, desirable, efficient executive cars for private and fleet buyers – is clearly critical, and again the results demonstrate that our teams in retailers across the country are serving new and returning customers in encouraging numbers. It’s also great to see the C-Class enter the top 10 best-sellers list year to date.”

Marcus Breitschwerdt continued: “The CV market is getting even tougher as the year progresses, and the fact businesses are buying more of our vans, rigid trucks and tractor units than last year is again testament to the offers and efforts our network and fleet teams are offering.”