Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake Added to Compact Car Family: Over four Million Mercedes-Benz Compact Cars Sold
 Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake |
- More than four million A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA models delivered to customers since 1997
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Successful launch of the CLA Shooting Brake in Germany with 110,000 visitors and 1,700 test drives
- Significant rejuvenation of the customer structure of Mercedes-Benz thanks to new compact models
- Conquest rate for compact cars at around 50% in Germany and Western Europe
STUTTGART -- March 30, 2015: The success story of the
Mercedes-Benz compact cars began in 1997 with the launch of the A-Class.
Since then, over four million customers have opted for an A-Class, B-Class,
CLA or GLA.
The CLA Shooting Brake, the youngest
member of the compact car family of Mercedes-Benz, celebrated its launch at
the weekend. It proved to be a real crowd-puller with 110,000 visits to
dealers in Germany and 1,700 test drives.
"The
CLA Shooting Brake is the perfect addition to our compact car family and
will intrigue many customers with its unique design – both private
and fleet customers," says Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management
of Daimler AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales.
"The response to our compact cars has been excellent. Last year,
global sales of our compact cars increased by 25% to a record level of more
than 463,000 units”, adds Källenius.
The
A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA are especially popular on the home market of
Mercedes-Benz. More than one in every five compact cars was sold to
customers in Germany last year. In 2014, sales in this segment grew by over
36% in China and by over 55% in Great Britain. Unit sales in the USA more
than doubled.
Almost every second driver of a
Mercedes-Benz compact car in Germany and Western Europe was previously the
owner of a vehicle from another brand.
The new
generation A-Class celebrated its launch in September 2012. Due to its
global success, the A-Class has been produced not only in Rastatt, but,
since August 2013, also by the Finnish production specialist Valmet
Automotive. Last year, its popularity increased by over 46% in Great
Britain, and even by over 51% in the growth market China. However, most
A-Class models are still delivered to customers in Germany.
The new B-Class, including the B-Class Electric Drive, has
been available since 2014. In the J.D. Power satisfaction survey, the
B-Class came top of its segment in 2014 with a score of 82.4%.
The CLA, which was launched in 2013, was the first compact
car offered by Mercedes-Benz in the USA. For many Americans, the CLA is the
entry model into the world of Mercedes-Benz. Almost every third CLA
produced in Kecskemét, Hungary, is delivered to customers in the USA, the
biggest market for the coupé.
The majority of
all GLA were sold to customers in Germany and the USA in 2014, the launch
year of the model. The GLA – alongside the CLA and the B-Class
– was voted the value retention champion in its class by "Focus
Online" and the market research institute "Bähr & Fess Forecast" in
2014.
The Mercedes-Benz brand has undergone a
noticeable rejuvenation since the introduction of the new compact models.
The average age of a European driver of the new generation A-Class is
nowadays more than ten years lower than the age of a driver of the previous
series. In China, the average age is 34 years. The CLA appeals primarily to
a young, childless customer group, whereas the B-Class is popular mainly
among young families.
Customer demands on
Mercedes-Benz compact cars are diverse: While CLA and A-Class owners focus
mainly on driving pleasure, sportiness and technological advance; B-Class
customers attach particular importance to functionality, comfort and
spaciousness. Common to all of them is a strong desire for progressive and
expressive design.
As far as the interior is
concerned, the Active Parking Assist as well as the Light and Sight package
are especially popular. Many drivers are also extremely keen on the
Panoramic Roof, the seat heating and Bi-Xenon headlamps.
With regard to engines, global customer preferences are
diverse: Whereas the 180 engines (petrol and diesel) are especially popular
among A-Class and B-Class purchasers, most CLA customers opt for the CLA
250 and the CLA 250 4MATIC. Many GLA buyers choose the GLA 250
4MATIC.