Press Release

Merceds-Benz Announces Sales for August 1996 and the Calendar-Year-to-Date

09/06/96

Mercedes-Benz Product Offensive at Full Throttle; Best U.S. August
Sales in Mercedes Corporate History

MONTVALE, N.J., Sept. 4 -- Mercedes-Benz of North
America, Inc., recorded the best August in its corporate history with
sales of 8,930 cars, an increase of 45 percent over the 6,155 cars
sold in August 1995. August 1996 represents the sixth highest sales
volume month in MBNA's 31 year history and the highest volume month
since December 1990.

August 1996 results are attributed to across-the-board increases in
all Mercedes-Benz model lines. Leading the way was the award-winning
E-Class with sales of 3,833 vehicles, an increase of 110 percent over
the 1,824 vehicles sold in August 1995. Sales of Mercedes' flagship
S-Class increased 47.2 percent to 1,940 (vs. 1,318); C-Class sales
increased 2.9 percent to 2,579 (vs. 2,507) and SL coupe-roadster sales
increased 14.2 percent to 578 (vs. 506).

On a year-to-date basis, Mercedes-Benz sales jumped to 58,486, an
increase of 19.3 percent versus the 49,010 vehicles sold in the same
period in 1995. This represents the best eight-month period since
1987.