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Mercedes Announces September Sales

3 October 1997

Mercedes-Benz Shatters All-Time Monthly U.S. Sales Record; Mercedes September Sales Up 81 Percent, Year-to-Date Up 21 Percent

    MONTVALE, N.J., Oct. 3 -- Mercedes-Benz of North America,
Inc. (MBNA) recorded the highest monthly sales volume in its history with
sales of 13,818 new vehicles in September -- an 80.7 percent increase over the
7,646 vehicles sold during the same month last year.  Year-to-date sales set
an all-time nine-month record with 79,943 vehicles sold at the close of the
third quarter -- a 20.9 percent increase over the 66,132 vehicles sold during
the same period in 1996.  For September, sales in all car classes
were up and the highly anticipated M-Class posted strong sales its first
month.
    The C-Class climbing 35.1 percent over September 1996 (3,151 vs. 2,332),
the E-Class boosting 31.9 percent (4,001 vs. 3,034) and the S-Class increasing
9.5 percent (1,758 vs. 1,605).  Mercedes-Benz SL roadsters continued to soar
with 777 vehicles sold during September -- a 15.1 percent increase over the
675 sold during the same month last year.
    Sales of the SLK roadster continued to increase with 507 cars sold this
month for a year-to-date total of 4,548.  Sales of the newly introduced CLK
totaled 194.  The ML320 all-activity vehicle, which went on sale at Mercedes-
Benz light truck dealers nationwide in September, came in at 3,430 units.
    Year-to-date, sales of the C-Class were up 8.9 percent (22,722 vs. 20,875)
and the E-Class grew 14.3 percent (31,318 vs. 27,401), while the S-Class
showed a slight decrease of 6.5 percent (11,933 vs. 12,757).  Sales of the SL
roadsters climbed to 5,798 -- a 13.7 percent increase over the 5,099 vehicles
sold during the same nine-month period last year.
    "This has been a truly phenomenal month for us backed by an outstanding
effort on the part of our field and dealer network," said Mike Jackson,
President of MBNA, "Hundreds of events took place during 'Fall in Love' --
Mercedes 1998 retail launch initiative -- at dealerships across the country
and, with the unveiling of the stylish CLK coupe, the E-Class wagon, the
restyled C-Class, the ML320 all-activity vehicle and the 1998 model line as a
whole, as the sales numbers indicate, we brought a lot of people under the
spell of the brand."
    According to Michael Bassermann, chairman and CEO of MBNA, "This is such
an exciting time for the Mercedes-Benz family.  In mid-September we introduced
four new models to our line and, for the first time in our history, we are
well on our way toward breaking 100,000 vehicles sold in the United States."

SOURCE  Mercedes Benz of North America, Inc.