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January Sales Set Stage for More Mercedes-Benz Records

4 February 1998

January Sales Set Stage for More Mercedes-Benz Records

  11,720 Vehicles Boost Mercedes to Highest January Sales Volume in Company
          History and Highest 1998 Volume Among Import Luxury Brands

    MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 4 -- Mercedes-Benz of North America,
Inc., reported sales of 11,720 new vehicles during the month of January 1998,
a 64.1 percent increase over the 7,143 new vehicles sold in January 1997.
This represents the highest January sales volume ever recorded by MBNA and the
highest January 1998 volume of any import luxury brand.
    Sales for the month of January were led by the award-winning E-Class model
line with sales of 3,123, an increase of 12.9 percent over the 2,766 vehicles
sold during the same month last year.  Adding to the E-Class momentum was the
recent addition of the E320 Wagon (fall 1997) as well as the January
introduction of the high-performance E430 (replacing the E420) and E430 Sport,
both featuring an all-new aluminum V8 engine and a long list of standard
features.
    C-Class sales also reflected strong demand, climbing 32.5 percent to 3,048
(vs. 2,300).  Sales of the legendary SL roadster/coupe models posted an
increase of 27 percent (565 vs.445) for the month.  The company's flagship
S-Class sedan and CL coupe line, now in its seventh model year, showed a
decrease of 17.5 percent (1,106 vs. 1,340).
    The high-demand M-Class -- recently named 1998 North American Truck of the
Year and Motor Trend's Truck of the Year -- also contributed to the
record-setting January performance with 2,881 vehicles sold.  Sales of other
new-for-1998 models continued strong: 430 units of the CLK coupe were sold
alongside the SLK roadster with sales of 567.
    MBNA expects this momentum to carry the company to sales of 140,000 in the
U.S. for 1998.  Mercedes-Benz set an all-time record for its U.S. retail
Volume last year with sales of 122,265 vehicles.

SOURCE  Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.