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Mercedes-Benz Announces April Sales

1 May 1998

Mercedes-Benz Goes Into Overdrive -- Another All-Time Sales Record Set

        Core C, E, S and SL Models Rev Up; New Models Accelerate Also
                  All-Time Roadster Record in April as Well

    MONTVALE, N.J., May 1 -- Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.
(MBNA) and its 320 dealer partners across America have set an all-time monthly
sales record in April with sales of 16,318 vehicles, besting the record set
last month of 16,303 vehicles.  This represents an increase of 75.2 percent
over April 1997 (9,315).  Year to date sales are also at an all-time high with
a total of 56,683, a 67.4 percent increase over the 33,870 vehicles sold
during the same four-month period last year.  Additionally, all model lines
posted an increase for both the month and year-to-date basis.
    Leading the sales surge in volume for the month was the E-Class with sales
of 4,592 (vs. 4,339), an increase of 5.8 percent; followed by the C-Class with
sales of 3,402 (vs. 2,480), an increase of 37.2 percent.  With the addition of
the S500 Grand Edition, sales of the premium S-Class sedans and CL coupes
jumped 30.1 percent to 1,670 (vs. 1,284).
    The SLK posted the biggest gain in April with an increase of 102.4 percent
(1,081 vs. 534).  The SL roadsters also showed a significant increase of
36.3 percent to 924 (vs. 678), and combined with the SLK, made for an all-time
Mercedes roadster record as well.
    New-for-1998 models continued to reflect high demand: the new ML320 sport
utility vehicle posted sales of 3,995; and the CLK320 coupe recorded sales of
654 vehicles.
    On a year-to-date basis, the E-Class climbed to 15,387 vehicles
(vs. 14,801); the C-Class jumped to 12,827 (vs. 9,498); the SLK increased to
3,428 (vs. 2,032); the SL roadsters increased to 2,832 (vs. 2,407) and the
S-Class sedans and CL coupes increased to 5,497 (vs. 5,132).  Year-to-date
sales of the M-Class and CLK are 14,450 and 2,262 respectively.

SOURCE  Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.