---

Mercedes-Benz Sales Rocket 82 Percent in June

1 July 1998

Mercedes-Benz Sales Rocket 82 Percent in June; Up 68 Percent for the First Six Months

                M-Class Records Highest Monthly Volume to Date

    MONTVALE, N.J., July 1 -- Mercedes-Benz of North America,
Inc. (MBNA) and its 320 dealer partners across the United States continued
1998's record-breaking momentum with June sales of 15,134 vehicles, an
increase of 81.8 percent over June 1997 (8,326).  Year-to-date sales surged to
an all-time high of 87,464 for the first half of the year, a 68.3 percent
increase over the 51,955 vehicles sold during the same period last year.
    The volume leader for the month was the core E-Class model line with sales
of 4,186 (vs. 3,347), an increase of 25.1 percent over last June.  The C-Class
also posted significant gains with an 18.4 percent increase to 3,179
(vs. 2,685).  Sales of the premium S-Class sedans and CL coupes increased 21.6
percent to 1,392 (vs. 1,145).  SL roadsters sales were 681, a marginal
decrease of 2.2 percent over the 696 vehicles sold last June.
    New-for-1998 models continued to reflect high demand as the new ML320
sport utility vehicle reached its highest month on record with sales of 4,098.
The new CLK320 coupe recorded sales of 639 vehicles while sales of the SLK
roadster jumped 111.7 percent to 959 from 453.
    On a year-to-date basis, all model lines outpaced last year's performance.
C-Class sales increased 29.9 percent to 19,623 (vs. 15,095); the E-Class
climbed 5.8 percent to 23,740 vehicles (vs. 22,428); the S-Class sedans and CL
coupes increased 11.1 percent to 8,403 (vs. 7,561) and the SL roadsters 8.4
percent to 4,175 (vs. 3,850).  SLK sales for the year continued strong at
5,380 (up 68.3 percent from 3,021), while year-to-date sales of the new
M-Class and CLK are at 22,564 and 3,579, respectively.