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Mercedes-Benz Sales Jump 53 Percent in July

4 August 1998

Mercedes-Benz Sales Jump 53 Percent in July; Year-to-Date Sales Up 67 Percent

    MONTVALE, N.J., Aug. 3 -- Mercedes-Benz of North America,
Inc. (MBNA) and its 320 dealer partners across the United States continued
1998's record-breaking momentum with July sales of 10,310 vehicles, an
increase of 52.9 percent over July 1997 (6,741).  Year-to-date sales surged to
an all-time high of 97,774 for the first seven months of the year, a
66.6 percent increase over the 58,696 vehicles sold during the same period
last year.
    The volume leader for the month was the core E-Class model line with sales
of 3,104 (vs. 2,103), an increase of 47.6 percent over last July.  The premium
S-Class sedans and CL coupes also posted significant gains with a 54.3 percent
increase to 1,506 (vs. 976).  SL roadsters sales increased 11.4 percent to
479 (from 430).  Sales of the C-Class at 1,952 decreased 26.5 percent
(vs. 2,655) due to new model changeover.
    New-for-1998 models continued to reflect high demand with the new ML320
sport utility vehicle posting sales of 2,495.  The new CLK320 coupe recorded
sales of 200 vehicles while sales of the SLK roadster remained steady at
574 (vs. 577).
    On a year-to-date basis, all model lines outpaced last year's performance.
C-Class sales increased 21.5 percent to 21,575 (vs. 17,750); the E-Class
climbed 9.4 percent to 26,844 vehicles (vs. 24,531); the S-Class sedans and
CL coupes increased 16.1 percent to 9,909 (vs. 8,537) and the SL roadsters
8.7 percent to 4,654 (vs. 4,280).  SLK sales for the year continued strong at
5,954 (up 65.5 percent from 3,598), while year-to-date sales of the new
M-Class and CLK are at 25,059 and 3,779 respectively.