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Mercedes-Benz Shatters More Records

4 November 1998

Mercedes-Benz Shatters More Records

          October Vehicle Sales Mark Highest Month in MBNA History;
                  Year-to-Date Sales Also Set All Time Record

    MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 4 -- Mercedes-Benz of North America,
Inc. (MBNA) set another all-time sales record with 16,447 vehicles sold during
the month of October -- a 9.6 percent increase over the 15,013 vehicles sold
during the same month last year and the highest month in the company's
history.  Year-to-date sales also set an all-time 10-month record with 140,932
vehicles sold -- a 48.4 percent increase over the 94,956 vehicles sold during
the first 10 months of 1997, representing the highest gain among European
luxury nameplates.
    The volume leader for the month was the E-Class model line with sales of
4,707 (vs. 4,267), an increase of 10.3 percent; followed by the award-winning
M-Class which posted sales of 4,186 (vs. 3,812), an increase of 9.8 percent.
    Seasonal decreases occurred in C-Class (2,733 vs. 3,257), S-Class
(1,045 vs. 1,521) and SL-Class (794 vs. 911) due to low inventory and model
changeover.
    The Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster continued to soar with October sales of
1,022 (vs. 998) an increase of 2.4 percent.  Sales of the new models were
strong with the CLK320 reaching 690 vehicles (vs. 247), which has been joined
by the V8 powered CLK430 and CLK320 Cabriolet, with sales of 476 and 794,
respectively.
    Year-to-date, sales of the E-Class were up 8.82 percent (38,727 vs.
35,585); sales of the C-Class grew 13.7 percent (29,550 vs. 25,979); and sales
of the M-Class continue to accelerate at 35,970 (up 396.7 percent from 7,242).
The S-Class/CL coupes showed a marginal decrease of 0.3 percent (13,407 vs.
13,454), while the SL-Class decreased slightly to 6,512 (vs. 6,709). CLK sales
jumps to 7,934 (vs. 441), while sales of the SLK continue to increase to 8,832
(up 59.2 percent from 5,546).