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Mercedes-Benz Continues Record-Breaking 1998 Sales Success

3 December 1998

Mercedes-Benz Continues Record-Breaking 1998 Sales Success, Year-to-Date Sales Up 43.5 Percent; November Up 6.7 Percent

    MONTVALE, N.J., Dec. 2 -- Mercedes-Benz of North America,
Inc. (MBNA) and its 316 dealerships continued 1998's record-breaking sales
success with November results of 13,525, an increase of 6.7 percent over the
12,671 vehicles sold during the same month last year.  Year-to-date sales set
an all-time, 11-month record with 154,457 vehicles sold -- a 43.5 percent
increase over the 107,627 vehicles sold during first 11 months of 1997.
    "Mercedes-Benz is on track this year to sell more cars and trucks than
ever before in its U.S. history.  We have doubled our sales volume within the
past three years as a result of the integrity of our brand and the strength of
our products," said Mike Jackson, president and CEO of MBNA.
    The volume leader for the month was the E-Class core product line with
increases in each of its models -- E300 Turbodiesel, E320, E430 and the
E-Class wagon.  E-Class sales for the month totaled 4,016 (vs. 3,542), an
increase of 13.4 percent.  Following closely on the heels of the E-Class was
the award-winning M-Class which posted sales of 3,386 (vs. 3,239), an increase
of 4.5 percent
    C-Class sales decreased by 26.1 percent (2,300 vs. 3,113) and marginally
on the SL model lines by 2.3 percent (592 vs. 606).  S-Class sales decreased
by 38.4 percent (801 vs. 1,301), as final supply of the current generation
model declines.
    All of the new Mercedes-Benz models exhibited strong performance.  The
Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster continued to soar with November sales of
806 (vs. 628) an increase of 28.3 percent.  Sales of the CLK320 were 347
(vs. 242) while the new V8 powered CLK430 posted sales of 617.  The CLK320
Cabriolet registered 660.
    Year-to-date, sales of the E-Class were up 9.2 percent (42,743 vs.
39,127); sales of the C-Class grew 9.5 percent (31,850 vs. 29,092); and sales
of the M-Class continue to accelerate at 39,356 (up 275.5 percent from
10,481).  The S-Class/CL coupes showed a marginal decrease of 3.7 percent
(14,208 vs. 14,755), while the SL-Class decreased slightly to 7,104 (vs.
7,315).  CLK sales jumped to 9,558 (vs. 638), while year-to-date sales of the
SLK continue to increase to 9,638 (up 56.1 percent from 6,174).