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Mercedes-Benz USA Announces Best Ever October Sales

3 November 1999

Mercedes-Benz USA Announces Best Ever October Sales

 Best Year-to-Date Sales Ever; Record Sales for S, M and E Model Lines Drive
                         History-Making October Sales

    MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 2 -- Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc. (MBUSA)
recorded yet another sales milestone in October with 17,768 new vehicles sold,
an eight percent increase over the 16,447 vehicles sold in October 1998,
establishing an all-time sales record for the company.  Previously the highest
month sales volume was in May, 1999 with 16,663 new vehicles sold.
    Year-to-date sales surged to an all-time high of 153,772 for the first 10
months of the year, a 9.1 percent increase over the 140,932 vehicles sold
during the same period last year, making it the best 10-month year-to-date
total ever for MBUSA.
    The company attributed the record-making month to its most dynamic ever
new model line, a host of product enhancements and services -- such as the
no-cost Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Commitment -- and new retail-level
initiatives.
    The volume leader for the month was the ever-popular mid-luxury E-Class
model line, which recorded sales of 4,784, an increase of 1.6 percent over the
4,707 vehicles sold during the same period last year.  E-Class sales represent
the best October on record for the model line.
    Trailing closely behind the E-Class, the award-winning M-Class
sport-utility vehicle recorded sales of 4,213 (vs. 4,186), the best October on
record for the M-Class.  The S-Class, MBUSA's flagship model line, also
recorded the highest volume in its history with 3,051 vehicles sold.
    C-Class sales for the month came in at 2,337, a decrease of 14.5 percent
(vs. 2,733).  The legendary SL coupe/roadster accounted for 909 sales, an
increase of 14.5 percent (vs. 794).  CLK coupes and cabriolets posted sales of
1,672, down 14.7 percent over last year's 1,960 due to availability
limitations.  SLK roadster sales decreased to 802 from 1,022 during October.
On a year-to-date basis though, CLK and SLK -- along with the E-Class, S-
Class, and M-Class -- achieved their highest 10-month sales volume on record.
E-Class year-to-date sales of 41,582 represent a 7.4 percent increase over the
38,727 sold during the same period last year.  S-Class sales increased
67.2 percent to 22,420 (from 13,407).  SL sales rose from 6,512 to 6,704 to,
an increase of three percent.  CLK sales increased 52.7 percent to 12,118 from
7,934, while SLK sales increased 5.4 percent to 9,305 from 8,832.  M-Class
sales rose to 36,285 from 35,970, an increase of 0.9 percent.  Year-to-date
sales of the C-Class trailed 14.2 percent (25,358 vs. 29,550).
    Separately, through its Starmark pre-owned vehicle program, Mercedes-Benz
recorded sales of 2,226, an increase of 60.6 percent compared to October 1998
sales of 1,386 vehicles.  On a year-to-date basis, Starmark sales increased
161.3 percent to 19,514 (vs. 7,467 in October 1998).