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Mercedes-Benz USA Posts Best Ever November Sales

2 December 1999

Mercedes-Benz USA Posts Best Ever November Sales

           Year-to-Date Sales Surpass MBUSA's 1998 Full-Year Volume
                  Best November for E, S, M, CLK Model Lines

    MONTVALE, N.J., Dec. 1 -- Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc. (MBUSA)
recorded yet another sales milestone in November with 16,547 new vehicles
sold, a 22.3 percent increase over the 13,525 vehicles sold in November 1998,
making it the best November on record for the company.
    Year-to-date sales surged to an all-time high of 170,319 for the first
11 months of the year, a 10.3 percent increase over the 154,457 vehicles sold
during the same period last year, making it the best 11-month year-to-date
total ever for MBUSA.  Year-to-date sales surpassed the full-year 1998 MBUSA
volume of 170,245.
    The company attributed a large portion of the last's month momentum to its
award-winning M-Class sport utility vehicle, which was the volume leader for
the month, and the CLK model line, which expanded to include the CLK430
Cabriolet and established a sales record in November, only its fourth month in
the market (704 vehicles sold).
    For November, the M-Class sport utility vehicle recorded sales of
4,120, an increase of 21.7 percent over the 3,386 vehicles sold during the
same period last year, making this the best November on record for the model
line.
    Trailing closely behind the M-Class, the ever-popular mid-luxury E-Class
model line recorded sales of 4,087 (vs. 4,016), the best November on record
for the E-Class.  The S-Class, MBUSA's flagship model line, also recorded the
best November on record with 2,802 vehicles sold.
    C-Class sales for the month came in at 2,145, a decrease of 6.7 percent
(vs. 2,300).  The legendary SL coupe/roadster accounted for 626 units, an
increase of 5.7 percent (vs. 592).  CLK coupes and cabriolets posted sales of
2,128, up 31 percent over last year's 1,624.  SLK roadster sales decreased to
639 from 806 in November.
    On a year-to-date basis the CLK, SLK -- along with the E, M, SL, and
S-Class models -- achieved their highest 11-month sales volume on record.
E-Class year-to-date sales of 45,669 represent a 6.8 percent increase over the
42,743 sold during the same period last year.  S-Class sales increased
77.5 percent to 25,222 (from 14,208).  SL sales rose from 7,104 to 7,330, an
increase of 3.2 percent.  CLK sales increased 49.0 percent to 14,246 from
9,558, while SLK sales increased 3.2 percent to 9,944 from 9,638.  M-Class
sales rose to 40,405 from 39,356, an increase of 2.7 percent.  Year-to-date
sales of the C-Class trailed 13.6 percent (27,503 vs. 31,850).
    Separately, through its Starmark pre-owned vehicle program, Mercedes-Benz
recorded sales of 2,045, an increase of 60 percent compared to November 1998
sales of 1,311 vehicles.  On a year-to-date basis, Starmark sales increased
146.2 percent to 21,559 (vs. 8,756 in November 1998).