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Mercedes-Benz Records Third Best All-Time Month Ever in April 2000

3 May 2000

Mercedes-Benz USA Records Third Best All-Time Month Ever in April 2000 Sales of 17,889 Best April Ever for Mercedes-Benz

           New SLK320 V-6 Makes Debut; Best April Ever for M-Class

     MONTVALE, N.J., May 2 Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc. (MBUSA)
reported sales of 17,889 new vehicles during the month of April 2000, a 10.6
percent increase over last year's April 1999 sales record of 16,180.  April
represents the highest April sales volume ever by MBUSA, the third all-time
best month ever for MBUSA and the twelfth consecutive month in which the
company posted year-over-year sales gains. (MBUSA's monthly all-time sales
record was set in December 1999 with 19,118 vehicles sold.)  Year-to-date
sales increased 15.8 percent to 65,677 versus the 56,716 vehicles sold during
the first four months last year.
    Volume for the month of April was led by the E-Class model line with sales
of 4,390, a decrease of 7.6 percent over the 4,753 vehicles sold in April
1999.  Following the E-Class, the award-winning M-Class continues its
impressive sales performance with 4,283 units sold, an increase of 29.7
percent from the 3,302 vehicles sold during the same month last year, making
this the best April ever for the M-Class.  C-Class sales recorded 2,551 units,
an 11.7 percent decrease from 2,891 in 1999.  The S-Class, MBUSA's flagship
model line, recorded a 52.2 increase in April sales -- the best April ever for
the S-Class -- with 3,025 units sold versus the 1,988 sold last April.  The
all-new top-of-the-line CL500 posted 220 units in its fifth month on the
market.  The SL-Class finished the month with 528 units sold, a decrease of
35.2 percent (vs. 815).  The CLK model line established an April sales record
with 1,808 units, an increase of 39.2 percent (vs. 1,299).  The SLK230
Kompressor showed a slight decrease of 4.2 percent to 1,084 (vs. 1,132).
Joining the SLK model line this month is the new V-6 powered SLK320, which
sold an impressive 207 units during its first two weeks on the market.
    On a year-to-date basis, the M-Class accounted for the largest volume with
17,291 vehicles sold, up 36.0 percent (vs. 12,710).  April represents the
tenth consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains for the M-Class.
Trailing closely behind the M-Class, E-Class sales increased 1.1 percent to
16,221 (vs. 16,049).  Year-to-date S-Class sales increased 38.2 percent to
9,697 (vs. 7,014).  The CLK model line sold 6,850 units, an increase of 38.3
percent (vs. 4,952).  Sales of the SL-Class posted a decrease of 25.1 percent
to 1,994 (vs. 2,662).  The SLK showed a marginal decrease of 2.1 percent to
3,701 (vs. 3,779), while C-Class sales remained on par with last year ( 9,303
vs. 9,550) as the current model continues through its last year of production.
    Separately, through its Starmark pre-owned vehicle program, MBUSA recorded
sales of 2,605, an increase of 31 percent compared to April 1999 sales of
1,981 vehicles.  On a year-to-date basis, Starmark sales increased 43 percent
to 9,874 units sold (vs. 6,904 in April 1999).