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Mercedes-Benz USA Reports May 2000 Sales

2 June 2000

May 2000 Sales of 16,803 Best May Ever for Mercedes-Benz USA Best Convertible Month Ever for Mercedes -

      Combined Sales of SL, SLK, And CLK Cabriolet Total 2,972 Vehicles

    MONTVALE, N.J., June 1 Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported
sales of 16,803 new vehicles during the month of May 2000, a 0.8 percent
increase over last year's May 1999 sales record of 16,663.  May represents the
highest May sales volume ever by MBUSA and the thirteenth consecutive month in
which the company posted year-over-year sales gains.  Year-to-date sales
increased 12.4 percent to 82,480 versus the 73,379 vehicles sold during the
first five months last year.
    Volume for the month of May was led by the E-Class model line with sales
of 4,338, a decrease of 6.8 percent over the 4,654 vehicles sold in May 1999.
Following the E-Class, the award-winning M-Class continues its impressive
sales performance with 4,228 units sold, an increase of 26.1 percent from the
3,354 vehicles sold during the same month last year, making this the best May
ever for the M-Class.  C-Class sales recorded 2,328 units, a 19.7 percent
decrease from 2,900 in May 1999.  The S-Class, MBUSA's flagship model line,
recorded a 28.6 percent decrease in May sales with 1,812 units sold versus the
2,538 sold last May due to limited supply.  The all-new top-of-the-line CL500
posted 170 units in its sixth month on the market.  The SL-Class finished the
month with 537 units sold, a decrease of 27.6 percent (vs. 742).  The CLK
model line established a May sales record with 1,902 units, an increase of
47.6 percent (vs. 1,289).  The SLK model line showed an increase of
25.5 percent to 1,488 (vs. 1,186) -- the V-6 powered SLK320 sold an impressive
666 units its second month on the market -- making it the all-time best sales
month ever for the SLK model line.  May sales represents the best convertible
month ever for MBUSA with 2,972 units sold (combined SL, SLK and CLK
Cabriolet).
    On a year-to-date basis, the M-Class accounted for the largest volume with
21,519 vehicles sold, up 33.9 percent (vs. 16,064).  May represents the
eleventh consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains for the M-Class.
Trailing closely behind the M-Class, E-Class sales showed a marginal decrease
of 0.7 percent to 20,559 (vs. 20,703).  Year-to-date S-Class sales increased
20.5 percent to 11,509 (vs. 9,552).  The CLK model line sold 8,752 units, an
increase of 40.2 percent (vs. 6,241), which represents the seventh consecutive
month of year-over-year sales gains.  Sales of the SL-Class posted a decrease
of 25.6 percent to 2,531 (vs. 3,404).  The SLK showed an increase of
4.5 percent to 5,189 (vs. 4,965), while C-Class sales decreased 6.6 percent to
11,631 (vs. 12,450) as the current model continues through its last year of
production.
    Separately, through its Starmark pre-owned vehicle program, MBUSA recorded
sales of 2,573, an increase of 18.2 percent compared to May 1999 sales of
2,176 vehicles.  On a year-to-date basis, Starmark sales increased
37.1 percent to 12,446 units sold (vs. 9,080 in May 1999).