Mercedes-Benz Posts Global Sales Record in May

AutoInformed.com

Sales of new B-Class are climbing with a record number of 54,321 sold from January to May.

Mercedes-Benz in May 2012 delivered 113,136 vehicles, + 4% compared to the record figure for 2011. Year-to-date 531,382 units or +8.4% have been delivered globally, the earliest in a year the 500,000 threshold has been crossed.

Mercedes-Benz Cars also had record sales in May and year-to-date. The company sold 577,378 Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach brand vehicles (+8.0%) from January to May; 122,600 units were delivered in the past month (+3.1%).

Mercedes-Benz did well in the United States. During May, sales were at a new high of 22,515 units (+19.2%). There was also a sales record posted the Mercedes brand from January to May (106,364 units; +17.8%). Mercedes-Benz is leading the field of premium manufacturers in the U.S. market. Mercedes-Benz is also the best-selling premium manufacturer in Germany as 102,567 vehicles were delivered to customers in the first five months of 2012 (+6.5%).

On the still contracting Western European market – without Germany – Mercedes-Benz has sold 2.8% more vehicles since the beginning of the year than in the same period of the previous year (126,922 units). In the UK, new sales records were set both for May (+18.2%) and year-to-date (+11.8%). In Switzerland, sales increased by more than a third, leading to a new sales record since the beginning of the year.

Sales in China (including Hong Kong) are also at record levels for 2012. With 82,534 Mercedes-Benz cars from January to May, 8.7% more vehicles were delivered to customers than in the previous year. Due to the B-Class model changeover, the high-volume model series  currently limited availability in China. Nonetheless, with 16,529 units sold in May (+0.8%), sales figures are above last year’s record level.

May 12

%

Jan-May

%

Mercedes-Benz

113,136

+4.0

531,382

+8.4

Smart

9,464

-6.9

45,996

+3.4

Total M-B Cars

122,600

+3.1

577,378

+8.0

Mercedes-Benz by Market

Western Europe

49,036

-2.6

229,489

+4.4

In Germany

23,610

-4.2

102,567

+6.5

NAFTA

26,002

+16.3

122,098

+17.3

in U.S.

22,515

+19.2

106,364

+17.8

Asia/Pacific

27,908

+5.3

136,823

+9.5

thereof Japan

2,457

+5.7

14,849

+31.7

thereof China

16,529

+0.8

82,534

+8.7

About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
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