November 2012 - Mercedes-Benz USA

[William Maley]

MBUSA Posts All-Time Sales Record With November Sales Of 32,649

Mercedes-Benz at 30,315 up 13.1%; smart and Sprinter up 70.0% and 56.0% respectively

MONTVALE, N.J., Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported an all-time sales record with November sales of 32,649 for combined sales of Mercedes-Benz, smart and Sprinter models, up 15.6% and delivering a record year-to-date total of 273,622 up 14.5%. The Mercedes-Benz model line alone recorded its highest November on record with sales of 30,315 for the month, up 13.1%, and 245,910 for the year up 12.0%.

"As the post-storm rebuilding gets underway, we're seeing a strong sales pace for the industry at large which will carry MBUSA to its highest year on record," said Steve Cannon, president and CEO, MBUSA.

Mercedes-Benz sales for the month of November were led by the C-, E- and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – took the lead with sales of 8,565, up 2.5%. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 8,126 up 59.5%. MBUSA's top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 3,894. Additionally, the sporty SLK roadster sold 427 vehicles for the month, up 107.3%.

At the high end, the all-new iconic sixth generation 2013 SL roadster – which debuted in showrooms this past spring -- posted sales of 573, an increase of 625.3% over last November.

On a year-to-date basis, top performers were again the C-Class with 73,940, the E-Class with 58,187 and the M-Class with 33,860.

Sales of the high-performance AMG models were up 30.8% for the year at 6,176 compared to the 4,721 vehicles sold over the same time last year.

Sales of the company's BlueTEC diesel models were up 7.9% for the year at 13,738 compared to the 12,727 diesels sold over the same period last year.

The company's smart brand continued thirteen consecutive months of sales increases. November sales of 704, were a 70.0% increase over November 2011 (414), bringing the year-to-date volume to 9,013, up 100.4% when compared to the 4,498 vehicles sold last year.

On the van side, Sprinter had a strong month with 1,630 vehicles sold in November, up 56.0% over last year and up 24.8% on a year-to-date basis.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 7,113 vehicles in November; an increase of 28.6% when compared to November 2011 (sales of 5,530 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 73,431 vehicles, an increase of 7.3% over the comparable period (with sales of 68,459 vehicles).

[smk4565]

Huge month for the E-class, that is incredible for a car of $50k+ to sell that many.

[Z-06]

Yeah it better does when offered $6,000+ on the hood.

[smk4565]

Yeah it better does when offered $6,000+ on the hood.

Right now the E-class has a lease offer and a 2.49% finance offer, but no cash back rebates from the manufacturer.

[Z-06]

Yeah it better does when offered $6,000+ on the hood.

Right now the E-class has a lease offer and a 2.49% finance offer, but no cash back rebates from the manufacturer.

That does not mean that the dealers don't offer rebates.

[balthazar]

I have read the average incentive on the s-class was $13,000 - that's amazing. Says a lot about the lack of value in the model right there.