Daimler AG is reporting today that worldwide sales at its Mercedes-Benz Cars divisions dropped 12.4 percent in May 2009 to 97,300 new units, bringing total sales of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands to 433,100 units through the first five months of the year (a decrease of 21.1 percent). Individually, sales at Mercedes-Benz were down 12.1 percent on the month (86,300 units), while smart noted a slightly larger decline, with sales trailing 14.9 percent when compared to May 2008 (11,000 units). As a result of these figures, year-to-date sales at Mercedes-Benz are off 22.3 percent (383,000 units), while smart is down 9.9 percent (50,100 units) compared to 2008's five-month ytd total.
It's interesting to note: despite the current economic climate, Mercedes-Benz Cars enjoyed a gain in its home market of Germany, where the group noted a sales increase of 12.2 percent (28,800 new units). Of these, 25,600 units were of the Mercedes-Benz variety, bringing the Mercedes-Benz brand's sales growth to 11 percent. The Asia/Pacific region also benefited from a sales increase thanks to strong sales in China, with the area as a whole increasing sales 7.8 percent to 12,900 new units.
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