December sales of 28,115 boosted Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) to its 13th year of sales increases and the highest annual volume in its history. MBUSA sold 248,080 vehicles in 2006, a 10.5 percent increase over the 224,421 units sold in 2005.
The company introduced six new SUV models in 2006, including the highly acclaimed GL-Class – the first European seven-passenger SUV which was recently voted Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year – and diesel versions of its M-Class, R-Class and GL-Class, offering higher gas mileage to luxury SUV buyers. The Mercedes-Benz SUVs were so well received that the company saw a 67.7 percent jump in sales of its light trucks as a group (M-, R-, G-, and GL-Classes) compared to 2005 (69,163 vs. 41,252).
Sales at the high-end were equally impressive. As a group, the S-, SL- and CL-Classes rose by 48.2 percent compared to last year (40,660 vs. 27,436), boosted by the introduction of the flagship S-Class in February. Sales of the S-Class model line nearly doubled in 2006 with a 92.6 percent increase.
Sales of vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz diesel portfolio – both CDI and BLUETEC models – grew from 4,299 units in 2005 to 6,941 units in 2006, posting a 61.5 percent increase. Known for being a leader in diesel innovation and engineering, Mercedes-Benz expanded its diesel offerings in the fourth quarter of 2006 to include SUVs (M-Class CDI, R-Class CDI, and GL-Class CDI), and also introduced the cleanest diesel technology available in a passenger car through the E320 BLUETEC. The company plans to expand its BLUETEC range to bring 50-state diesels to the U.S. market in 2008.
DECEMBER SALES
MBUSA sold 28,115 vehicles in December 2006, marking the second-highest sales month in MBUSA history – second only to December 2005, the best MBUSA sales month ever.
The top-of-the-line vehicles – the S-Class sedan and CL-Class coupe – each recorded impressive gains in sales volume for the month. Sales of the ninth generation S-Class rose 56.2 percent (2,987 vs. 1,912 units) and the CL-Class jumped 77 percent (347 vs. 196 units).
The sales volume leader for the month, the E-Class model line, gained 12.3 percent with 7,116 units sold compared to December 2005’s 6,334 units.
MERCEDES-BENZ CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED SALES
Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 4,374 vehicles in December, an increase of 19.9 percent over last December and marking the program’s best sales month this year. This boosted the MBCPO year-end total to 47,737 units, an 8.3 percent increase over 2005.