Mercedes-Benz USA started the year off strong with a 25.8% increase for January 2012 (21,726 vs. 17,273) making this the highest January in the company's history. Strong demand in both the Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles and SUVs fueled sales for the month with the sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – as the volume leader posting sales of 6,525, up 56.4%. The 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 4,097 and the versatile M-Class rounded out the top three with sales of 4,002, up 61.1%. Total diesel units sold in 2012 numbered 1,327, a 62.0% increase over the same period last year (819).
Momentum continued through to the high-end where the visionary CLS four-door coupe posted a 290.6 % increase over last January and 92 of the SLS AMG supercar were retailed for the month.
Separately, sales of Sprinter Vans also increased in January with sales of 924 – up 5.6% over last year.
Sales of the smart fortwo totaled 496 vehicles in January, up 38% for the month (compared to the 358 vehicles sold in January 2011); making this the strongest volume month for smart since MBUSA assumed responsibility in July 2011.
Additionally, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,945 vehicles in January, a 7.8 % increase over 2011 (6,443).