In 2007 the Mercedes-Benz Cars division increased sales of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Maybach , and smart passenger vehicles worldwide, with sales totaling 1,285,900 vehicles (2006: 1,260,600 units). With this two percent growth, the division set a new sales record.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz said: “Our current models are drawing a very positive customer response. In 2007 we succeeded in laying the groundwork for sustainable, profitable growth, particularly with the market launches of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the new smart fortwo. The basis for achieving the sales record was the most successful year in the history of the Mercedes-Benz brand: worldwide sales of passenger vehicles were up more than three percent, reaching a record 1,185,300 units (2006: 1,148,500). Thus, Mercedes-Benz registered even stronger growth in 2007 than the global automobile market overall.
Despite increased competition, Mercedes-Benz was able to raise its market share in nearly all key regions. In the United States, the brand posted figures that were markedly better than those of the overall market. Passenger vehicle sales in the U.S. climbed two percent to a record 253,400 units (2006: 248,100 vehicles), making 2007 the fourteenth year in a row that Mercedes-Benz succeeded in posting higher sales. The record-breaking demand for the new C-Class sedan and SUV models was a key factor for the stronger sales.
Mercedes-Benz also posted a sales record in the Asia/Pacific region: the brand delivered a total of 141,200 vehicles to customers (2006 total: 126,200), a 12 percent increase. This growth was driven pri-marily by record-breaking sales in the luxury and upper-range seg-ments and by the high increase in sales of the new C-Class and SUVs. In Western Europe (without Germany), Mercedes-Benz achieved also a new sales record, with 372,400 passenger vehicles sold (2006: 361,200), a three percent increase. Record-setting deliveries in Italy, France, and Spain played a key role in this success.
In Germany, Mercedes-Benz also succeeded in boosting its market shares in 2007 despite the weak domestic market, with 309,900 units (2006: 324,000), making it the sales leader among all premium brands. The positive development in Europe was possible in large part thanks to Mercedes-Benz’ fuel-efficient models in the compact segment and the vehicles in the C-Class segment. Mercedes-Benz’ success was especially evident on the key growth markets for the automotive industry. With 26,900 units sold (2006: 17,600) and growth of 53 percent, Mercedes-Benz’ rate of growth in China was more than twice as rapid as that of the premium market overall.
Mercedes-Benz sales also were up sharply in Russia, where 15,300 customers (2006: 9,300) purchased the brand’s passenger vehicles, a 65 percent increase on the previous year’s total. Deliveries of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in India in 2007 rose eight percent, to 2,600 units (2006: 2,400).
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