Mercedes-Benz Posts Highest Sales Month for the Year With 20,025 Vehicles Sold in December

In the news release, Mercedes-Benz Posts Highest Sales Month for the Year With 20,059 Vehicles Sold in December, issued 05-Jan-2010 by Mercedes-Benz USA over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the headline should read "Mercedes-Benz Posts Highest Sales Month for the Year With 20,025 Vehicles Sold in December" rather than as originally issued inadvertently.

Mercedes-Benz Posts Highest Sales Month for the Year With 20,025 Vehicles Sold in December

Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned Sets Record Sales

MONTVALE, N.J., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported December sales of 20,025 vehicles, its highest monthly volume of the year, bringing the company's total 2009 volume to 190,604 and narrowing the gap versus last year to 15.3 percent.

Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of MBUSA said: "The strong finish to a year marked by challenges on every front, underscores the customer confidence in the Mercedes-Benz brand and the unstinting efforts we have undertaken in partnership with our retail network to provide an unparalleled ownership experience."

The C-Class - the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers - was the volume leader for the year with sales of 52,427 vehicles, a 27.7 percent decrease from last year. The all-new, 9th generation E-Class, launched in late June, bucked the industry sales trend by increasing its volume year-over year by 11.7 percent (43,072 versus last year's 38,576). Rounding out the top three volume lines was the popular M-Class SUV which recorded a 21 percent increase in December, bringing the annual volume to 25,799.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 5,098 vehicles in December 2009. This boosted the MBCPO year-end total to 71,886 units, an 11.2 percent increase over the annual sales record set last year.

Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 12 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and CL coupes. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.maybachusa.com

Accredited journalists and editors can access press materials by registering at www.media.mbusa.com and www.media.maybachusa.com.

                            MERCEDES-BENZ USA
                            -----------------
                         Sales -- December 2009
                         ----------------------
    Model       Dec '09  Dec '08   Monthly % YTD 2009   YTD 2008   Yearly %
    -----       -------  -------   ---------  --------   --------   --------


    C-CLASS        4,849    6,090      -20.4%    52,427     72,471     -27.7%
    -------        -----    -----      -----     ------     ------     -----


    E-CLASS        5,437    3,464       57.0%    43,072     38,576      11.7%
    -------        -----    -----       ----     ------     ------      ----


    S-CLASS        1,165    1,075        8.4%    11,199     17,787     -37.0%
    -------        -----    -----        ---     ------     ------     -----


    CL-CLASS          53      147      -63.9%     1,220      2,733     -55.4%
    --------         ---      ---      -----      -----      -----     -----


    SL-CLASS         245      263       -6.8%     4,025      5,464     -26.3%
    --------         ---      ---       ----      -----      -----     -----


    CLK-CLASS        219    1,047      -79.1%     7,150     10,844     -34.1%
    ---------        ---    -----      -----      -----     ------     -----


    SLK-CLASS        117      285      -58.9%     2,566      4,941     -48.1%
    ---------        ---      ---      -----      -----      -----     -----


    CLS-CLASS         87      569      -84.7%     2,527      5,775     -56.2%
    ---------        ---      ---      -----      -----      -----     -----


    R-CLASS          171      539      -68.3%     2,825      7,733     -63.5%
    -------          ---      ---      -----      -----      -----     -----


    M-CLASS        3,343    2,761       21.1%    25,799     34,320     -24.8%
    -------        -----    -----       ----     ------     ------     -----


    G-CLASS           73      128      -43.0%       662        931     -28.9%
    -------          ---      ---      -----        ---        ---     -----


    GL-CLASS       1,894    2,139      -11.5%    15,012     23,328     -35.6%
    --------       -----    -----      -----     ------     ------     -----


    GLK-CLASS      2,372        -          -     21,944          -         -
    ---------      -----      ---        ---     ------        ---       ---


    SLR                         -          -        110        106       3.8%
    ---                       ---        ---        ---        ---       ---


    Maybach                     -          -         66        119     -44.5%
    -------                   ---        ---        ---        ---     -----


    GRAND TOTAL   20,025   18,507        8.2%   190,604    225,128     -15.3%
    -----------   ------   ------        ---    -------    -------     -----

SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA