Worldwide
Sales of Mercedes Car Group Up by Two Percent in July 2006
Photo: DC
Mercedes-Benz
R-Class
Mercedes-Benz
deliveries rise in July by five percent to 92,700 units
Sales increase
through July in all regions
Stuttgart - In July
2006 sales of Mercedes Car Group passenger cars rose once again,
with global customer deliveries increasing by two percent to 102,300
units (July 2005: 100,600 units). In the first seven months of 2006,
sales of Mercedes Benz, Maybach and smart brand cars climbed by
eight percent to a record figure of 729,600 units (January to July
2005: 677,600).
At Mercedes-Benz, sales
increased in July by five percent to 92,700 units (July 2005: 88,200
units). Year-to-date through July, Mercedes-Benz delivered 658,000
passenger cars to customers around the world, up by 12 percent,
compared to last year (588,200 units), posting a new sales record.
All regions once again
contributed to this sales increase in July. As a result, Mercedes-Benz
gained market share in many countries. In Western Europe sales rose
by four percent to 55,900 units, in particular, with gains posted
in the UK (5,500 units; up by 15 percent), France (5,400 units;
up by 15 percent) and Spain (5,300 units; up by 19 percent). Sales
in Italy in the month of July totaled 7,000 units, an all-time high,
surpassing the high level of last year's results.
In Germany, sales of Mercedes-Benz
cars were slightly lower in July than last year (24,900 units; down by 2
percent). In the United States, customer deliveries rose by four percent
to the record total of 21,600 vehicles.
A new sales record was set
in the Asia/Pacific region as well, with sales increasing by 14 percent
to 8,500 units. The S-Class further expanded its leading world-market position
in the luxury segment in July. Since the beginning of the year, 55,000 units
of the luxury sedan have been handed over to their new owners.
Mercedes-Benz also posted strong
growth in the SUV segment, with worldwide sales of M-, R-, GL- and G-Class
vehicles totaling 14,100 units in July. In Germany and other Western European
countries, Mercedes-Benz is the best-selling premium brand in the SUV segment.
In July 2006, the smart brand
delivered 9,600 vehicles to customers worldwide. For the period from January
to July 2006, sales totaled 71,600 units.
