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March 09, 2005
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• HUMMER Enhances Warranty Coverage On 2006 Models

• Chrysler Group Launches Production of New Jeep® Grand Cherokee at Magna Steyr in Austria

• Scion to Unveil All-New Concept Vehicle at 2005 New York International Auto Show

• Ford SAV Concept Targets New Market Niche, Signals Fresh European Design Direction

• Rocky Mountain Editions of the Jeep® Grand Cherokee, Liberty and Wrangler are Ready for Spring

• BMW Group Increases SALES BY 7% IN FEBRUARY

• Model Changeovers and Delivery Delays Impact Mercedes Sales in February

• Carl-Peter Forster Named Chairman, Jan-Ake Jonsson Managing Director of Saab Automobile

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• The new BMW K1200 R

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Model Changeovers and Delivery Delays Impact Mercedes Sales in February

Photo: DC

Mercedes-Benz SLK-class

Strong demand for new models: Sales of SLK at an all-time high, CLS and A Class achieve top sales figures in Western Europe Four new Mercedes-Benz vehicles expected to result in slightly higher annual sales in 2005 smart continues going strong, with sales up 40 percent through February

Stuttgart - The Mercedes Car Group sold 144,200 passenger cars of the Mercedes-Benz and smart brands through February 2005, representing a drop of nine percent on the 158,500 units sold during the same period last year. A total of 72,300 passenger cars were delivered to customers in the month of February, or about 9,000 fewer than in February 2004.

As was the case in January, sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in February were affected by the weakness of some of its core European markets such as Germany, as well as by the continued delays in deliveries because of faulty high-pressure diesel pumps. In the Sindelfingen and Bremen plants, production of the affected diesel cars had to be completely suspended from February 4-21, 2005. Mercedes-Benz sales were further impacted by lifecycle-related factors resulting from the impending model changeovers of the M- and S Class. As a result, 61,800 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were delivered to customers in February 2005, 16 percent fewer than in the same month of 2004. For the first two months of the year, vehicle deliveries totaled 123,100 units, compared to 143,500 units in 2004.

"Our product pipeline for 2005 is well filled," says Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes Car Group, responsible for sales and marketing. "The market introduction of the new M Class and the launch of the B-Class in Western Europe in June will provide sales with a substantial boost so that we expect slightly higher annual sales in 2005." The new M Class will be introduced in the United States in April and in Europe in July. The Mercedes brand's product range will be further expanded by the launch of two new models with innovative vehicle concepts: the B-Class, which made its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show, and the new R Class. The new S Class will make its market debut this fall.

Strong demand for new Mercedes models

Demand for the vehicle models introduced in 2004 has reached new heights. In the first two months of 2005, 9,000 SLK roadsters were delivered to customers around the world, or eight percent more than in the predecessor model's best sales year. Sales of the A-Class reached an all-time high in Western Europe in February, even though the right-hand drive models did not become available until the middle of February. Deliveries of the compact vehicle totaled 26,200 units in the first two month of 2005. The CLS-Class also did well during this time period. Of the 11,800 units that have been delivered to customers around the world since the vehicle was launched in October 2004, over 5,000 were sold in the first two months of 2005.

In Western Europe, where Mercedes-Benz traditionally sells the largest proportion (currently 56 percent) of diesel vehicles of any luxury automaker, sales through February were particularly affected by the delays in the delivery of diesel-powered models. As a result, deliveries during the first two months of the year amounted to only 71,800 vehicles, down by 17 percent on the figure for the same period last year (86,200 units).

In the M-Class' key market, the United States, sales were affected by the impending market launch of the vehicle's next generation. For the first two months of the year, deliveries of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in the U.S. totaled 25,600 units, compared to 31,300 units in the same period last year. However, in view of the great response to the new M-Class at the Detroit Auto Show, demand is expected to increase in the U.S. in the second quarter. Additional demand will be generated by the R Class when it is launched in its main market at the end of the year.

Growth at smart continues; new model lines emphasize the brand's strong customer focus

Sales of the smart brand continue to develop favorably. In February, deliveries rose by 31 percent to 10,500 units worldwide. During the first two months of 2005 as a whole, the company sold 21,100 smart vehicles, representing an increase of 40 percent on the results posted during the same period last year. The main contributor to this latest increase was the brand's youngest model series, the smart forfour. About 9,600 units of the four-seater were delivered to customers during the first two months of 2005. All key markets contributed to this growth, with Italy posting the biggest increase of 77 percent. As a result, sales in Italy through February were at a record figure of 8,300 units.

The company expects sales to receive an additional boost when two new variants of the smart forfour become available. With the introduction of the model line "pure" (47 kW / 64 hp and up, €11,590) and the BRABUS version (130 kW / 177 hp, €24,900), the smart forfour will be offered in an impressively broad range of variants that will underscore the company's strong customer focus.

Overview of Mercedes Car Group Sales

* Mercedes-Benz passenger cars

(Mar 04, 2005 )