Sales at the Mercedes-Benz Cars division continue to increase. Since the beginning of the year, sales of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart and Maybach brand vehicles have risen by seven percent to 773,200 units (January – July 2007: 721,400 units). In July, the division increased deliveries by one percent to 105,100 vehicles (July 2007: 103,700). The Mercedes-Benz brand delivered a total of 92,700 vehicles to customers in July, compared to 93,800 units in the same month of 2007. For the year to date, sales of the Mercedes-Benz brand have increased by three percent to the record figure of 691,900 units (January – July 2007: 669,500 units).

Especially the recently updated models that were introduced in the second quarter are successful with the Mercedes-Benz customer: The SLK compact roadster, for example, is very popular, with about 20,000 units delivered to customers since the beginning of the year. The new SL roadster with its even sportier design has also met with a great response. Already 8,200 customers have chosen a model of the SL-Class in the first seven month of this year.

The new CLC sports coupe meanwhile has already won about 3,000 customers since its market launch at the end of June. Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 36,300 C-Class segment vehicles in July, a 12-percent increase on the 32,500 sold in the same month last year.

“The initial test drives generated very positive media response to our new compact SUV,” says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. “What really impresses people about the GLK are its striking design, extensive safety features, and hallmark Mercedes-Benz driving comfort – both on and off the road.” In Western Europe alone, Mercedes-Benz has already received a total of 10,000 orders for a GLK-Class vehicle by the end of July, only one month after the vehicle was released for sale. Deliveries of the GLK will start in October. The GLK-Class is expected in particular to create additional sales momentum starting at the end of the year.

In the U.S., sales of Mercedes-Benz brand passenger vehicles rose in July by 12 percent to 20,700 units (July 2007: 18,600 units). Mercedes-Benz is also continuing to post rising sales in the Asia/Pacific region. A total of 11,500 vehicles were sold there in July, a ten-percent increase on the 10,400 units sold in the same month last year. In China alone, 3,300 customers opted to buy a passenger vehicle from Mercedes-Benz, representing an increase of 69 percent from the 2,000 vehicles sold in July 2007. Mercedes-Benz increased sales in its home market of Germany by two percent delivering a total of 25,100 vehicles to customers (July 2007: 24,500).

The smart fortwo once again posted record sales in July, when 12,400 customers chose the two-seater. Compared to the 9,800 units sold in July of last year, sales of the smart fortwo thus rose by 27 percent.