Mercedes sets new sales record despite market volalility
Mercedes-Benz has once again set a new sales record towards the end of this year despite a volatile market environment during which a total of 198,545 vehicles with the three-pointed star were delivered to customers all over the world last month.
Under ongoing challenging conditions, Mercedes-Benz sold more units than ever before in a November (+1.5%). Further progress with vehicle availability, particularly in some international markets, had a positive impact on sales development in the three core regions.
In the first eleven months of the year, 2,103,653 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were handed over to customers, which is slightly above the high level of the prior-year period (+0.4%).
Demand for the E-Class Saloon and Estate was higher last month than ever before in a November. More than 31,000 units of these two models were sold worldwide, an increase of about 6.2%. The long-wheelbase version of the E-Class Saloon was particularly popular in the Chinese market, posting double-digit growth in November and thus achieving a new sales record.
The SUVs from Mercedes-Benz continue to sell in record numbers, with about 750,000 units of the models GLA, GLC, GLC Coupé, GLE, GLE Coupé, GLS and G-Class sold in the period of January to November (+2.4%). The sales growth was primarily driven by the GLC, which also set a new record for unit sales last month. And thanks to double-digit growth, the new G-Class posted a new sales record for a November.
Last month, the brand maintained its market leadership in the premium segment in markets including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, South Korea, Japan, Australia and the USA. With more than 198,000 vehicles delivered worldwide, it has achieved its best-ever November sales.
According to Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales, ‘’In a challenging market environment, we’ve been able to increase unit sales slightly also since the beginning of the year. In China, we have delivered more than 600,000 Mercedes-Benz and smart vehicles since the beginning of this year. We are particularly pleased to be the first premium carmaker to achieve this sales milestone in China within one year’’.
In Europe, 82,007 vehicles were sold in November, an increase of 2.6% and a new record and from January to Noember this year, 850,957 units were sold (-3.3%). The development in Germany was particularly pleasing.
Furthermore, 29,188 passenger cars in its domestic market were sold last month, another double-digit increase of +12.5%. Once again, the new A-Class was very popular in Germany where sales of the compact car doubled compared to last year’s November. In France, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, Portugal and Hungary, more cars were sold last month than in any November before.
New records were set in the Asia-Pacific region with 75,392 vehicles hand over to customers under the period (+1.5%) and 862,419 in the first eleven months (+7.5%). In China, the biggest sales market, 52,151 passenger cars were sold last month (+2.6%).
Under the period, the brand achieved growth of +11.7% with 603,089 units sold. This November, together with the models delivered by the smart brand, the car division of Daimler AG became the first premium automobile manufacturer to pass the milestone of 600,000 vehicles delivered in China within one year. It achieved further sales records last month in the markets of South Korea, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
In the NAFTA region, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 35,842 vehicles in November (-1.8%). In the first eleven months of this year, 340,564 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were handed over to customers in that region (-5.4%).
For the United States, a total of 31,022 customers were delighted to receive their new model with the star last month, an increase of 0.6%. This means that a total of 283,943 vehicles were delivered in the United States in November.
MIKE OCHONMA