Mercedes-Benz Middle East reports record August sales

Mercedes Car Group Middle East and Levant today reported its highest August on record with sales of 994 new vehicles, an increase of 35.2 percent over the same month in 2005.

The new GL-Class will help add Mid-East sales in the SUV segment for Mercedes-Benz.
This brings Mercedes Car Group's year-to-date sales to 10,670 a 28 percent increase over last year.

August sales were helped by the Mercedes-Benz flagship S-Class which nearly doubled over August 2005 (292 v. 148 units). With a massive 180.7 percent year-to-date increase (4,729 v. 1,685 units), the award-winning premium sedan remains the region's favourite vehicle in its segment. The sporty B-Class has also proved a strong performer this year with year-to-date sales up over 500 percent.

M-Class, R-Class and G-Class sports utility vehicles continued to demonstrate gains with an increase over last August. The segment will be boosted by the end of the year with this month's (September) introduction of the GL-Class, the first full size seven-seater off-roader from Mercedes-Benz.

Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, with year-to-date sales up over seven percent to 2,660 from 2,481 in 2005, and Saudi Arabia with sales in the first eight months of 2006 up over 150 percent from 1,073 units in 2005 to 2,691, continue to be the best selling markets in the region.

Other markets showing double digit growth in 2006 include Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan.

'With luxurious new vehicles in the showrooms and specifically with the continuing enhancement of our exciting SUV range I am expecting Mercedes-Benz sales to be even greater than last year,'

said Johannes Fritz. Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes Car Group, Middle East.

In 2005, Mercedes Car Group, Middle East, set the highest sales volume with 15,396 units, a 25 percent rise over the previous year's 12,335.

Headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Mercedes Car Group is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz products through its authorised dealer network across the Middle East, Levant and Pakistan.

Worldwide sales of Mercedes Car Group passenger cars rose in August 2006 by 1.2 percent to 88,600 units (August 2005: 87,600).

In the first eight months of the year, deliveries of Mercedes Benz, Maybach, and smart brand cars rose by seven percent to the record figure of 818,200 units (Jan.- August 2005: 765,200).

Mercedes-Benz worldwide sales were up by three percent in August to 81,700 passenger cars (August 2005: 79,200).

From January through August, the number of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars delivered to customers increased by 11 percent to the all-time-high of 739,800 units (Jan.-August 2005: 667,400).