Mercedes-Benz January Sales Up 24%

Mercedes-Benz has reported an increase in it's global sales in January 2010. During the year, a total of 67,000 passenger cars were delivered to customers, an increase of 24% compared to previous year (2009: 53,900 vehicles).

According to Mercedes-Benz, sales in China market totaled 8,300 units, compared to 3,400 units in January 2009. The company also had an increase of sales in Japan (11%), Australia (50%), South Korea (238%), and South Africa (12%). The sales for January in the other countries, including India (213%), Russia (17%) and Brazil (29%), also increased.

Mercedes-Benz's passenger car sales increased by 40% to 14,700 units in US, compared to 2009 where 10,500 units were sold. The sales in Canada includes 1,600 passenger vehicles deliveries to customers (January 2009: 1,200), an increase of 34%. It also reported an increased sales in the UK (18%), France (7%), Spain (24%), Switzerland (30%), Portugal (44%), and Sweden (43%).

The company sold 9,300 passenger vehicles in the German market, a decrease of 18% compared to 2009. At 18,600 units, sales in other countries of Western Europe were 10% higher than in the same month of last year (January 2009: 16,900).

The other Mercedes-Benz model series also reported sales increase including C-Class sedan, rising by 11% to 15,000 units. In US, C-Class's sales increased 33% in January, to 4,000 units. In China, deliveries doubled to 1,700 units. It also had increased sales in the SUV segment by 20% to 12,600 units. Sales of the GLK grew at a double-digit rate in many Western European markets.

A total of 5,600 smart fortwos were sold in January, a decrease of 33%.

Dr Joachim Schmidt, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Mercedes-Benz, said: “We started the new year successfully with a strong increase in sales. That was due to the large increases in many regions such as North America, Asia/Pacific, and the BRIC countries, as well as the continuing success of our new E- and S-Class. In the coming weeks we will be building on this excellent start. We expect to see significant growth in the first quarter.”