Mercedes-Benz registered the best May month in its history, selling 170,625 vehicles last month (+12.9%). Mercedes-Benz achieved record unit sales in Europe and Asia-Pacific and was the premium market leader in USA, Japan, Canada, Taiwan and Australia.
Mercedes-Benz once again grew at a double-digit rate in May, selling 170,625 vehicles (+12.9%). 818,175 vehicles were sold in the period of January through May (+12.3%), more than ever before in the first five months of a year.
Mercedes was the leader in Europe with 74,268 units (+14.2%) sold in May due to a double digit growth in the major markets of Great Britain, Italy, Spain and Belgium. On the domestic market – Germany – the growth was moderate with a 4.9% increase rate to 23,343 units.
In the Asia Pacific region, Mercedes-Benz sold 57,438 vehicles in May (+24.2%) with a new record in China of more than 38,000 vehicles sold (+38.9%). In the NAFTA region, Mercedes-Benz sold 34,323 units in May, from which 29,299 in USA:
In USA and Canada, Mercedes was the market leader among the premium manufacturers in May.
The success from the USA is explained by the huge success of its SUVs GLC and GLE which gain a 64% sales increase. On a market in a low recession, Mercedes sold 29,299 cars (-1%), while the competitors from BMW and Lexus has decreased by 6.4% (29,017) respectively 10% (26,682).
Dietmar Exler, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, quoted by Automotive News, said that the brand’s sales are continuing at a “steady pace” this quarter.
The automaker plans to introduce the S-class Cabriolet, SL and SLC Roadsters and an all-new E-class sedan in the coming months.
The compact range has increased to a new record in May to 53,618 units delivered to customers (+15.6%). The compact range is particularly popular in China where unit sales more than doubled in May.
The SUVs continued to make on of the highest contributions to the growth of Mercedes-Benz with sales of 58,517 units last month, which represent a 42% increase compared with May 2015.
The strongest growth in May was posted by the new GLC which is available also as a Plug-In Hybrid version.
Sales of smart fortwo and forfour increased at a significantly double-digit rate in May: 12,822 cars were delivered to customers worldwide (+15.1%).
| Make | May-16 | Change in % | Jan-May 2016 | Change in % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz | 170,625 | 12.90% | 818,175 | 12.30% |
| smart | 12,822 | 15.1% | 60,363 | 18.70% |
| Total | 183,447 | 13.00% | 878,538 | 12.70% |
| Sales in the markets | ||||
| Europe | 74,268 | 14.20% | 357,924 | 13.20% |
| - thereof Germany | 23,343 | 4.90% | 113,966 | 7.90% |
| NAFTA | 34323 | -0.50% | 156,267 | -0.30% |
| -thererof USA | 29,299 | -1.00% | 134,304 | -1.9% |
| Asia/Pacific | 57,438 | 24.2% | 282,466 | 22.90% |
| - thereof Japan | 4,602 | 7.00% | 25,764 | -1.90% |
| - thereof China | 38,271 | 38.90% | 180,537 | 35.90% |
