With sales of 105,700 passenger cars in June 2004, the Mercedes Car Group sold 2% more vehicles than in the same month last year (103,700 units).
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However, due to the model update of the high-volume C Class, the model changeover of the SLK roadster and the impending model changeover of the A-Class, sales during the first half of the year amounted to 584,800 cars, which was around 3% lower than in first six months of 2003 (605,300 units).
In the first half of 2004, Mercedes-Benz sold 522,500 passengers cars worldwide, compared to 552,800 during the same period last year. In June, 92,000 Mercedes models were sold (June 2003: 93,700).
28,100 cars were delivered to Germans in June, up 1% on June 2003 (27,700). The rise in sales was primarily due to the launch of the new generation C Class and SLK in Western Europe.
Worldwide deliveries of the recently updated C-Class rose 16% to a record 45,100 units in June and, with 6,100 new registrations, the SLK posted its second record-breaking month in a row. The new roadster now has over 43% market share in Germany and 32% in Western Europe as a whole to lead its class.
In the United States, sales of Mercedes-Benz brand cars rose by 1.5% to 17,500 vehicles in June though first half sales were down – 103,200 vs 105,900.
Sales in the rapidly growing Chinese market jumped by 70% to 5,500 cars in the first half.
Boosted by the new Forfour model launched in Europe in April, smart sales increased 37% to 13,700 units in June. At 62,300 vehicles, deliveries for the first six months of 2004 were up 19% on 2003.
