Mercedes-Benz delivered 198,921 cars to customers in March, more than ever before in one month (+8.4%). Unit sales in the first quarter reached a new high of 483,487 vehicles (+12.6%). New records were set in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region last month. Mercedes said it also achieved its best first quarter in its history with total sales of 483,487 units (+12.6%).
Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales: "Mercedes-Benz posted the strongest unit sales in the company's history in March. And we remain on track. We have just presented two new vehicles without predecessors: the C-Class Cabriolet and the GLC Coupé."
Sales in Europe totalled 97,748 units in March (+9.8%), of which 28,316 vehicles were delivered to customers in Germany (+4.4%). In the first quarter, Mercedes-Benz achieved double-digit growth in Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Sweden and Portugal. Mercedes-Benz was the market leader among the premium manufacturers in Portugal in March.
In China, 38,133 units were sold in March, an increase of 26.6%. New records were achieved for unit sales in March and in the first quarter in China, South Korea, Australia and Taiwan.
Mercedes-Benz sales in the NAFTA region totalled 32,856 units in March. In the USA, sales were 28,164.
Mercedes-Benz achieved growth in unit sales of 21.9% for its compact cars compared with the prior-year month: in March, 66,930 customers took delivery of their new A- or B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake or GLA, a new record. More than 150,000 compact cars were sold in the first quarter (+25.8%). At the New York International Auto Show, the CLA Facelift was presented for the first time.
Unit sales of C-Class Saloon and Estate surpassed 40,000 units in March. The C-Class segment is being strengthened with the new C-Class Cabriolet, Mercedes said. It debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. Mercedes said demand for the E-Class Saloon and Estate remained high shortly before the model change.
In March, the E-Class Saloon and Estate were among the best-selling models of Mercedes-Benz. The new E-Class Saloon will be in the dealerships' showrooms as of April 9.
Unit sales of the smart fortwo and the smart forfour reached to a total of 16,114 cars in March, an increase of 34.5%. That was more of the city car than had ever been sold before in the month of March. Demand was especially strong in Italy and Great Britain; unit sales nearly doubled in both countries, Mercedes said. The new smart convertible became available from dealerships on time for the start of spring.
