Mercedes Announces More Than 700,000 B-Klasse Cars Delivered So Far

As the company readies the new B-Klasse for its world premiere at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September, the current version is doing pretty well, having attracted a lot of fans mostly in Germany and China. In fact, the automaker today announced that more than 700,000 units of the B-Klasse have been delivered to customers worldwide since the vehicle was launched on the market in 2005.

A total of 52,640 customers worldwide have bought a B-Klasse car since January, representing an increase of 26.8% from last year. In Germany, sales rose by 31.5% during the first five months of the year, to 17,826 units.

The most important market for the B-Klasse is Germany, which accounts for about one third of the series’ sales worldwide, followed by China and Italy. In 2009, the B-Klasse was introduced to China, where it has met with great success, with sales rising by 140.3% last year, to 12,217 units. Sales have continued to be very dynamic this year as well, rising to 5,966 units (as compared to January-May 2010: 3,030 units).

“The B-Klasse enabled Mercedes-Benz to set new benchmarks in the premium compact segment,” said Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Although its successor is about to be introduced, the B-Klasse is still extremely popular with customers. Since the beginning of the year, the vehicle has been posting especially strong growth in its two main markets, Germany and China.”

The first units of the new B-Klasse will be delivered to customers in Western Europe later this year. It will be manufactured in a production network encompassing the Rastatt plant and a new facility in Kecskemet, Hungary.