“This sales result is the basis for strong sales in the first quarter and allows us to expand our market position for the full year. We will get a boost from our competitive range of products – especially the new E-Class models – as well as from our growth in key regions such as China and the U.S,” Joachim Schmidt, executive vice president sales and marketing for Mercedes-Benz said in a statement.
Taken one market at the time, China once again proved to be the promised land: Mercedes sold here 7,300 vehicles, more than twice as many vehicles as it sold last February (3,000). In the US, the carmaker sold 5 percent more cars, while in Western Europe sales rose by 12 percent.
“No other premium brand saw sales increase as much in China. In 2010, we aim to sell more than 100,000 units in China,” Schmidt added.
For the future, Mercedes is hoping the launch of the E-Klasse convertible and the new SLS AMG will do nothing than boost sales. The growth however will likely be seen in April, because both will be brought onto the market at the end of March.
“The introduction of the E-Class convertible will complete the E-Class family, allowing us to be in an outstanding position with regard to our competitors. The great customer response to the SLS AMG even prior to its market launch shows how fascinating our brand is. In fact, orders are far above our expectations,” Schmidt concluded.
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