Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hits 100,000 Sales in One Year: How They Did It

This represents a sales record in the history of Mercedes-Benz's flagship saloon. Then again, we mustn’t forget the Germans managed to bring the S-Class to its three most important markets in less than twelve weeks. That’s right, the luxurious sedan was ready to cater to German customer’s transportation needs starting from late July, while it landed in China in September and reached the US in mid-October.

The detailed numbers

The German automaker has managed to convince 75,391 customers in 2014, twice as many as it did over the same period of last year. This means the first nine months of 2014 have seen more S-Class Mercs being delivered than in the last two years of the previous generation (2012 and 2013). Last month, the Germans sold 9,501 units of the S, which makes for a massive 139.3 percent increase over September 2013.

China and the US remain the biggest markets

Almost 50 percent of the S-Class models were delivered to China,  the country living up to its status of the world’s greatest auto market.

China is also the market with the youngest customers. In their early 40s, they are, on average, 15 years younger compared to those in Western Europe or the US. The new money pathway means that, for many, the S-Class is their first car. Moreover, over one third of the S-Class models in China are ordered as chauffeur material, with three quarters of the customers opting for the rear-seat entertainment system.

Interestingly enough, Mercedes tweaked the Parktronic assistance system to cope with the heavy traffic in large Chinese cities.

The US follows with around a quarter of the sales, while ten percent of the vehicles went to German customers. And speaking of optional extras, every second S-Class across the world is ordered with the Air-Balance air fragrance feature.

A big family

Mercedes-Benz also used the occasion to remind us just how large the S-Class family will become. The company mentioned there will be a total of six version, including the short- and long-wheelbase sedans, the S Coupe and “three other exclusive derivatives”. You can expect an S-Class Cabriolet, as well as an extra-long version that should somehow replace the defunct Maybach and a Pullman six-seater providing the ultimate lavish experience. The champagne is on the house.