Dr. Dieter Zetsche:
"We're very satisfied with our sales
development. In 2011 we sold more vehicles than
ever before."
"In 2012 we will consequently continue our
product offensive and launch additional attractive
vehicles on the market, which will give us a
further boost."
Record sales in China and many other markets;
outstanding development in the U.S.
Mercedes-Benz remains strongest premium brand in
Germany
C-Class sedan is the top seller in its segment
smart sales pass the 100,000 mark
Stuttgart - In 2011 Mercedes-Benz Cars sold more vehicles
than ever before in a single year. A total of 1,362,908
vehicles of the brands Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach
have been delivered to customers - around 77,000 units more
than in the previous record set in 2007 (1,285,900 units).
2011 was also the best sales year in the history of the
brand Mercedes-Benz Cars. With 1,260,912 units sold and an
increase of 8.0% compared to the prior year the previous
sales record of 2007 (1,185,200 units) was clearly
exceeded. Since the beginning of the year sales of the
brand with the star have been up every month. Particularly
successful was the sales development in the fourth quarter.
341,624 delivered units made it the best-selling quarter in
the company's history. In December alone, worldwide
deliveries rose by 15.1% to 124,387 vehicles despite the
very good result achieved already in December 2010. Thus
last month, more vehicles were sold than ever before in
this period.
"We're very satisfied with our sales development.
In 2011 we sold more vehicles than ever before," says
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of
Mercedes-Benz Cars. "We also set the course for the
future: The newly introduced generation of the C-Class, the
C-Class coupe, the SLK, and the CLS are extremely popular
among customers. The same applies to the new B-Class and
new M-Class, which were introduced in Europe only recently.
The full-year 2011 was also shaped by our strong
development in important growth markets such as the BRIC
countries and positive development in the U.S."
Positive outlook for 2012 - new models to provide
additional momentum
The year 2012 provides a good base to pursue last
year's success. Dr. Zetsche: "In 2012 we will
consequently continue our product offensive and launch
additional attractive vehicles on the market, which will
give us a further boost. The vehicles will be spearheaded
by the new A-Class, which will allow the brand to reach out
more strongly to younger target groups. The new CLS
Shooting Brake will underscore our leading role when it
comes to innovative vehicle concepts and design."
The new SL will also celebrate its market launch in 2012
just in time for the model series' 60th anniversary.
After the successful introduction of the new M-Class in
2011, additional demand will be generated in the SUV
segment by the new GL, the new generations of the GLK and
the time-honored G-Class.
Once again sales record in China, Russia, and India;
dynamic development in Brazil
Mercedes-Benz continued to do outstandingly well in China
(including Hong Kong) last year, where the brand surpassed
its sales record of 2010 by 30.6%. The brand therefore
substantially exceeded its full-year target of increasing
sales in China by at least 20%. A total of 193,339
customers opted for a vehicle bearing the Mercedes star. In
December alone, 23,227 people purchased a new Mercedes-Benz
passenger car (+29.5%).
Over the past twelve months, Mercedes-Benz did also well in
all other BRIC countries. The previous year's record
sales were substantially exceeded in both Russia (29,058
units; +47.3%) and India (7,089 units; +22.7%). In Brazil
the brand built on the dynamic development of 2010,
boosting sales by 35.3% in full-year 2011, to 10,197
vehicles. Summed up, Mercedes-Benz therefore reported a
sales increase of 32.4% in the BRIC-countries in 2011.
Over the past twelve months, Mercedes-Benz also saw sales
rise to all-time highs among others in Taiwan (+31.7%),
South Korea (+18.8%), Mexico (+17.7%), Denmark (+15.0%),
and Sweden (+12.2%). The development in Japan is also
notable. Despite the strong earthquake in March and the
serious consequences for the country, Mercedes-Benz sold
7.1% more vehicles in Japan last year (32,405 units) than
in 2010.
Outstanding development in the U.S.; record sales in Canada
and the entire NAFTA region
As in 2010, Mercedes-Benz posted double-digit growth in the
U.S. and grew faster than the total market. From January to
December 2011, sales rose by 13.3% to 245,231 units. Thus
the United States were once again the brand's
second-largest market. Driven by the new generation of the
C-Class and the new M-Class, sales of Mercedes-Benz
vehicles rose to 25,701 units in December (+27.9%). In
Canada a total of 28,584 (+1.8%) vehicles with the Mercedes
star were sold during 2011. Following the record set in
2010, this result represents a new all-time high.
Mercedes-Benz also achieved a record result in the entire
NAFTA region in 2011, with sales amounting to 279,946
vehicles (+12.2%).
Mercedes-Benz leads Germany's premium segment in 2011
In Germany Mercedes-Benz has been the Number One automaker
in the premium segment since 1993. Despite the sometimes
limited availability of the high-volume A- and B-Class due
to the changeover of production to the new models, the
brand's sales in its home market totaled 262,256
vehicles in 2011, which was almost as high as in the
previous year (2010: 265,000 units). In December sales of
the brand with the star rose by 16.8% (25,290 units). In
Western Europe (excluding Germany) deliveries also nearly
matched the previous year's level (2010: 291,853 units)
at 289,285 units in the past twelve months. A sales
increase was recorded among others in the UK (+10.1%).
New generation of the C-Class with outstanding customer
response - sedan model leader in its segment
In 2011 the C-Class confirmed the vehicle's standing as
a very successful model also with its new generation. In
the C-Class segment, Mercedes-Benz recorded growth of 16.8%
over the past twelve months to 401,340 units. Very popular
and once again the most successful model in its segment
during the year as a whole was the C-Class sedan. A total
of 270,968 units were delivered to customers (+8.1%). In
the year of the facelift, deliveries of the C-Class estate
rose to a new all-time high of 76,446 vehicles (+21.6%).
Demand for the new C-Class coupe has also been very high
ever since the vehicle was launched on the market last
June. To date, 23,698 units of the sporty coupe have been
delivered to customers. The SLK also did well last year,
with 26,756 customers buying one of the roadsters from
January through December 2011. This corresponds to an
increase of 85.7%.
E-Class segment attains new record result in 2011
Following the record sales of the previous year, sales in
the E-Class segment rose by 4.7% in 2011 to a new all-time
high (338,386 units). Deliveries of the E-Class sedan and
estate totaled 244,341 units last year (2010: 252,775
units). 32,533 customers opted to buy the CLS model, which
was introduced in January 2011 (+210.4%).
Sales of S-Class sedan surpass previous year's high
level
Despite having to face much younger competitor models, the
S-Class sedan once again increased sales compared to the
prior year. Since the car's market launch in 2005 more
than 440,000 units of the brand's flagship vehicle have
been sold. Sales of the CL also rose, with deliveries
increasing by 6.9%. The SLS AMG has also met with a great
response from customers. More than 5,000 units of the super
sports car have already been sold since the vehicle was
launched on the market in March 2010.
At more than 200 units, sales of the high-end luxury sedan
Maybach were higher than in each of the two previous years.
SUVs post monthly record sales from January through
December
The SUVs from Mercedes-Benz enjoyed another great year in
2011. They achieved new sales records each month from
January through December, enabling them to surpass last
year's record figure by 24.0% (248,574 units). More
customers decided to buy a GLK than ever before in a single
year (93,836 units; +24.0%). The compact SUV is also
popular in China, where it has been produced for the local
market since early December. All other model series did
very well throughout the world in 2011, increasing sales
substantially compared to the previous year. Sales of the
R-Class rose by 45.5%, while those of the G-Class increased
by 28.3%. The GL boosted sales by 28.2%, and deliveries of
the M-Class increased by 17.9% despite the model
changeover.
B-Class does well during phase-out
In spite of production changes resulting from the B-Class
model changeover and the associated limited availability of
A- and B-Class models, Mercedes-Benz sold 194,133 units in
this segment last year (2010: 222,373 units). Sales of the
B-Class even continued to increase until shortly before the
new model was launched on the market.
Sales of smart fortwo pass 100,000 mark
The smart fortwo did extremely well in 2011. Sales passed
the target of 100,000 units, rising to 101,996 vehicles
(+4.6%). Dr. Dieter Zetsche: "The development of the
smart fortwo last year by far exceeded our expectations.
Also for 2012, all lights are on green. The third
generation of the smart fortwo electric drive and the smart
ebike are two genuine highlights that will be introduced in
the coming twelve months. We expect them to give the brand
another boost." In full-year 2011 the innovative
two-seater was especially popular in China (including Hong
Kong), where a total of 11,045 buyers drove home from the
dealership in a smart fortwo (2010: 3,900 units). The smart
fortwo also posted very high growth rates in other
countries, including Mexico (+57.1%), Poland (+50.7%), the
Czech Republic (+26.6%), and Taiwan (+21.4%). In Germany
the smart fortwo defended its segment leadership throughout
the year, with customers buying a total of 29,005 units
(+3.3%). More than 1.5 million units of the brand have been
sold since the first generation of the compact urban
vehicle was introduced on the market in 1998.
|
December 2011
|
Change
in %
|
Jan.-Dec. 2011
|
Change
in %
|
Mercedes-Benz
|
124,387
|
+15.1
|
1,260,912
|
+8.0
|
smart
|
7,658
|
+0.8
|
101,996
|
+4.6
|
Mercedes-Benz Cars
|
132,045
|
+14.1
|
1,362,908
|
+7.7
|
| | | | |
Mercedes-Benz sales by market
| | | | |
Western Europe
|
49,026
|
+7.1
|
551.541
|
-1.0
|
- thereof Germany
|
25,290
|
+16.8
|
262,256
|
-1.2
|
NAFTA
|
28,944
|
+23.6
|
279,946
|
+12.2
|
- thereof U.S.
|
25,701
|
+27.9
|
245,231
|
+13.3
|
Asia/Pacific
|
36,201
|
+26.3
|
320,603
|
+21.0
|
- thereof Japan
|
3,926
|
+27.6
|
32,405
|
+7.1
|
- thereof China
|
23,227
|
+29.5
|
193,339
|
+30.6
|