Mercedes-Benz Gets Off to a Successful Start in Second Quarter, with Sales Up 8.2 Percent

• Dr. Joachim Schmidt: "Our sales figures in April marked a successful start into the second quarter and increased significantly in many markets. China, where we set a new sales record in April, continues to play an important role in driving our growth."

• "We are optimistic about the second quarter and want to boost sales above last year's level. In the full year, we aim to achieve a new sales record and want to sell more than 1.3 million Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and smart fortwo."

• New generation of the C-Class sedan becomes market leader right from the start, sales of new SLK increase by 47.7 percent

• S-Class sedan number one in its segment with sales up by 34.3 percent

• smart sales again above previous year's level

Following strong sales results in the first quarter, Mercedes-Benz continued to be successful in April. Sales rose by 8.2 percent compared to the high volume recorded in the same month last year. The brand delivered a total of 100,703 passenger cars worldwide (April 2010: 93,077). Since the start of the year, sales have risen by 11.5 percent to 381,255 units (Jan. – April 2010: 342,035).

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars: "Our sales figures in April marked a successful start into the second quarter and increased significantly in many markets. China, where we set a new sales record in April, continues to play an important role in driving our growth. We continue to be optimistic about the second quarter, during which we want to boost sales above last year's level."

Growth in the second quarter will be based on the success of the current product range and particularly on new products such as the facelifted C-Class and the new SLK. Demand for both models was already very high in the first month after the market launch. 20.965 units of the C-Class sedan were delivered, capturing the market leadership in its segment right from the start. Including the new estate, sales in April rose 14.3 percent compared to April 2010. In the first month following its market launch, sales of the new SLK also climbed sharply, starting the convertible season with an increase of 47.7 percent. The new C-Class coupe is waiting in the starting blocks to continue the success of the new C-Class generation. It will be in dealers' showrooms beginning in June. Mercedes-Benz will introduce additional new models to the market later this year: the new M-Class and the SLS roadster, which will hit showrooms this fall, and the new B-Class, which will be launched at the end of the year.

"This attractive product lineup gives us a very good competitive position," added Schmidt. "In the full year, we aim to achieve a new sales record and want to sell more than 1.3 million Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and smart fortwo."

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