Mercedes-Benz posts new sales record in 2012

Dr. Dieter Zetsche:

• "We are very pleased with our sales for the full year 2012. Despite the difficult market environment in the southern European countries and numerous model change-overs, we managed to exceed the previous year's sales record."

• "Our new models in particular were received extremely well by our customers."

• Highest December sales to date in the company history

• Mercedes-Benz is the premium manufacturer with highest number of new vehicle registrations in Germany for the past twenty years

• Sales records in the U.S., China and numerous other markets; market leadership in Japan; sales growth in Western Europe

• Strong demand for new models: B-Class, GLK, M-Class and
G-Class with record sales; SL with major increase in sales

• S-Class sedan, C-Class coupe, SLK, CLS and M-Class best-selling vehicles in their competitive segments

• smart once again surpasses 100,000 unit sales milestone

Following record sales in the previous year, Mercedes-Benz Cars has once again posted an annual record in 2012 as well as the highest December sales to date. Over the past twelve months, 1,423,835 customers chose a vehicle of the brands Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach. The previous year's sales volumes were thus exceeded by 4.5% or 60,901 units. Also Mercedes-Benz achieved a new sales record in 2012. From January through December, a total of 1,320,097 vehicles of the core brand were sold.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: "We are very pleased with our sales for the full year 2012. Despite the difficult market environment in the southern European countries and numerous model change-overs, we managed to exceed the previous year's sales record. Our new models in particular were received extremely well by our customers. From the B-Class, more vehicles were sold in 2012 than ever before in a single year, the A-Class got off to a sensational start and our new SUVs are also enjoying lasting popularity."