Category Archives: News and Notes

Mercedes-Benz #1 Luxury Brand in sales in 2013

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Mercedes-Benz recaptures the luxury crown in 2013

The New Year brought great news to the Mercedes-Benz brand… For the first time since 1999, Mercedes-Benz USA became the #1 selling luxury automotive brand in the United States! Finishing 2013 with a record 312,534 new Mercedes-Benz vehicle sales and 98,981 Certified Pre-Owned sales.  MBUSA beat BMW in both categories.  Additionally, the annual growth of of 14% exceeded all of the direct competition including Audi, BMW and Lexus.  Comparing the numbers to 2009, MBUSA sold an additional 122,000 vehicles. Continue reading →

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA Announcement

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Mercedes-Benz GLA

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA

Mercedes-Benz USA has announced the all new 2015 GLA SUV.  The Mercedes-Benz GLA with its progressive design and agile handling both on and off the road, will be Mercedes-Benz’s first entry into the compact premium SUV segment.  The GLA features a new generation permanent all-wheel drive with fully variable torque distribution.  The launch date is set for Fall 2014 for the GLA250 4MATIC and Early 2015 for the GLA250 2 wheel drive. Continue reading →

Mercedes-Benz SL JD Power APEAL Winner

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2013 SLJD Power recently released their 2013 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study which examines what consumers like about their new vehicles after 90 days of ownership.  The APEAL study is based on eight categories of vehicle performance and design: engine/transmission; ride, handling and braking; comfort/convenience; seats; cockpit/instrument panel; heating, ventilation and cooling; sound system; and styling/exterior.

The Mercedes-Benz SL was awarded the Midsize Premium Sporty Car beating out the Porsche 911 and the BMW 6 Series.  Also noteworthy, the Mercedes-Benz SLK, the SL’s little brother, placed third in the Compact Premium Sporty Cars category.  You can see the study results here.

 

5 Months of Record Sales for Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported another month of record highs with sales reaching 27,359, an 8.3% increase over May 2012. Sales volumes at Mercedes-Benz jumped 9.8% last month (24,713), bringing year-to-date totals for the brand to a record high of 117,535. Sprinter Van year-to-date sales increased 5.3% from the same time last year to 7,517, combining with steady momentum from smart at 3,678 to round out MBUSA’s year-to-date totals of 128,730.

“We’ve seen five consecutive months of best-ever sales in 2013,” said Steve Cannon,
president and CEO of MBUSA. “Strong momentum carries across the entire product line from our
entry models straight up to the high end, which is ahead 24 percent for the year. We expect to
build on that pace as more of our completely redesigned E-Class models roll into dealer
showrooms.”

The top performers for Mercedes-Benz were the C, E and ML.  On the high end the S-Class and GL both showed significant gains over last year.  Both Sprinter and smart product lines reported gains over the previous year as well.

On the pre-owned side, Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-owned program reported an increase of 24.2% over May 2012 and an increase of 25.6% year-to-date.

March Sales 2013

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MBUSA Reports Record Month and First Quarter

Mercedes-Benz USA announced that March was another record setting month with sales of 24,646 Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold.  Also announced was the highest first quarter ever with a total of 69,187 Mercedes-Benz being sold.  Combined with smart and Sprinter putting the total at 75,214 vehicles sold.  Mercedes-Benz is up 12.5% over last year.

Top models sold were the C, E, and M-Class models.  The C-Class posted sales 8,396 cars.  The 9th generation E-Class followed up with sales of 4,009 cars and the M-Class rounded out the top three with sales of 3,501.  On the high end, both the S-Class and SL showed significant growth.

The Sprinter model line also continued its record sales streak with 1,529 vans sold up 11.2% over last year and up 22.5% on a year to date basis.  smart recorded sales of 929 vehicles.  Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC diesel models finished with 1,640 vehicles sold and AMG reported 631 total sales for the month.  Mercedes-Benz CPO program reported 8,670 vehicles sold up 22% for the year.

Top 2012 Car Brands as Rated by Women Shoppers

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Mercedes-Benz Tops Purchasing Experience for Women

We know that women account for over 50% of all car purchases and initiate or influence up to 80% of them.  Each year, Women-Drivers.com tracks thousands of consumer reviews with regards to women’s purchasing and browsing experiences at new car dealerships.  These scores are compiled from thousands of reviews written in the 2012 calendar year. Continue reading →

New CLA will be the most aerodynamic production car

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Mercedes-Benz says the new CLA will be the most aerodynamic of all production cars.  With it’s 0.22 drag coefficient, the Mercedes-Benz claims the CLA sets the new aerodynamic benchmark among all series production cars, beating electric cars such as the Chevy Volt.

mercedes-claWhile pricing has not been announced, the CLA which is designed to resemble a downsized version of the CLS, is rumored to start below the current C-Class Sedan.

The CLA-Class is aimed at winning over young Gen Y buyers, who comprise 75 million people in the U.S. and now are reaching car-buying age, but are not aspiring to buy a Mercedes.

The CLA is powered by a turbocharged 211-hp 4-cyl gasoline engine equipped with a start/stop eco system and coupled with a 7-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission.  It will also be the first front wheel drive Mercedes-Benz.

2013 The Year Ahead

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While Mercedes-Benz USA reported a record year for 2012, I am looking forward to 2013.  This year we will see the Facelifted E-Class Sedan, Wagon, Coupe and Cabriolet (photos).  Mercedes-Benz will also launch the new S-Class and CL later in the year.  New the the brand will be the CLA, an entry level vehicle to compete with the BMW 1 Series among others.

smart USA will reintroduce the Electric smart car in the late Spring time.  It boasts a combined 107 mpg with a range of 68 miles on a single charge.

Mercedes-Benz currently has one of the freshest product offerings in the industry and only looks to continue that trend.  Watch for product announcements and launches in the coming months.