Beijing, March 9, 2010 – Mercedes-Benz continued its success story in Mainland China in February with a year-on-year growth of 160% to deliver 7,200 units of Mercedes-Benz, smart, AMG and Maybach. The luxury automaker now tallies its total to more than 15,300 units for the first two months of 2010, representing an increase of 155% compared to the same period last year. Maintaining its position as the fastest-growing luxury brand in China, Mercedes-Benz's growth is supported by its celebrated heritage, superior luxury, and innovative safety technologies.
"Mercedes-Benz celebrated Chinese New Year with yet another month of sales growth and achievements, a direct result of our diversified product strategy, high-quality vehicles and excellent service," said Klaus Maier, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd. "As we continue to gain momentum in China this year, we feel even more confident and encouraged that we will enjoy prolonged success in this fast-growing market as we further strengthen our leadership position in the luxury segment."
As the prime choice among China's top elites, the S-Class maintained its momentum and grew by 115% in February, once again positioning China as its largest market in the world. An upgrade of the new generation S-Class lineup last month introduced the most advanced technology and safety features that redefine the benchmarks of the industry, thus helping Mercedes-Benz's flagship model continue to set the pace in automotive development.
Renowned globally as the 'World's Best Business Sedan" for over 60 years, the all-new E-Class proved its popularity among business elites, becoming Mercedes-Benz’s top-selling model in February, with total sales amounting to nearly 4,000 units in the first two months of the year. Moreover, with the E-Class now equipped with the newest developments of the automaker's BlueEFFICIENCY concept and the CGI turbo-charged direct injection engine in China, it is further positioned as an exceptional model for environmental protection.
The locally produced C-Class enjoyed total sales of 1,400 sedans in February to represent a growth of 73%, strengthening its status as one of Mercedes-Benz's volume leaders. Such success can be attributed to a combination of in-depth market understanding and the effective sales and marketing tactics adopted by BBAC. Combined with an array of innovative features, Mercedes-Benz guarantees China's young elites with a model that suits their every need in the C-Class.
In February, Mercedes-Benz also received strong contributions from its SUV family. The M-Class witnessed a year-on-year increase of 166% in February to retain its status as one of the volume leaders of the SUV family. Continuing its rising trend in the market, the GL-Class soared by 260% in February. The GLK-Class has also proven its status as one of the leading contributors to the SUV family, as a sales increase of 72% from last February solidified its continuous market success.
The three-pointed star's sports car lineup posted strong growth in February as well, led by the CLS-Class with a year-on-year increase of 83%. The SL-Class also continued to make gains with a year-on-year growth of 100% in February alone. Notably, the all-new E-Class Coupé, recognized as the world's best aerodynamic car among all series production passenger cars as well as the "World's Best Looking Coupé", enjoyed its highest monthly sales ever since its nationwide launch last year.
With its stylish design and exceptional practicality, Mercedes-Benz's Luxury Sports Tourer B-Class continued to exhibit its positive performance in the market, with a year-on-year growth in February of 194%. Similarly, the urban mobility solution smart also sustained steady sales growth in February, proving its appeal to customers with an active and environmentally friendly lifestyle. As Mercedes-Benz's high-performance brand, AMG delivered a record-breaking 100 units in China in February – further exemplifying the sales success of the three-pointed star in the market.