Record-breaking, high performance year for Mercedes-Benz UK

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• Mercedes-Benz is the fastest growing premium brand in the UK
• Record market share achieved by Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in 2012
• 4.5 per cent market share by the end of the year – strongest result ever
• Mercedes-Benz UK has seen 10 per cent year-on-year growth
• AMG the fastest growing performance brand in the UK
• AMG records its best-ever year in the UK with 2,236 cars registered - a rise of 119.6 per cent
• Total registrations of 91,006 cars in 2012 – C-Class ninth best-selling car in overall UK market with 37,261 examples registered
• December registrations of 5,187 cars
• B-Class, C-Class range, SLK-Class, SL-Class, M-Class and S-Class all recorded significant rises in registrations
• smart fortwo posts 11.3 per cent rise in registrations in 2012
• Commercial Vehicles finishes year in strong position with Actros achieving 2,201 registrations
• Sprinter and Vito each continue to outperform market with 7.8 per cent and 15.1 per cent rises in registrations in 2012 – ahead of introduction of new Citan small van

Mercedes-Benz has recorded its best-ever new car registrations market share in the UK, according to year-end figures released today by the SMMT.

The company’s record-breaking 4.5 per cent market share was posted in 2012 with the C-Class Coupé, the SLK-Class, E-Class Cabriolet, CLS-Class Coupé and the S-Class each leading their respective market segments.

For the second year in a row Mercedes-Benz has seen double-digit growth.

While the record year was led by spectacular performances from core models within the Mercedes-Benz range – including the C-Class, which finished the year as the ninth overall best-selling car in 2012 - the AMG performance division of Mercedes-Benz also set new records. AMG posted its best ever year in the UK with registrations rising by 119.6 per cent, making it the fastest growing performance brand in the UK.

The S-Class finished 2012 as the Number One luxury car in the UK – capturing a substantial 30.5 per cent share of its segment.

Strong sales of the smart fortwo led to a rise of 11.3 per cent for the year with a total of 5,616 cars registered in 2012.

In total, Mercedes-Benz UK registered 91,006 cars in 2012, a rise of 12.1 per cent – making it one of the most successful years ever recorded outperforming the overall new car market, which increased by 5.3 per cent.

The positive news continues for Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles. The new Actros truck achieved 2,201 registrations in its first year on sale. Likewise, van registrations saw a significant rise – Sprinter and Vito each continue to outperform market with 7.8 per cent and 15.1 per cent gains in registrations in 2012.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz UK commented: “This is an excellent result – 2012 saw us post record market share results. I would like to express my appreciation to the sales and customer service teams at our passenger car retailers and CV dealers across the country whose tireless efforts serving and supporting our customers have made this possible.

“In a sophisticated and demanding market we’ve done a great job in not only defending our market position but also increasing it. Everyone within my team at Mercedes-Benz in the UK will be working hard to make sure this is sustained – that in 2013 we meet and exceed the expectations of our car, van and truck customers and build on the momentum achieved in 2012.”

RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL SERVICES

Positive momentum – and new records - were reported in other parts of the Mercedes-Benz UK business as 2012 drew to a close with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services leading the way.

New customer loans to both private and business for Passenger Car and Commercial Vehicle Dealer partners continued to break records in 2012 ending with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services achieving a portfolio growth of 24 per cent.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services continued to be ranked joint Number One in the Sewells 2012 Dealer Satisfaction Survey. The is reflected by six out of 10 Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars and four out of 10 Mercedes-Benz Vans, Trucks and Canter in the UK being financed by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. Year-on-year lending for Commercial Vehicles grew by 37 per cent in 2012.

Mercedes-Benz Insurance continues to outperform the industry average with eight out of 10 Mercedes-Benz Motor Insurance customers renewing their annual policies with Mercedes-Benz. In addition, 21 per cent more new motor insurance policies were taken up in 2012 than 2011.

2012 AND BEYOND: MERCEDES-BENZ APPRENTICE ACADEMY

In 2012, 159 apprentices joined the Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Programme – selected from a total of 11,500 applications. The Programme, now in its 18th year, provides investment and is dedicated to inspire and equip the next generation of young engineering technicians and advisors with the skills required to work with and on modern vehicles.

Those joining in 2012 started on a three-year programme – at the end of which they will aim to achieve Level Three nationally-recognised VCQ and VRQ qualifications.

Since the course began, 1,164 apprentices have graduated from The Apprentice Academy with 60 per cent remaining at Mercedes-Benz 10 years on.

The Programme is supported by a £2.1 million investment in a new facility in which to house The Apprentice Academy.

A recent Ofsted inspection awarded the Programme a Grade One Outstanding for the ‘Outcomes for Learners’.

MERCEDES-BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE GROUP: EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

Customer Satisfaction scores for commercial vehicles – rated by customers - improved by 10 per cent in 2012 – part of the commitment by Mercedes-Benz to deliver the best possible levels of care for its customers.

Service 24 hour programme for commercial vehicles continues to set benchmarks with attendance times below 60-minutes and over 80 per cent of call-outs being fixed at the roadside.

Parts Sales for commercial vehicles exceeded 2011 levels with Canter parts growing by almost 17 per cent.

Parts sales for passenger cars grew by 2.6 per cent while Mercedes-Benz Accessories sales grew by 19 per cent – making the UK the second highest performing market outside of Germany.

Likewise, it’s been a busy and successful year for Mercedes-Benz Service Contracts. In May the milestone of 100,000 live contracts across car, van and truck was passed, and the year has seen a further 10 per cent rise in new additions.

A total of 11 per cent of all new cars, a quarter of all new vans and more than 41 per cent of all new trucks are sold with a Service Care plan or Service Contract.

Overall across new, used and in-service vehicles, Mercedes-Benz sold over 40,000 Car Service Care plans, almost 9,000 Van Contracts and more than 4,250 Truck Contracts.

GAINS IN NEW AND USED CAR SALES: MERCEDES-BENZ RETAIL GROUP

Along with a record market share for 2012 and strong registrations, the Mercedes-Benz Retail Group enjoyed an encouraging year.

More new Mercedes-Benz cars were sold to retail customers through the 18 franchise sales sites than in 2011 - up by 18 per cent.

A total of 10,770 sales of new Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were achieved by the MBRG Fleet Sales Division – an incredible gain of 38 per cent over 2011.

MERCEDES-BENZ WORLD: SIX YEARS YOUNG AND GROWING FAST

In its sixth year, Mercedes-Benz World continued to thrive.

New driving experiences were added – including the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series. The Under 16s Programme also continued to be popular with over 108,000 children having taken part – covering over a million miles in the process – since 2007.

Mercedes-Benz World hosted the international launch of the CLS Shooting Brake in 2012 as well as becoming the permanent home to two new interactive exhibitions – Driven and smart World.

The new Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience Centre, aimed at young drivers, also opened at Silverstone - housed in state-of-the-art facilities and expanding the driving experiences on offer under 16s.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz UK commented: “I’m looking forward to 2013 a great deal – we have the exciting new A-Class arriving now, as well as exciting new cars in the new CLA, the new-generation E-Class and, of course, a new S-Class. We’re entering new segments – a new small van, the Citan, is now in showrooms – all appealing to new customers who we look forward to welcoming. On the larger side, Antos heralds the next step in the story of our new truck range. With the strongest family of vehicles we’ve ever had and competitive new finance and service contract offers to make a Mercedes-Benz ownership more enjoyable, more convenient and more affordable to run than ever before, we enter the New Year with optimism – and more, importantly, the right tools for the job!”

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

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