Save the date: The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W 222) debuts 15th May in Hamburg

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A recent official announcement issued to media by Daimler AG executives reveals the crucial detail we have been waiting for so long: after approximately one year of delay, the new S-Class W 222 model series will be premiered on the 15th May 2013 in Hamburg, Germany (not 26th March, as initially reported).

A special celebration event will set the stage for the official entrance of the S-Class into the automotive industry. Prestigious automotive journalists, as well as celebrities and numerous dealer representative from all over the world, are invited to the ceremony to be held in the picturesque harbour city of Hamburg on the river Elbe.

The 2014 model year Mercedes-Benz S-Class (in Europe as well) is also receiving a private preview show in Valencia, Spain, these days, where select authorized dealers and brand executives - in total, around 14500, are getting introduced to the outstanding technological package of the new trendsetting luxury flagship from Stuttgart. Of course, if you were wondering, no electronic devices are allowed, so do not expect any early leaks of the W 222.

One of the most important technical advances that sets the S-Class well ahead of its competitors is the ground-breaking PRE-SAFE system, which has not only become sharper in recognizing potential dangers and avoiding them as much as possible, but also is now incorporating a one-of-a-kind function that recognizes persons walking on street and, when necessary, mitigates an imminent impact with those.

You can learn more interesting facts and see further spy pics of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (previous 2013MY) in our 'Specials' section at http://bit.ly/13OTU9m ! Enjoy! :)

Image Credits: Motor Authority

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Record month of May: Mercedes-Benz surpasses previous year’s sales high

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As in the previous year, Mercedes-Benz again posted a new record for unit sales in May 2012. In total, the company delivered 113,136 units. Thus, sales were up 4.0% on the record figure for 2011. More than half a million customers have already chosen a new vehicle from the brand with the star since the start of the year (531,382 units; +8.4%). This is the earliest in a year this threshold has ever been passed.

The Mercedes-Benz Cars division also posted record sales in May and year-to-date. The company sold a total of 577,378 Mercedes-Benz, smart, and Maybach brand vehicles (+8.0%) in the period from January to May. 122,600 units were delivered in the past month (+3.1%).

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars: “The record sales in May show that our new models are being excellently received by customers across all segments. The best example for this is the new B-Class. Sales for this model series have been at record levels both in May and year-to-date. We are on track to meet our target of selling more vehicles in 2012 than ever before in a single year and therefore to grow stronger than the market.”

Sales by Mercedes-Benz continued to develop especially well in the United States. In May, sales were at a new high of 22,515 units (+19.2%). Also a sales high posted the brand with the star for the period from January to May (106,364 units; +17.8%). Thus, Mercedes-Benz is leading the field of premium manufacturers on the U.S. market.

As well as in the U.S., Mercedes-Benz is also the best-selling premium manufacturer in Germany. 102,567 vehicles were delivered to customers in the first five months of 2012 (+6.5%).

On the contracting Western European market (without Germany) Mercedes-Benz has sold 2.8% more vehicles since the beginning of the year than in the same period of the previous year (126,922 units). In the UK, deliveries developed particularly well. New sales records were set both for May (+18.2%) and year-to-date (+11.8%). In Switzerland, sales increased by more than a third, leading to a new sales record since the beginning of the year.

Sales in China (including Hong Kong) are also at a record level for 2012. With 82,534 Mercedes-Benz cars from January to May, 8.7% more vehicles were delivered to customers than in the previous year. Due to the B-Class model changeover, the high-volume model series is currently subject to highly limited availability in China. Nonetheless, with 16,529 units sold in May (+0.8%), sales figures are above last year’s record level. 

Mercedes-Benz has posted excellent year-to-date sales figures in Japan and Russia. The brand with the star achieved a growth of more than 30% in both countries over the first five months. Russia has set new sales records both for May and since the start of the year. Past May was even the most successful month ever in the Russian market. In South Korea, Mercedes-Benz reports sales records both for the past month and since the beginning of the year. In May, sales increased by 36.9% whereas sales in 2012 as a whole increased by 4.7%.

As in recent months, the trend in unit sales was again highly positive in the Middle East in May with a surge of 11.7%.

Regarding the model series, sales of new B-Class is still climbing steadily. Never before so many new B-Class vehicles have been delivered to customers from January to May (54,321 units). Sales for this model series were up 17.7% year-on-year in May alone. But also the A-Class is being excellently received by buyers in the year of its model changeover. So far, the brand’s entry model has posted an increase of 40.2% in 2012. The popularity of the A-Class among its customers was also shown by the study on car drivers’ satisfaction with their vehicles presented by J.D. Powers and Associates last week. Here, the A-Class landed first place in the “compact class” category. Along with the A-Class, the C-Class and the E-Class also took pole position in their respective segments in the customer satisfaction survey. Hence, Mercedes-Benz came off as overall winner of the study.

The positive response to the vehicles is as well represented by their respective sales figures. The C-Class segment has seen growth of 18.5% year-to-date. In the E-Class segment, the CLS, for example, is continuing to enjoy strong demand. Sales of the four-door coupe have risen by more than half since the start of the year (+53.4%).

S-Class sedan sales are also up year-to-date, with 8.9% more units of the brand’s flagship sold. Thus, the S-Class is still the best-selling vehicle in its competitive segment this year. The performance in sales of the new SL has been outstanding as well. Delivery figures for the sports roadster more than tripled in May (+251.9%).

Mercedes-Benz brand SUVs have reached new sales highs. In total, 103,005 units have been sold in this segment so far in 2012. The bestseller among the SUVs is the M-Class, sales of which increased by 29.3%. But also the GL and the G-Class develop very well, shortly before the run-up of their new models. In the first five months of this year, more GL units were sold than ever before in this period (+14.8%). The G-Class even posted a boost of 26.1%.

smart is still on course for its goal of maintaining the previous year’s sales level over the year as a whole. Since the start of the year, sales are up 3.4% at 45,996 units. 9,464 units of the city runabouts were delivered to customers in May (-6.9%). Positive momentum is expected of the gradual launch of the facelift in further markets in the upcoming months. In May, the smart fortwo was again especially popular in the U.S. (+42.9%) and China (including Hong Kong) (+35.8%).

Mercedes-Benz Cars May 2012 Sales

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Highest May on Record with Sales of 22,515 Units

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Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported May sales of 22,515 for its Mercedes-Benz models, a 19.2 % improvement over May 2011, delivering a year-to-date total of 106,364 new vehicles to customers, up 17.8%. Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter for the month totaled 25,259, up 24.4% bringing a year-to-date total of 117,231, up 22.8 %, making this the company's highest May on record.

Sales for the month of May were led by the C-, E- and M-Class model lines. The sporty C-Class - the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand on the car side for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers - took the lead with sales of 6,649, up 34.7% and the 9th generation E-Class followed with sales of 5,576. MBUSA's top-selling SUV, the M-Class, rounded out the top three with sales of 3,198, up 65.9% compared to May 2011. Other strong performers were the company's popular new CLS four-door coupe which at 743 saw sales growth of 1,855.3% and the all-new SLK roadster which increased 542.9% over May 2011 with sales of 405. Also, the all-new iconic sixth generation 2013 SL roadster, debuting in showrooms this month, posted sales of 709, an increase of 458.3%, and the SLS AMG supercar retailed 83 for the month, up 295.2% over the same period last year.

On a year-to-date basis, top performers again were the C-Class with 31,180, the E-Class with 24,777 and the M-Class with 17,735.

Monthly sales of the high-performance AMG models were 615, up 109.2% versus May 2011 (294) and up 68.7% year to date. Sales of the company's BlueTEC diesel models were up 62.3% for the year at 7,662 compared to the 4,772 diesels sold over the same time last year.

The company's smart brand continued seven consecutive months of sales increases with May sales of 703 vehicles, a 43% jump for the month (compared to the 492 vehicles sold in May 2011), bringing the year-to-date volume to 3,731, up 68%.

On the van side, sales of Sprinter Vans also saw best-ever sales in May with 2,041 vans to new customers- up 43.7% over last year and up 37.7% on a year-to-date basis.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,534 vehicles in May; a decrease of 4.1% when compared to May 2011 (sales of 6,816 vehicles). On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 32,826 vehicles, a decrease of 1.9% over the comparable period (with sales of 33,445 vehicles).

Mercedes-Benz USA May 2012 Sales Chart

Credits: Mercedes-Benz USA

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