March 2013 marks record-breaking best-ever month and biggest quarter for Mercedes-Benz UK

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- Biggest month ever, at 18,655 new car registrations, up 15.4 per cent
- Biggest quarter ever, 28,698 new cars registered, an increase of 13.2 per cent
- Mercedes-Benz continues to be the fastest-growing premium brand
- Record monthly and year to date (YTD) market share of 4.7 per cent
- Record month for C-Class Coupé, CLS four-door Coupé, G-Class
- AMG registrations up 89.6 per cent YTD
- Registrations to private buyers increase 16.3 per cent YTD
- Vans record a strong March, with registrations up 3.8 per cent
- 199 Citans registered in the first full month of customer sales

Mercedes-Benz UK and its dealer network have achieved their best-ever record-breaking registration performance, according to figures released today by SMMT. March 2013 was the most successful in the company’s history, with 18,655 new cars being registered. This is an increase of 15.4 per cent over March 2012.

March topped a record-breaking quarter for the company, as 28,698 new cars were registered in Q1, which was 13.2 per cent more than the first three months of last year. The quarterly result eclipses the previous record, set at the end of 2012, by 2700 cars.

The stellar results mean that Mercedes-Benz continues to be the UK’s fastest-growing premium manufacturer, and in a buoyant overall new car market, recorded its best-ever month and year to date market share of 4.7 per cent. Likewise, registrations to retail customers were up 16.3 per cent.

The registration boost was reflected across the range, with sustainable levels of growth in all segments. The C-Class achieved 10th place in the overall registration figures for the UK in March and ninth place for Q1. Registrations, meanwhile, were up in all sectors. The CLS Coupé, for example, reported 1301 registrations – a record for March and for Q1.

High-performance purchases were up too, as AMG registrations increased by 89.6 per cent for the YTD. So far this year, 747 new AMGs have been registered, including 27 G 63 AMGs; marking an overall YTD AMG increase of 89.6 per cent.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO Mercedes-Benz UK, explained the results: “More new and returning customers than ever before are choosing to drive a Mercedes-Benz, and that’s great news for them, and the thousands of dedicated people we’ve got all over the country who work so hard to achieve these extraordinary results. Everybody’s hard work and effort is paying off. Making our attractive, exciting, affordable premium cars appeal to ever-more people is our mission and it’s a mission we’re continuing to meet head-on.

“Today’s results also show that we’re not dependent on one or two models to bolster the bulk of our sales volumes – we’re selling more cars to more people across the entire range. AMG appropriately continues to charge ahead, as does every vehicle in our portfolio that we’re volume-controlling by either its graduated introduction or phased run-out.”

Marcus Breitschwerdt continued: “We don’t take any of this success for granted, and are using the momentum of our new car registration results to continue to offer great deals on fantastic products through our UK network of excellent dealerships. We’ve a wide range of new cars ready to arrive in the UK too, and I’m looking forward to the opportunities and results throughout the rest of the year.”

Commercial vehicles

Mercedes-Benz vans rallied to a strong performance in March, with registrations increasing by 3.8 per cent to 5888 units.

The new Citan got off to a great start, with 199 new compact vans being registered in the first full month of customer sales. Over 200 Euro-V Vito Taxis have been registered YTD, over 26 per cent more than Q1 2012.

Actros led the heavy trucks divisions’ performance, with registrations rallying 60.8 per cent in March 2013, and up 2.6 per cent over 2012’s launch phase. Axor increased 5.3 per cent in March, and Fuso Canter registrations were up 17.6 per cent in the same month.

Marcus Breitschwerdt commented: “It’s encouraging to see that our vans division is delivering great results, and the first figures from our compact Citan show it is supporting the success of our established Vito [medium] and Sprinter [large] vans.

“Our heavy truck range is currently going through the biggest change-over in our history, and pretty soon the New Actros will be the ‘oldest’ product we offer – and it’s only just turned one year-old!

“At next week’s CV Show we’re showcasing a wealth of new products, showing that Mercedes-Benz is making enormous investments across the range to deliver efficient, safe, cost-effective commercial vehicles for operators that help drive British businesses forward.

“A new van or truck can be an important investment, and our team will be on site at the NEC in Birmingham to explain in detail how a new Mercedes-Benz can support their businesses.”

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz is UK's top premium brand in February 2013

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- Mercedes-Benz is the leading premium brand in the UK in February
- Mercedes-Benz registrations up 13.5 per cent compared to the same month in 2012
- Mercedes-Benz cars lead a total of nine market segments
- C-Class, E-Class, S-Class and SLK-Class are among segment leaders
- AMG remains fastest growing performance brand in the UK - registrations up 167.8 per cent
- smart records 32.8 per cent rise in registrations for month of February

Mercedes-Benz finished February as the leading premium brand in the UK, according to registration figures released by the SMMT today. Not only this, but, in AMG, it remains the fastest growing performance brand in the UK.

A total of 3,329 cars were registered by Mercedes-Benz in February – a gain of 13.5 per cent.

According to the SMMT figures, nine market segments are led by Mercedes-Benz cars. The C-Class Saloon, C-Class Coupé, E-Class Saloon, E-Class Estate, E-Class Coupé, E-Class Cabriolet, SLK-Class, CLS-Class and S-Class each occupy the top spot in their respective, hard-fought segments.

Once again, the C-Class appeared in the top 10 registration figures in the UK – achieving ninth place.

Performance brand AMG recorded another very strong month – achieving a phenomenal 167.8 per cent gain in registrations compared to the same period last year. Leading the gain was the C 63 AMG Coupé, registrations finishing 188.9 per cent up in February.

Registrations of Mercedes-Benz Estate cars showed significant gains - the C-Class Estate finished February up by 71.1 per cent and the E-Class Estate by 29.8 per cent.

Likewise, the B-Class, introduced to the market in early 2012, is thriving – with registrations up by 277.1 per cent.

A successful month was also recorded by smart – the fortwo achieving a 32.8 per cent rise in registrations.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz UK commented: ‘To be the Number One premium brand in the UK in February is a great achievement and testament to the hard work and commitment of my colleagues throughout the Retailer network and at Mercedes-Benz UK. Now we’ll be devoting even more energy to achieving it again, as this is a result we’ll be aiming to repeat as the year goes on. With exciting new models, including the CLA and New E-Class on the verge of arriving in the UK, we are in a fantastic position for the future.’

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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AMG Sport Edition for the S-Class in UK: Pace meets efficiency, luxury and style

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Mercedes-Benz UK has launched a special edition of S-Class, the AMG Sport Edition, featuring significantly enhanced specification priced from £69,995 on the road.

Based on the already comprehensive specification of the standard S-Class, the new S 350 BlueTEC AMG Sport Edition adds AMG body styling with front and rear aprons plus subtle sill extensions; elegant 20” AMG alloy wheels in a five-twin-spoke design; painted brake callipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering; an electric panoramic glass sunroof and illuminated door sills.

The inside of the new model is simultaneously serene and sporty and features Black Ash Wood trim, a wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel, studded sports pedals finished in stainless steel, and AMG-branded floor mats. Practical touches include a reversing camera and Keyless Go, while the Harmon Kardon Front Seat Entertainment, complete with Split View enables the COMAND multimedia system to display different content for driver and front passenger. Providing aural entertainment are 14 high-performance speakers and additional amplifiers, a set of headphones and remote control, and DAB digital radio.

The S 350 BlueTEC AMG Sport Edition is priced from £69,995 on the road. Mercedes-Benz Finance is also available from £499 per month across 24 months with an £11,493 deposit.

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Fast-paced start to 2013 for Mercedes-Benz UK

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- Mercedes-Benz sustains momentum built up in 2012: 7.4 per cent rise in registrations recorded for the first month of 2013
- A-Class registrations get off to a strong start in its first month on-sale – achieving 6.2 per cent segment share
- C-Class and E-Class Saloon variants each hold Number One spot in their highly-competitive market segments
- C-Class ranked 10th in the overall UK vehicle registration figures for January
- AMG records another strong month – registrations are up by 75 per cent when compared to the same period in 2012
- C 63 AMG Estate leads increases with 125 per cent gain
- New Citan van is introduced to the market for the first time as dealer vehicles are registered ahead of its UK launch

As the exciting new A-Class was introduced to the market for the first time, Mercedes-Benz recorded a 7.4 per cent rise in registrations for the month of January, according to figures released by the SMMT.

Among the strongest performers in January was the C-Class Saloon, placed first in its highly-competitive market segment with a 12.8 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. Likewise, the E-Class Saloon recorded an even stronger start to the year, claiming the Number One spot in its segment with a 30.9 per cent gain in registrations.

Retaining its position as the fastest-growing performance brand in the UK, AMG reported a 75 per cent rise in registrations for January. Contributing to this high-performance result was the C 63 AMG Estate, the registrations for which rose by 125 per cent.

As the weather conditions deteriorated, registrations of the M-Class rose by 386.3 per cent compared to January 2012 – securing a substantial 14.4 per cent share of the market segment.

The new A-Class captured a 6.2 per cent share of its segment in the month that sales commenced in the UK – a strong start for an exciting new model that will be joined by the CLA four-door coupé in June.

Likewise, Mercedes-Benz made its debut in the small van market as the first examples of the new Citan were registered ahead of its market introduction in the coming months.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz UK commented: "We begin 2013 re-energised, with great momentum and as the fastest growing performance brand – a great start and one everyone in my team at Mercedes-Benz UK will be working hard to sustain.

"This promises to be an exciting year for us - our customer service teams at our passenger car retailers and CV dealers across the country share this excitement and are thriving on the challenge of exceeding the expectations of our customers. We have advanced and desirable new models being added to our range – the new A-Class made its market debut this year – and we’re looking forward to the arrival of the new CLA and the new E-Class. This is bolstered by great new products from our Commercial Vehicles operation – including the new Citan – adding to the surprises in store for 2013."

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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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

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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A new record UK market share for Mercedes-Benz Cars in November 2012

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• Record registrations for the year-to-date for B-Class, C-Class Saloon, Estate and Coupé, SLK Roadster and Viano
• Passenger car market share grows to 4.4 per cent for the month, contributing to a 4.5 per cent share for the year – another new record
• Registrations up 9.8 per cent for the month, 12 per cent for the year
• Total of 6,625 cars registered in November – adding to a total of 85,819 cars for the year-to-date
• Year-to-date segment leaders include the C-Class Coupé, SLK-Class, E-Class Cabriolet, CLS-Class Coupé and S-Class
• High performance AMG brand records similarly high performing sales figures – up 88.1 per cent for the month and 135.8 per cent for the year
• smart fortwo registrations up 8.4 per cent YTD to 5102 new cars
• Strong Commercial Vehicles sales despite challenging market – Actros up 26.3 per cent for the month
• Vito Taxi registrations up 52.8 per cent for the month-to-date

Mercedes-Benz UK has achieved a record 4.5 per cent new car registration market share for the year-to-date, according to figures released today by the SMMT.

Leading the gain in market share were the B-Class, C-Class Saloon, Estate and Coupé, the SLK Roadster and Viano people carrier. Each added to their already impressive tally with record registrations for the year-to-date. Likewise, the C-Class Coupé, SLK-Class, E-Class Cabriolet, CLS-Class Coupé and S-Class each lead their respective market segments for the year-to-date.

An incredible year for the AMG high performance brand was sustained in November with a gain of 88.1 per cent for the month being added to a 135.8 per cent rise in the first 11-months of 2012. 5102 smart fortwos have been registered so far this year, up 8.4 per cent on 2011’s result.

In total, 6,625 cars were registered by Mercedes-Benz in the UK in November – adding to a total of 85,819 cars for the year-to-date.

Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle registrations continued to be strong, despite a challenging and highly competitive market. The new Actros recorded another impressive month, with sales up 26.3 per cent in November, contributing to a 38.4 per cent rise for the year.

Van registrations are on course for a significant rise compared to 2011, with a total of 22,728 vans registered between January and November contributing towards a 10.2 per cent gain for the year-to-date and a 12.3 per cent market share.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO Mercedes-Benz UK commented: ‘Nearing the end of the year, we’re in a great position in the UK with record market share performances. Our core vehicles continue to set record registrations – led by the C-Class family. We’re now looking forward to a even more impressive 2013 as we maintain and build on our market share with the introduction of the new A-Class and a range of other vehicles to UK customers.

‘Mirroring this, the Commercial Vehicle range is very strong in a hard-fought market. The new Actros is building up a substantial and loyal following while van sales are on course to finish 2012 in style with record registrations.’

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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October 2012 proves to be another record month for Mercedes-Benz UK

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• 4.3 per cent market share for Mercedes-Benz UK in October, 4.5 per cent YTD
• Registrations up 11.9 per cent for the month, 11.8 per cent YTD
• A record 6,463 cars registered in October, with 79,194 registrations YTD
• Record October for B-Class, C-Class Estate, C-Class Coupé, G-Class and Viano
• AMG’s performance continues to rise – 144 per cent growth over 2011
• Strong performance continues for Commercial Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz UK has successfully started the last quarter of 2012, according to figures released by SMMT. A total of 6,463 new cars were registered, giving the company a market share of 4.6 per cent – up some 11.9 per cent on the same month last year.

Year to date (YTD), Mercedes-Benz has shown 12.3 per cent growth in new car registrations, maintaining its record-breaking market share of 4.5 per cent. So far this year, 79,194 new cars have been registered – the strongest growth of any main premium German brand.

Registration success was shared between private purchasers and fleet business, with October’s results showing growth of 27.2 per cent and 10.7 per cent respectively.

It was a record October for the B-Class with 630 new cars registered, and a record-breaking total of 5,795 YTD. C-Class has continued to perform well with a record month resulting in 523 Estate registrations and 872 Coupé registrations.

G-Class and Viano also had a strong month with Viano recording the highest October registrations at 741. The E-Class Cabriolet topped its segment with 254 registrations and the CLS-Class Coupé and S-Class outsold competitors with 198 and 126 registrations respectively.

All body styles of the C-Class have proved popular with retail customers, with a mix of the Saloon, Estate and Coupé accounting for 968 new privately-purchased cars taking to the roads in October – which has contributed to a 68.6 per cent increase across the models compared to 2011 YTD.

AMG registrations have more than doubled to 1,750 YTD - a 144.8 per cent increase compared with 2011. The top performers in October include the C 63 AMG Saloon and Coupé, which have racked up 121 registrations in the month (1,001 YTD).

CLS 63 AMG Coupé registrations were up with 121 registered YTD and since its launch earlier this year there have been 51 registrations of the ML 63 AMG.

Commercial vehicles

Vans and trucks have shown consistently strong performance in 2012, with YTD growth of 13.6 per cent (Vans) and 12.3 per cent (Truck).

Vito has grown by 20.4 per cent YTD and 477 Vito Taxis have taken to Britain’s streets in 2012, up 66.8 per cent YTD.

Atego and Actros trucks have risen significantly YTD. Atego has increased 32.9 per cent YTD while Actros has grown 40.1 per cent over the same period. Econic, the specialist Refuse Collection Vehicle, has grown 16.2 per cent YTD, with 437 vehicles servicing the country‘s refuse collection and recycling needs.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO Mercedes-Benz UK commented: “Our October performance has been really encouraging. B-Class and C-Class continue to break records and we are heading for one of our best years ever for AMG. We are continuing to maintain record market share levels and our products are being well received.

“Commercial Vehicles have also put in a strong performance throughout October and with Citan, our new city van, the CLS Shooting Brake and the new A-Class joining us very soon the whole team, and our customers of course, have a lot to look forward too.”

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Advertising: #YOUDRIVE - a new approach for a new generation Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz has created an advertising campaign to match the innovative and creative benchmark set by the new A-Class.

Named ‘#YOUDRIVE’ the campaign for the new A-Class is an industry and social media first. Using Twitter, viewers will drive the action of a three-part story shown this weekend during the commercial breaks in the X Factor. A sneak preview of the new campaign is being launched this week.

The story takes the form of a light hearted cat and mouse caper, during which the hero, a young music star played by the Top Boy actor Kane Robinson, is trying to get to a secret gig, with the help of his female accomplice, actress Wendy Glenn. Meanwhile the authorities are keen to close it down. With several different scenarios filmed, the viewer will have the opportunity to vote via Twitter and steer the action as to which route they should take. Each scenario puts a different twist on the caper – filmed on the streets of Lisbon and Porto, Portugal.

After the event consumers can visit a specially created interactive channel on YouTube, youdrive.com/YOUDRIVE, to view all available films and drive their own A-Class story. There’s even a chance to win a new A-Class for a year, for those who find the date of the secret gig in the film.

The story was directed by London-raised Yann Demange, who also directed Top Boy. Director of Photography for the shoot was Anthony Dod Mantle, with credits to his name including Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, 28 Days Later and Rush, the new film by Ron Howard depicting the life of racer James Hunt.

David George, Marketing Director, Mercedes-Benz UK commented: “The New A-Class represents a new, younger, more dynamic Mercedes-Benz brand, which is reflected in this campaign. It's a modern Mercedes-Benz, that encourages people to do what we know they enjoy; to get involved. In doing so, we hope to really cut through and create a positive, lasting impression on their view of the brand.”

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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The S-Class hailed as Best Executive & Prestige Model in the Sunday Times Top 100 Cars Guide

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The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been honoured in The Sunday Times Top 100 Cars Guide, as Best Executive and Prestige model.

James Mills, Manager of Motoring Content for In Gear at The Sunday Times, said of the win: “Although each generation of S-Class comes with a new tranche of mind-melting technology, the philosophy is simple and unchanged since it was introduced 40 years and five generations ago. It is simply to provide the quietest, most comfortable car in its class.”

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd, commented: “The S-Class has always been the industry benchmark when it comes to safety, comfort and technology, and we are delighted that it continues to impress those who experience it. To be awarded Best Executive and Prestige model in The Sunday Times Top 100 Cars Guide is a fantastic recognition of this outstanding vehicle.”

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has helped to shape the face of luxury motoring, and has set the benchmark for exceptional comfort, innovative technology and ground-breaking safety systems. Crumple zones, ABS, ESP and the airbag, for example, all made their debut in an S-Class – and went on to become the norm for cars of all makes and sizes.

Priced from £61,410 OTR, there is an eight-strong S-Class model line-up available in the UK, with a choice of diesel and petrol engines, including one of the world’s cleanest diesels: the S 350 BlueTEC with exhaust gas aftertreatment, delivering up to 41.5 mpg and as little as 177 g/km of CO2.

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz UK reports record September 2012 registrations and market share figures

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Mercedes-Benz reported 16,569 passenger car registrations in September – a record

• C-Class the sixth best-selling car in September with 7,948 registrations
• A 122.8 per cent rise reported by AMG for the month and a 141.2 per cent gain for the year-to-date – sales exceeded 400 units in September
• Passenger cars market share of 4.6 per cent
• Year-to-date registrations total 72,731 cars
• September year-to-date market share of 4.4 per cent
• Mercedes-Benz Vans posted its best month ever – registering 4,478 vehicles
• Vito and Sprinter post 29.2 per cent and 46.4 per cent gains respectively
• Commercial vehicles records significant gains – up 28.5 per cent in September

Mercedes-Benz has posted a record performance in September, led by the C-Class ranking as the sixth-best selling car in the UK for the month.

This was mirrored by a record 4.6 per cent mark share for the month and 4.4 per cent for the year-to-date.

New records were set by the C-Class Saloon (4,654 registrations), the C-Class Estate (1,425) and the C-Class Coupé (1,869).

Roadsters continued to prove popular – the SLK was the highest performer, with 1,268 registrations to lead its market segment.

Elsewhere in the range the new B-Class enjoyed its highest registration figures ever at 1,415 vehicles to cap a record year-to-date figure of 5,165 examples.

AMG continued a strong year with a 122.8 per cent rise reported for the month and a 141.2 per cent gain for the year-to-date.

Commercial vehicle sales were also significantly up – with a 28.5 per cent gain overall for September. The Vito and Sprinter vans each posted very strong percentage gains – contributing to an overall rise for the range of 18.5 per cent year-to-date and the best monthly results yet recorded with 4,478 vans registered.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz UK commented: “The diversity of the gains across the range suggests that Mercedes-Benz is extremely well placed in the market with the right products at the right time. These record results come as we’re yet to launch the exciting new A-Class into the market – which is extremely heartening and bodes well for the future.”

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz World and Continental Tyres: Partnering Excellence

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Mercedes-Benz World, the pioneering brand experience centre located at the historic Brooklands motor racing circuit in Weybridge, has appointed Continental Tyres as “Partner in Excellence”. This will see Continental supply its high performance tyres for all Mercedes-Benz vehicles used in the driving experiences both on the circuits and challenging 4x4 off-road terrain.

Since opening in 2006, the brand centre has offered an interactive world full of Mercedes-Benz passion, heritage, values and innovation. Visitors can explore every model in the range, discover iconic classics and with attractions throughout its three storeys capture the fascination of Mercedes-Benz – the company that invented the car in 1886 and continues to be at the forefront of automotive performance.

An adrenaline fuelled line-up of driving experiences and gift vouchers is available. Experiences include the power-driven thrill of lapping a V8-engined Mercedes-AMG on the Handling Circuits and power-sliding on the Wet Skid Circle’s low friction surface, whilst 10 acres of challenging terrain offers a breath-taking off-road adventure in the latest 4x4 cars. True to the claim that Mercedes-Benz World is for the whole family, driving is not just for the adults. Kids over 1.5m can also drive – something made even more special by their first time being behind the wheel of a brand new Mercedes.

Tyres from Continental will ensure optimum performance to give dynamism and precision handling with the highest safety reserves throughout every driving experience. As the lead tyre development partner for Mercedes-AMG division, Continental is well placed to serve the many and varied demands of the entire Mercedes-Benz driving experience range.

Andrew Mallery, Commercial Operations Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, commented: “Since opening Mercedes-Benz World six years ago, we have delivered a quarter of a million thrilling driving experiences. As we look to the future to deliver even more we are delighted to have Continental as our official tyre partner. Our aim is to deliver the best driving experiences. With Continental’s strong engineering heritage and recognised expertise in tyre safety we will do just that.”

Peter Robb, Brand Manager, Continental Tyre Group, said: “Continental is delighted to be partnering with Mercedes-Benz World, offering our expertise to not only one of the most prestigious brands in the world, but also one of the most technologically advanced brand experience centres in the UK. By combining the excellence of both Continental and Mercedes-Benz World, we can offer the ultimate combination of products which incorporate high performance and a shared passion for ultimate safety.”

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz is COOL

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Mercedes-Benz has made its debut in the annual CoolBrands® list, ranked 16th out of over 10,000 independently identified brands.

Now in its 11th year and co-ordinated by The Centre for Brand Analysis, the list is voted for by 3,000 British consumers and a panel of 39 key influencers including Millie Kendall MBE, Luke Peters, Plan B and David Harewood MBE.

From the initial 10,000, a shortlist of 1,200 brands were ranked for innovation, originality, style, authenticity, desirability and uniqueness – each attributes classed by the organisers that play a part in a brand being cool.

The top non-British automotive brand was Mercedes-Benz. The outright winner was the technology brand, Apple.

Mercedes-Benz is in the midst of launching a range of exciting new cars, including the new A-Class and the upcoming CLS Shooting Brake. Each mixes elegance with innovative technology, performance and comfort. Headed by the SLS AMG, the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range is more diverse than ever before – appealing to different needs, different budgets and preferences.

Rob Halloway, Communications Director at Mercedes-Benz commented on the results: "I think by its very nature, coolness is in the perception of others. I think that cool things have a certain style, elegance and swagger about them. Cool people possess all these qualities, and cool brands blend a timeless quality with absolute topicality. It sounds like an oxymoron, but that’s what makes cool “cool”. Like style over fashion, cool endures where trendiness tends to be transient.

"The SLS AMG is a new supercar for a new generation, and the A-Class is just as cool, but a lot more attainable. Radically different from its predecessor, the new A-Class has been designed and positioned to be really desirable to customers who previously might not have considered a Mercedes-Benz. The Concept Style Coupé gives another hint of what’s coming – and we’ve got lots more “must-have” compact cars on the way.

"We’re backing up everything we’re doing with great products, great people, excellent support of key events, new ways of communicating these cars to new and existing customers – and we’re going to do it in some style."

The top 20 CoolBrands® list 2012:

1. Apple
2. YouTube
3. Aston Martin
4. Twitter
5. Google
6. BBC iPlayer
7. Glastonbury
8. Virgin Atlantic
9. Bang & Olufsen
10. Liberty
11. Sony
12. Bose
13. Haagen-Dazs
14. Selfridges
15. Ben & Jerry’s
16. Mercedes-Benz
17. Vogue
18. Skype
19. Nike
20. Nikon

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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The new E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID sets out on an economy challenge - with a twist

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• The most efficient E-Class ever created combines performance and efficiency
• New E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID achieves a peak speed of 136 mph at the most southern airport and 120 mph at the most northern airport in the UK – travelling the 830-miles between Newquay and Wick on a single tank of fuel
• A real-world test - encountered traffic, diversions and poor weather and was driven at normal carriageway speeds
• 67.3 mpg achieved over the course of the journey, including the high-speed runs
• A quarter of a tank of fuel remained – suggesting a theoretical range in excess of 1,100-miles

The new Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID is designed to be capable of combining performance and efficiency. In standard form it can accelerate from rest to 62mph in 7.5-seconds. It can achieve a maximum speed of 150 mph and can return 67 mpg while emitting as little as 109 g/km of CO2.

To prove the theory in the real-world, the very first example of the car to arrive in the UK set out on an economy run – with a twist – to prove that driving fun and efficiency can be combined.

First, driving duties were handed over to ex-rally driver Mick Linford. Next, the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID started its economy run in the unlikely surroundings of the main runway at Newquay Cornwall Airport – the most southern active airport in mainland Britain. Here the car accelerated from rest to 62 mph in a little over seven seconds before achieving a peak speed of 136 mph.

The car was then driven entirely normally the 830-miles north to its counterpart in Scotland – Wick Airport – the most northern airport in mainland Britain. Over the course of the two-day journey it encountered real-world driving conditions, including heavy traffic, diversions and challenging weather.

On arrival at Wick Airport the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID achieved a maximum speed of 120 mph down the runway, which was 911 metres shorter than at Newquay.

The engineering team behind the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID aimed to strike a balance between delivering everyday economy and performance, when required. Over a distance of 830-miles and two days, the car achieved a peak speed of 136 mph. It returned economy of 67.3 mpg.

The entire trip was carried out on a single tank of fuel – of which a quarter remained on its arrival in Wick. Had the car carried on driving it would have achieved a theoretical range in excess of 1,100-miles.

This extraordinary economy is made possible through a hybrid system linked to the efficient four-cylinder diesel engine - an electric motor is mounted within the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission. The gearbox substitutes a torque converter for a wet clutch system, therefore allowing for the internal combustion engine to be disengaged entirely via the clutch and for electric-only drive to be maintained for short periods, boosting economy. The system is intricately packaged within the vehicle so as not to impact on the load capacity of the E-Class in any way.

The new E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID is available to order now in both saloon and estate form. It produces a total of 204 hp and 500 Nm of torque. Prices start at £39,645.00 OTR for the saloon and £41,435.00 OTR for the estate.

Credits: Mercedes-Benz UK

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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