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News of  March 13, 2002
.

Success Continues at Mercedes-Benz in February

• Passenger car sales in January and February up two percent to 161,200 units
• All important markets contributed to sales success

Stuttgart - Following an outstanding start to the new year, Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars is continuing its successful run. Sales were up two percent to 161,200 vehicles, setting another record for the first two months of a business year. In February, Mercedes-Benz almost reached last year's record high, missing the target by just two percent in spite of the forthcoming E-Class model changeover.

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, divisional board member responsible for Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars: "Despite the changeover of the E-Class, we once again succeeded in breaking last year's record for the first two months of the year. All important markets contributed to this sales success. Since the launch of the long wheelbase version, the A-Class in particular has developed wonderfully and recorded substantial growth rates."

In February, sales in Western Europe rose three percent to 52,400 vehicles despite the general slump in the market. Some 103,800 vehicles (up four percent) were sold in the first two months of the year. Particularly impressive increases were registered in Italy and France in February, as sales jumped by 18 and seven percent, respectively. For the Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars division, sales in Germany remained constant in February at 25,200 vehicles, in spite of the general downturn in the market. Sales for the first two months of the year also remained steady at last year's level with 46,800 vehicles sold. The new E-Class is turning out to be a resounding success, as more than 20,000 orders have already been placed for the car in Western Europe in the few weeks since its market launch.

In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars fell just two percent short of last year's record sales figures, selling 14,900 vehicles. In the first two months of the year there was a definite upswing, with sales increasing 7.5 percent to about 30,000 vehicles. The success of the E-Class model is very gratifying. Even before the market launch of the successor model, which is scheduled for late summer 2002, the sales figures for February were up four percent on February 2001.

(March 08, 2002)

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