Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1093354
M4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 MARCH 2019 MOTORING Mercedes-Benz sells more than 150,000 cars in February IN the first two months of this year, Mercedes-Benz deliv- ered 333,229 cars worldwide (-6.7%). In February, 152,690 vehicles with the three-point- ed star were sold worldwide (-6.7%). The model changes in the highest-volume segments SU- Vs and compact cars had an impact on sales in all regions also last month. The worldwide decrease in unit sales compared with the same month of last year is largely due to the discontinua- tion of the predecessor models of the CLA and the GLE. Meanwhile, the new B-Class had a positive effect on sales in Europe. B-Class deliveries increased more than 16% in Europe in the month of market launch and in Germany even more than 40%. Since the be- ginning of the year, Mercedes- Benz has maintained its mar- ket leadership in the premium segment in markets including Germany, the United King- dom, Italy, France, Switzer- land, Portugal, Poland, Den- mark, South Korea, Australia, the United States, Canada and South Africa. "We are delighted that the new B-Class has had such a positive impact on Mercedes-Benz unit sales so soon after the market launch in Europe. At the Gene- va International Motor Show, we presented the latest genera- tion of our top-selling SUV, the GLC, which will ensure further enthusiasm among our cus- tomers this year," stated Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales. "We assume that the ongo- ing model changes will result in significant sales impetus in the coming months. At Mercedes- Benz, we continue to see strong demand worldwide for our cur- rent and new models." Mercedes-Benz unit sales by region and market In Europe, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 63,560 vehicles in February (-0.1%). The model change of the GLE and the dis- continuation of the previous model had an impact on sales in various European markets. In Germany, the core mar- ket, 23,119 cars with the three- pointed star were delivered, representing an increase of 7.3%. This was the best Feb- ruary in the past ten years for unit sales in Germany. In the domestic market of Mercedes- Benz, the sales growth was driven in particular by the new A-Class, the new B-Class, and the new C-Class Saloon and Estate. In February, Mercedes-Benz was also able to increase its to- tal unit sales in markets includ- ing France, Belgium, Russia, the Netherlands and Poland. In the Asia-Pacific region, 59,253 cars were delivered to customers by Mercedes-Benz in February (-9.8%). In China, where sales are tra- ditionally weaker in the month of the Chinese new year, 40,733 customer decided in favour of a car with the star (-5.4%). Sales in January and Febru- ary totalled 112,430 units, more than ever before in the first two months of a year in China (+0.9%). In the NAFTA region, Mer- cedes-Benz posted total unit sales of 25,757 cars delivered last month (-14.0%). In the core market, the United States, a total of 21,660 customers were delighted to receive their new automobile with the star (-12.5%). The model changes also had an impact in the USA, with a double-digit drop in unit sales of the GLE for example. Sales of the new C-Class Sa- loon increased at a double-digit rate in the USA in February. Mercedes-Benz unit sales by model Sales of Mercedes-Benz compact cars in the first two months of 2019 were slightly above the prior-year level: More than 81,700 custom- ers were delighted to receive their new A- or B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake or GLA in January and February (-4.6%). Meanwhile, the model change for the compact cars continues. The new A-Class recorded sales growth worldwide for the sixth month in succession (+20.8%). Following the market launch of the new B-Class in Europe on February 16, the new model achieved double-digit growth in deliveries in Europe, espe- cially in Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Spain. Sales of the new C-Class Sa- loon and Estate models have reached a new high with ap- proximately 66,500 cars deliv- ered in the first two months of this year (+4.9%). Sales of the new C-Class Estate in particular increased world- wide in February (+15.8%). Last month, every fifth vehicle sold worldwide by Mercedes- Benz was a C-Class Saloon or Estate. Of the Mercedes-Benz dream cars, approximately 11,000 Coupés, Cabriolets and Roadsters were delivered to customers worldwide in Febru- ary (-3.0%), including the pop- ular CLS Coupé. In the first two months of the year, every fourth dream car with the star sold worldwide was a CLS Coupé. Every fifth vehicle sold worldwide by Mercedes- Benz was a C-Class Saloon or Estate Following the market launch of the new B-Class in Europe on February 16, the new model achieved double-digit growth in deliveries