Mercedes-Benz unit sales impacted by difficult market environment
The Mercedes-Benz brand delivered 1,125,900 vehicles in the year under review (2007: 1,180,100), thus defending its worldwide position in the premium-car segment. The gradual deterioration of economic conditions in 2008 had a major impact on the development of unit sales throughout the year. While the brand was still able to post high growth rates in the first two quarters, some volume markets shrank significantly in the middle of 2008. In the second half of the year, the further intensification of the financial crisis and its impact on the real economy led to massive decreases in unit sales in all major economic regions.
Worldwide sales in the luxury segment (S-, CL-, SL-Class, SLR and Maybach) totaled 92,900 units (2007: 107,000), putting us well ahead of our major competitors. Sales of upper-range models (E- and CLS-Class) fell to 172,900 units (2007: 230,900) due to the E-Class model changeover scheduled for the spring of 2009. In the C-Class segment (C-, SLK-, CLK-Class), we increased our unit sales by 16% to 448,400 vehicles and gained additional market share. This positive development was largely due to the great popularity of the new C-Klasse and the new CLC sports coupe. The C-Class sedan also successfully defended its leading market position in its segment in 2008. The Mercedes-Benz brand delivered 250,300 A- and B-Class vehicles to customers in the year under review (2007: 275,400) and sold 161,300 units of the M-, R-, GL-, GLK- and G-Class in the all-terrain/ SUV segment (2007: 180,200).
Due to extremely difficult market conditions in the second half of 2008, unit sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in the United States declined by 11% from the record level of 2007 to 223,600 vehicles in the year under review. Sales of 629,300 units in Western Europe were 8% lower than in the prior year, while deliveries of 300,900 cars in Germany were close to the prior-year number (309,900). Mercedes-Benz unit sales in Japan in 2008 were also significantly lower than the figure recorded in the prior year due to negative developments in that market. However, business developments in numerous emerging markets were very positive, with particularly strong growth in China (+59%) and the Middle East (+36%).
