Despite the lull in the summer, the German car maker got the curve. For 2018, the core brand Mercedes-Benz was able to capture the eighth sales record in a row. But it didn’t go in all the markets around.
A Mercedes-Maybach in April at the auto show in Beijing
2.31 million vehicles with a star on the bonnet have been delivered in 2018 in the world. The 0.9 percent more than in 2017, as the upper-class manufacturers, announced in Stuttgart. “In 2018, we have consolidated for the third Time in a row, our Position as the number 1 among Premium automotive brands,” said Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche satisfied.
Rival BMW has not yet disclosed sales figures for its white-blue core brand. Experts consider it unlikely that Bayern could have overtaken the Swabians 2018, since BMW had at the end of November is already a significant gap to the Stuttgarter.
Sales in China increased by eleven percent
Mercedes was, according to the company, parent, Daimler, especially in China Where the sales rose by eleven percent, and the absolute strongest growing and largest single market was “on” for the brand.
Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic
In the fourth quarter from October to December was also the best in the history of the company: Mercedes sold in the three months approximately 595.000 cars. Best of 2018 ran the C-class sedan and T-model – a total of 400,000 cars went to new owners.
Slump in North America and Europe
In North America and Europe Daimler brought fewer vehicles to customers than in 2017. Important sales driver is the so-called SUVs, according to the carmaker. Every third sold Mercedes is, therefore, in the Segment of “SUV”.
Despite the encouraging sales figures on the Asian market, it is not for the group as a whole optimally. Heavily, Daimler has been slowed by the multi-month sales slump in the summer. Nearly 2.44 million worldwide-selling cars of Mercedes-Benz and Smart will mean only a scant increase of 0.6 percent compared to 2017. From previous years, the company had rates significantly higher growth in sales in the usual way.
The small car brand Smart has sold worse than 2017. Well 128.800 vehicles were sold, a decrease of 4.6 percent. You take to pay the entire sale as a benchmark, the Daimler group in 2018 behind the competitor to the BMW, the overall discontinuation 2.49 million cars. Here, the Munich-based group is one of the Mini small cars and Rolls-Royce.
se/rb (rtr, dpa, afp)