National Press Release

MONTVALE, N.J., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported sales of 20,733 new vehicles for July 2008, an 11.6 percent increase over last July. This brings the year-to-date total to 140,012 units, marking a 2.3 percent increase over the same period last year and setting the new record for MBUSA year-to-date sales.

Both the volume-leading C-Class and highly acclaimed E-Class model lines posted gains of 45.4 percent and 53 percent increases respectively. Other highlights for July sales include an 8.9 percent sales increase in CLK-Class coupes and cabriolets, and an impressive 28.1 percent increase for the full-sized GL-Class SUV. As a group, sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars rose 17.8 percent for the month (15,239 vs. 12,936 units).

Compared to the first seven months of 2007, the popularity of the C-Class was demonstrated through a 37.9 percent sales increase with 43,603 units sold. Overall as a group, year-to-date sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars rose by 3.5 percent (100,398 vs. 97,022 units). Year-to-date increases were also recorded in the Mercedes-Benz SUV segment with a 0.7 percent gain in full-sized GL-Class sales and an 11.9 percent gain in M-Class sales.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned program, MBUSA marked a 17.2 percent increase for July sales with 5,175 vehicles sold, bringing year-to-date sales to a total of 36,533 units, an increase of 19.9 percent over the same period in 2007.

Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. In 2007, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 253,433 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving 14 consecutive years of sales growth.

                              MERCEDES-BENZ USA
                              Sales -- July 2008

    Model        July '08  July '07  Monthly %  YTD 2008  YTD 2007  Yearly %

    C-CLASS         6,241     4,291      45.4%    43,603    31,619     37.9%

    E-CLASS         4,938     3,227      53.0%    25,101    25,473     -1.5%

    S-CLASS         1,577     2,521     -37.4%    11,216    15,070    -25.6%

    CL-CLASS          220       344     -36.0%     1,723     2,043    -15.7%

    SL-CLASS          501       551      -9.1%     3,902     3,918     -0.4%

    CLK-CLASS         872       801       8.9%     7,165     9,009    -20.5%

    SLK-CLASS         439       531     -17.3%     3,508     5,145    -31.8%

    CLS-CLASS         451       670     -32.7%     4,180     4,745    -11.9%

    R-CLASS           750     1,031     -27.3%     5,534     7,866    -29.6%

    M-CLASS         2,691     3,015     -10.7%    20,087    17,950     11.9%

    GL-CLASS        1,989     1,553      28.1%    13,439    13,342      0.7%

    G-CLASS            64        51      25.5%       554       646    -14.2%

    GRAND TOTAL    20,733    18,586      11.6%   140,012   136,826      2.3%

SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA