- More than 50,000 new S-Class sedans delivered to customers worldwide since
international market launch in September 2005
- US and Germany top performing sales markets for the luxury sedan
- S-Class sales in Australia are dominating the upper large greater than $100k
segment
Melbourne – Only eight months after the European premiere of the new S-Class,
sales of the sedan have topped 50,000 units. “The new S-Class has been met with
great response worldwide, and our flagship vehicle claimed its position as the
world’s best-selling luxury sedan immediately following its market launch in
September 2005,” says Dr. Klaus Maier, member of the Mercedes Car Group
Management Board responsible for Sales and Marketing.
“The car’s innovations in particular have been groundbreaking for the
automotive industry, and that is the primary reason why the S-Class has
maintained a unique status within the luxury segment for decades.”
The vehicle’s innovations include several new safety features, such as Brake
Assist PLUS with radar sensors, the anticipatory occupant protection system
PRE-SAFE with an expanded range of functions, and a night-vision assistant
equipped with infrared technology.
The S-Class got off to a particularly successful start in its home market of
Germany. In the first five months of 2006, the number of customers who opted to
buy the top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz model exceeded the combined total of those
who purchased the two competing German cars – this was also the case in
Australia with year-to-date sales at 206 units.
The new Mercedes-Benz flagship model has been available in the US, its main
sales market, since February. S-Class sales have been far stronger there than
the figures posted for its German and Asian competitors.
In Australia, S-Class sales accounted for 53.8 per cent, dominating the upper
large greater than $100k segment for the month of May. In only four months on
sale, year-to-date figures show that the S-Class has a share of 41.2 per cent,
with volumes up 98.1 per cent over the same period last year.
In Australia, the most popular S-Class engine variant so far this year is the
new 5.5 litre V8, which has been the choice of more than 62 per cent of all
customers since the new vehicle was introduced in February.
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