Mercedes-Benz’s global sales outstripped premium rival Audi last month, on the back of the luxury car maker’s success with its new range of small cars.
Mercedes-Benz sold 133,441 vehicles in November, just ahead of Audi’s 132,050 sales. The figures represent an 11 per cent and seven per cent increase on last year’s figures respectively.
Despite the sales rise, both Mercedes and Audi were beaten by BMW, which retained its leading global premium sales status, with 149,663 vehicles sold in November, a three per cent rise.
Mercedes-Benz still sits behind BMW and Audi for total vehicle sales this year. BMW has sold 1.49 million cars and SUVs so far, compared with 1.44 million for Audi and 1.32 million for Mercedes.
However, Mercedes’ sales growth percentage is greater than both BMW’s and Audi’s, and has been for five months in a row now. The Daimler unit has recorded a rise of 11 per cent for vehicle sales in 2013, compared with eight per cent for BMW and seven per cent for Audi.
Mercedes has attributed its sales growth to the success of the new A-Class and CLA-Class compact vehicles, as well as the revamped E-Class and all-new S-Class ranges.
“The current model cycle is very beneficial for Mercedes,” said Commerzbank AG analyst Sascha Gommel.
“Audi and BMW have to invest in new production capacities and the development of new models. Mercedes’ investment cycle has peaked and they are entering a phase of outperformance.”
The positive results for all three manufacturers are largely attributable to the resurgent US market and the booming Chinese market. Even Europe’s car market appears to be recovering, according to BMW head of sales and marketing, Ian Robertson.
“Although conditions remain challenging in a number of European markets, we expect sales to continue to develop positively over the coming months. Our target of record sales for 2013 is now within reach,” Robertson said.
