Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sells Over 300,000 Units

More than 300,000 customers have purchased any a sedan or station wagon variant of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class since its official introduction on March 31, 2007. When the year its market launch, the new model is continuing the success story of the predecessor model. Dr. Klaus Maier says, "The sedan got off to an excellent start, and since its premiere at dealerships at the end of last year, the new C-Class station wagon has also been enjoying high popularity, both models, in fact, have posted growth rates of 70 percent on the corresponding periods from the prior year since their respective launches. As a result, the new C-Class has been the worldwide leader in its market segment since the beginning of 2008." Klaus Maier is the Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars.

The new model was yet again the top-selling vehicle in the mid-range segment in april, according to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority. German customers as well are very enthusiastic about the new C-Class. Germany is the most important market for the C-Class which accounts for 25 percent of total sales, followed by the U.S., UK, Italy, and South Africa. The 204 series have been sold worldwide since market launch in the spring of 2007, a total of 290,000 C-Class sedans and 25,000 customers have taken delivery of a new C-Class station wagon since that model variant was introduced in December.

The C-Class has a clear optical differentiation between the model's three equipment lines, a particularly successful feature. Maier says, "In the first year of sales, one out of every two C-Class customers in Germany chose the Avant-garde line and in other core markets the share of total sales sometimes is even higher, the response of our customers to the sporty design of the C-Class Avant-garde even exceeded our expectations". This new product strategy makes the auto parts very attractive to the most diverse customers within the heterogeneous C-Class customer base, and it also enables us to win over new customers to the Mercedes-Benz brand.

C-Class customers are also attracted by the vehicle's even more dynamic chassis along with the new model's distinctive auto parts design, which features a selective damping system that also, offers great comfort. It also includes a further refined telematics system with Bluetooth, and a new Linguatronic voice-command system for other major selling points. Additionally, the station wagon takes the trademark strengths of the sedan - including safety, agility, and comfort - and combines them with a significant increase in spaciousness and versatility. The maximum cargo capacity is 1,500 liters, offers more space than any other premium station wagon in its segment. In Germany last April, with all of these entire attribute, its no surprising that the C-Class station wagon was also the top-selling in its segment.

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.