Mercedes-Benz Canada reports strong performance in October and notable sales gains for its smart and Sprinter divisions

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Mercedes-Benz Canada and its national dealer network reported today that the company has retailed 2,680 Mercedes-Benz and smart units in October. This brings overall growth for the group to 8.3% or 2,233 units this year, with 29,141 vehicles delivered to date in 2012.

A total of 2,236 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and luxury light trucks were sold in October. Mercedes-Benz passenger car and luxury light truck sales show a gain of 5.7% or 1,342 units with 24,793 vehicles delivered year-to-date.

Passenger car sales totaled 1,143 units in October, which was fueled by particularly strong E-Class, S-Class and SL-Class sales. On the luxury light truck side, a total of 1,093 vehicles were delivered. This helped propel year-to-date growth to 20.7% with 10,962 units retailed.

The diesel take rate for luxury light trucks was 80.2% for the month, while permanent all-wheel drive 4MATIC™ units accounted for 89.1% of overall passenger car and luxury light truck sales in October (excluding smart).

smart reported a total of 167 vehicles sold. This represents an increase of 69 units or 70.4% for the month, and helped propel year-to-date growth to 31.9% with 2,035 smart fortwos retailed so far in 2012.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter sales reported an 81.0% increase in deliveries for the month with 277 units sold. A total of 2,313 Sprinters have been retailed year-to-date, which represents an increase of 20.8%.

The Mercedes-Benz Pre-Owned division also achieved their best October results ever with 1,272 vehicles retailed. This represents an increase of 2.2% for the month, and brings overall growth to 11.1% or 1,243 units with a total of 12,474 Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz units sold.

"Together with our special guest Dr. Annette Winkler, the worldwide head of smart, we hosted an extremely productive meeting in October with our smart retailers from coast-to-coast," said Tim A. Reuss, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada. "smart has shown sustained growth through October, which has further bolstered the impressive overall sales gains for the division year-to-date. These results would not have been possible without the engagement of our dealers, and Dr. Winkler and I were both inspired by their enthusiasm and continued commitment to the future of the brand."

About Mercedes-Benz Canada
Mercedes-Benz Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of the four brands within the Mercedes-Benz Group in Canada: Mercedes-Benz, smart, AMG, and Maybach.  Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. employs approximately 1,300 people in 19 locations across Canada.  Through a nationwide network of 13 Mercedes-Benz owned retail operations and 40 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 32,914 vehicles in 2011, the best year ever reported for Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.

SOURCE: Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.

JoAnne Caza  416-847-7550 [email protected]

Michael Minielly 416-847-7509 [email protected]

Further information from Mercedes-Benz is available on the internet at: www.media.mercedes-benz.ca