Kuala Lumpur, 26 April 2010 - Mercedes-Benz Malaysia grew its lead within the premium passenger car category in the first quarter of 2010 after registering a stellar 20 per cent sales growth with 1089 units sold compared to 908 units in the same period last year.

The performance mirrors the trend set in the second half of 2009 which saw the company record sales growth of over 8 per cent to help it surpass expectations in spite of a poor year for the global auto industry in the aftermath of the economic downturn. 

The company’s overall performance was bolstered by the positive economic growth and improving markets in Malaysia and helped on by its market leadership position in several segments.

The E-Class leads its segment with an impressive market share of over 60 per cent buoyed by the launch of the new E-Class end of November 2009. Meanwhile, the S-Class maintains its leadership in its segment with 56 per cent market share.

The comfortable and spacious Mercedes-Benz B180 with its strategic product and price positioning remains a favourite and dominates its segment.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class remains one of the most popular choices in the mid range premium segment. The C-Class gained strong demand by registering a significant 21 per cent growth with over 510 units sold compared to 423 units in Q109.

Earlier this year, the company launched the CGI (Charged Gasoline Injection) in their C200 and C250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY variants which are EU5 compliant and offer excellent fuel efficiency while delivering top torque performance.  Providing customers with a more diverse selection, the company also brought in limited editions of the C300 Avantgarde Estate.  The new models are expected to further boost sales momentum of the C-Class.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is renowned for its unrivalled dynamic design, innovative technology and superior comfort. It posted outstanding sales of over 435 units, an increase of 46 percent to remain the undisputed leader in its segment.

Not to be outdone, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class strengthened its position in the luxury SUV segment with a stunning 500 per cent sales growth. The M-Class continues to garner strong interest for its combination of indulgent luxury and excellent SUV features.

The flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class continued to dominate its segment securing sales of 75 units due to its sophistication, style and performance. The recent introduction of the new generation S-Class is expected to reinforce its position with the encouraging demand it is already receiving.

“Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s first quarter performance clearly reflects the resilience of the auto industry and is also a testament to the excellent brand value of Mercedes-Benz which places us in a market leading position with 42 per cent share, which is seven per cent ahead of our nearest competitor, of the premium passenger car market.

“We are definitely on the right track after a dip last year. The performance to date is very gratifying and I am delighted with the strong demand for our passenger cars especially the encouraging interest in the newly launched S-Class and C-Class this year,” said Peter Honegg, President & CEO.

“With Mercedes-Benz, our customers recognise that they get the best in premium passenger cars and we are continuously looking at ways to enhance the customer experience from the moment they step into our showroom. With the positive market trends and encouraging feedback from our dealers, we are confident 2010 would be a good year as there are countless opportunities for growth,” said Honegg.

Commenting on the recent unveiling of the top-of-the-range super sports car, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Honegg remarked that it was an honour for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia as it was the first country to showcase the car ahead of its global launch. 

“The SLS-AMG is just magnificent. You have to experience it to understand why the SLS-AMG is the talk of the town. We are really excited to be able to bring it in to cater to the super car enthusiasts in Malaysia,” he said.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Commercial Vehicles business grew 50 per cent with sales of Mitsubishi FUSO trucks registering 65 per cent with 416 units sold.

“These are early days yet. We are nevertheless cautiously optimistic about our commercial vehicles segment this year. The gradual recovery we are witnessing within the markets should positively impact our performance as the year moves on. FUSO has a head start and its numbers are an encouraging sign for our trucks market,” Honegg added.

According to Honegg, the auto industry should yield positive returns with the confidence voiced by the Prime Minister recently on the expansion of the automotive industry in line with the growth of the GDP.