Mercedes-Benz China Jan sales up 11% y/y

Shanghai, February 23 (Gasgoo.com) Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd sold more than 3,200 Mercedes-Benz cars in mainland China in January 2009, up 11% year on year (y/y), xinhuanet.com said today, citing the company's latest data.

In January, Mercedes-Benz S-Class car saw its sales up 26% in China's mainland, which now has become the German luxury car brand's biggest market in the world.

Mercedes-Benz SUV sales surged by 80% compared to the same period of last year. The large luxury sport wagon of Mercedes-Benz R-Class achieved about 50% year-on-year sales growth. Mercedes-Benz M-Class, a mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) with light off-road capability, continued to be a popular choice with buyers, with an 83% increase in sales over last year.

The B-Class car, called "Luxury Sports Tourer" by Mercedes-Benz, went on sale at the beginning of this January in mainland China. The new model is expected to have great market potential with its competitive price of less than 300,000 yuan ($43,900).

Sales of Mercedes-Benz brand cars in China soared almost 45% in 2008 to 38,700 units, of which the Benz S-Class had 13,860 units sold, up 31% from a year earlier.